1
Marcus I & The 18th Parallel - Wax Box
2
Marcus I & The 18th Parallel - Dub Box
Spanish roots singer Marcus I is well known among the reggae community for his masterpieces ‘2000 Years Showcase’ and ‘Jesus Was Black’ or more recent works with producer aDUBta on F-Spot Records and Hornin’s Sounds. Backed by the heavyweight sound of The 18th Parallel, Marcus I delivers a heartfelt anthem for every selector and music devotee who treasures the magic of black wax. A tune dedicated to all vinyl lovers and record collectors worldwide, ‘Wax Box’ is a celebration of the sound system culture. Reggae has been shaped by sound operators and selectors collecting the best and most obscure 45rpm records and revealing the full potential of a tune with heavy bass and crisp trebbles to their audience.
What makes this cut even more special is its sound: recorded fully live on 2-inch tape by The 18th Parallel, the session captures the raw, authentic energy of roots reggae at its purest. With warm, organic tones and a timeless feel, ‘Wax Box’ pays homage not only to record collectors but also to the golden era of reggae recording. Pressed with care on 7-inch vinyl, with a super heavy dub mix on B side by French duet Dub Shepherds, this release is more than just a record – it’s a tribute to the culture of collecting records, preserving sound, and sharing vibes across generations.
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What makes this cut even more special is its sound: recorded fully live on 2-inch tape by The 18th Parallel, the session captures the raw, authentic energy of roots reggae at its purest. With warm, organic tones and a timeless feel, ‘Wax Box’ pays homage not only to record collectors but also to the golden era of reggae recording. Pressed with care on 7-inch vinyl, with a super heavy dub mix on B side by French duet Dub Shepherds, this release is more than just a record – it’s a tribute to the culture of collecting records, preserving sound, and sharing vibes across generations.
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More records from Fruits Records
1
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - North Face
2
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Serious Matter
3
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - At First Sight
4
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Black Sun (Feat. Dennis Walks)
5
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Steep Gully
6
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Sound Collapse
7
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Pothole Invasion (Feat. The Viceroys, Lone Ranger)
8
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Worldwide Confusion (Feat. The Mighty Gravillons)
9
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Stars Above (Feat. Cornell Campbell)
10
The 18th Parallel meets Roberto Sánchez - Metamorphism (Feat. The I-Twins)
First chapter of a futuristic dub experiment series by The 18th Parallel. Geneva based collective invites engineer extraordinaire Roberto Sánchez to revisit 10 scorcher riddims from the Fruits Records vault to craft this inventive modern classic. Reminiscent of the greatest dub albums by King Tubby, Scientist, Prince Jammy, or Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
Fruits Records presents the first volume of a series of dub albums by Swiss collective The 18th Parallel. Following in the tradition of Jamaican producers who revisited their catalogues in dub versions, such as Bunny Lee and his Aggrovators with King Tubby, Junjo Lawes or Linval Thompson teaming up with Roots Radics and Scientist, or Joe Gibbs and his Professionals with Errol Thompson, Fruits Records is launching a series of dub albums produced by the label's studio band, The 18th Parallel, which will invite different sound engineers to (re)mix the tracks throughout the albums: DUB AVALANCHE. This first volume offers a deep dive into the label's catalogue through ten classic or unreleased riddims revisited by Fruits Records' long-time partner, Spanish sound engineer extraordinaire Roberto Sánchez. The instrumentals are brilliantly performed by The 18th Parallel and punctuated by the voices of legendary artists such as The Viceroys, Lone Ranger, Cornell Campbell, and Dennis Walks, who appear fleetingly before disappearing into clouds of echo. Roberto Sánchez performs ten explosive, creative sound deconstructions, playing with stylistic codes to stimulate our memory and offer a timeless sensory experience.
Like the classics of the genre, the cover art evokes a quirky retro-futuristic imaginary space where, breaking with convention, the talent of Mexican artist Melissa Santamaría is expressed through a striking metaphor of a sonic avalanche.
DUB AVALANCHE VOL. 1 is already establishing itself as a future must-have for fans of uncompromising reggae and dub!
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Fruits Records presents the first volume of a series of dub albums by Swiss collective The 18th Parallel. Following in the tradition of Jamaican producers who revisited their catalogues in dub versions, such as Bunny Lee and his Aggrovators with King Tubby, Junjo Lawes or Linval Thompson teaming up with Roots Radics and Scientist, or Joe Gibbs and his Professionals with Errol Thompson, Fruits Records is launching a series of dub albums produced by the label's studio band, The 18th Parallel, which will invite different sound engineers to (re)mix the tracks throughout the albums: DUB AVALANCHE. This first volume offers a deep dive into the label's catalogue through ten classic or unreleased riddims revisited by Fruits Records' long-time partner, Spanish sound engineer extraordinaire Roberto Sánchez. The instrumentals are brilliantly performed by The 18th Parallel and punctuated by the voices of legendary artists such as The Viceroys, Lone Ranger, Cornell Campbell, and Dennis Walks, who appear fleetingly before disappearing into clouds of echo. Roberto Sánchez performs ten explosive, creative sound deconstructions, playing with stylistic codes to stimulate our memory and offer a timeless sensory experience.
Like the classics of the genre, the cover art evokes a quirky retro-futuristic imaginary space where, breaking with convention, the talent of Mexican artist Melissa Santamaría is expressed through a striking metaphor of a sonic avalanche.
DUB AVALANCHE VOL. 1 is already establishing itself as a future must-have for fans of uncompromising reggae and dub!
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Germany
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1
Nat Birchall & The 18th Parallel - Let Peace Reign
2
Nat Birchall & The 18th Parallel - Let Dub Reign
Fruits Records proudly presents ‘Let Peace Reign’, the brand new instrumental single by Nat Birchall and The 18th Parallel.
Hailed by Gilles Peterson as ‘one of the best musicians in the UK’, jazz and reggae saxophonist Nat Birchall has grabbed listeners attention with his soulful sound and inspirational spiritual music. He has produced some of the finest vintage roots reggae instrumentals including majestic works with Vin Gordon and Al Breadwinners. His ethereal tone reminiscent of reggae giant Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks (Light of Saba) is the perfect match to The 18th Parallel raw and heavy sound.
Recorded fully live on 2-inch tape by the Swiss rhythm section, the session captures the raw, authentic energy of roots reggae at its purest. With warm, organic tones and a timeless feel, ‘Let Peace Reign’ not only pays homage to the greatest days of instrumental music and to the golden era of reggae recording, but also send a much needed message to a troubled world: Let Peace Reign. Pressed with care on 7-inch vinyl, with a super heavy dub mix on B side by French duet Dub Shepherds, this release is more than just a record – it’s a tribute to the culture of collecting records, preserving sound, and sharing vibes across generations.
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Hailed by Gilles Peterson as ‘one of the best musicians in the UK’, jazz and reggae saxophonist Nat Birchall has grabbed listeners attention with his soulful sound and inspirational spiritual music. He has produced some of the finest vintage roots reggae instrumentals including majestic works with Vin Gordon and Al Breadwinners. His ethereal tone reminiscent of reggae giant Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks (Light of Saba) is the perfect match to The 18th Parallel raw and heavy sound.
Recorded fully live on 2-inch tape by the Swiss rhythm section, the session captures the raw, authentic energy of roots reggae at its purest. With warm, organic tones and a timeless feel, ‘Let Peace Reign’ not only pays homage to the greatest days of instrumental music and to the golden era of reggae recording, but also send a much needed message to a troubled world: Let Peace Reign. Pressed with care on 7-inch vinyl, with a super heavy dub mix on B side by French duet Dub Shepherds, this release is more than just a record – it’s a tribute to the culture of collecting records, preserving sound, and sharing vibes across generations.
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Germany
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1
Roots Architects - 1000 Light Years DUB (feat. High Times Players, Lloyd Obeah Denton)
2
Roots Architects - In The Shadow DUB (feat. Vin Gordon, Glen DaCosta, Sheldon "ATiiBA" Bernard)
3
Roots Architects - Whitewater DUB (feat. Ibo Cooper, Lew Chang)
4
Roots Architects - Memories of Old DUB (feat. Ernest Ranglin, Tyrone Downie)
5
Roots Architects - Rose Hall’s Birds DUB (feat. Vin Gordon, Glen DaCosta)
6
Roots Architects - Squirrel Inna Barrel DUB (feat. Ernest Ranglin, Vin Gordon, Karl Bryan)
7
Roots Architects - Under The Cotton Tree DUB (feat. Glen DaCosta, Ibo Cooper, Cat Coore)
8
Roots Architects - 45 Charles Street DUB (feat. Roots Radics, Dwight Pickney, Dean Fraser)
9
Roots Architects - Everlasting Love DUB (feat. Sly & Robbie, Dean Fraser, Peace Diouf)
Bringing together over 50 of Jamaica's greatest session musicians, whose work spans from the birth of reggae in the late 1960s until today, Roots Architects is the largest gathering of Jamaican musical talent on one all-instrumental album. Never before have so many veterans, who helped create the immortal rhythms that made reggae internationally successful, been assembled to play on new material without vocals. This project aims to celebrate and pay tribute to the unsung heroes of reggae music: the rhythm builders or Roots Architects. Following the outstanding success of the first chapter of the project, From Then 'Til Now (2024), Fruits Records is pleased to reveal the dub album From Dub 'Til Now. A veritable immersion in the mythical sound of Kingston studios in the late 1970s. Dub master Roberto Sánchez sublimates the work of the Roots Architects with wildly inventive sound experiments. Reminiscent of the finest years of King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry and Scientist.
The project is the brainchild of Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme. In 2013, he travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, to produce The Inspirators project, an all-star album gathering Leroy ”Horse-mouth” Wallace, Lloyd Parks, Earl ”Chinna” Smith and Sangie Davis, the four of them acting both as musicians and vocalists. This first experience in Kingston studio life paved the way to what would become the Roots Architects project. In February and March 2017 Mathias Liengme travelled for the fifth time to Kingston to record as many of reggae’s greatest living veteran musicians as he could. With the help of a few of these Architects like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender or Dalton Browne, he managed to gather over 50 session musicians aged 60 to 85 on nine instrumental songs.
Roots Architects are legends back together in Kingston studios doing what they do best: creating in-strumental music all together!
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
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Germany
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The project is the brainchild of Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme. In 2013, he travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, to produce The Inspirators project, an all-star album gathering Leroy ”Horse-mouth” Wallace, Lloyd Parks, Earl ”Chinna” Smith and Sangie Davis, the four of them acting both as musicians and vocalists. This first experience in Kingston studio life paved the way to what would become the Roots Architects project. In February and March 2017 Mathias Liengme travelled for the fifth time to Kingston to record as many of reggae’s greatest living veteran musicians as he could. With the help of a few of these Architects like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender or Dalton Browne, he managed to gather over 50 session musicians aged 60 to 85 on nine instrumental songs.
Roots Architects are legends back together in Kingston studios doing what they do best: creating in-strumental music all together!
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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1
Brother Culture & The 18th Parallel - Ghetto Man
2
Brother Culture & The 18th Parallel - Ghetto Version
Cumulating tens of millions of streams with hits like ‘Jump up Pon It’, ‘Heal Them’ or ‘Supanova’, BROTHER CULTURE is a true icon of the global reggae and dub scene. As one of the UK’s most influential voices, his career has spanned decades, earning him legendary status and a devoted following worldwide.
Now, Brother Culture joins forces with Swiss reggae powerhouse THE 18TH PARALLEL to deliver ‘Ghetto Man’, a commanding anthem of social emancipation. This track blends Brother Culture’s unmistakable lyrical prowess with The 18th Parallel’s hardcore roots-driven sound, creating a powerful call to rise above adversity and fight for justice. Brother Culture’s reputation as a trailblazer in reggae and dub shines through in every verse, while The 18th Parallel cements their place as a leading force in modern roots music. Together, they’ve crafted a track that resonates deeply, speaking to both the struggles and the strength of communities worldwide.
Adding to the magic is the presence of Paolo Baldini DubFiles on the mix, turning the song into a sound system killer with his dub effects. A true mix lesson that connects with reggae enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
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Now, Brother Culture joins forces with Swiss reggae powerhouse THE 18TH PARALLEL to deliver ‘Ghetto Man’, a commanding anthem of social emancipation. This track blends Brother Culture’s unmistakable lyrical prowess with The 18th Parallel’s hardcore roots-driven sound, creating a powerful call to rise above adversity and fight for justice. Brother Culture’s reputation as a trailblazer in reggae and dub shines through in every verse, while The 18th Parallel cements their place as a leading force in modern roots music. Together, they’ve crafted a track that resonates deeply, speaking to both the struggles and the strength of communities worldwide.
Adding to the magic is the presence of Paolo Baldini DubFiles on the mix, turning the song into a sound system killer with his dub effects. A true mix lesson that connects with reggae enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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1
Mykal Rose & The 18th Parallel - Rain And Blood
2
The 18th Parallel Meets Top Brass - Red Sky
The very first Grammy winning artist in Reggae history, MYKAL ROSE is the voice of the greatest days of Black Uhuru. He’s responsible for hit songs such as ’Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’, ‘Sinsemilla’ or ‘Sponji Reggae’. Thanks to Sly & Robbie, Mykal Rose and Black Uhuru have been a turning point into Reggae history, giving to the four corners of world the raw and brutal sound of Jamaica early 80’s violent political crisis, far from Bob Marley refined and sophisticated music.
40 years after he left the group, Mykal Rose returns with ‘Rain And Blood’, a new single that could have been taken from another Sly & Robbie-produced Black Uhuru album. In a 1986 proto- digital reggae style, Swiss reggae powerhouse THE 18TH PARALLEL recorded an early dancehall-roots-reggae riddim with none other than the legendary Robbie Shakespeare himself on bass. Mixed by today’s finest sound engineer from Jamaica, Gregory Morris (Protoje, Lila Ike, Mortimer,...), ‘Rain And Blood’ combines the best of modern reggae sound with an impeccable groovy riddim inspired from back in the days. On top of this, the finest horns section of the new Jamaican music scene, TOPP BRASS, graces us with a timeless instrumental cut called ‘Red Sky’. This is heavyweight reggae at its best!
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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40 years after he left the group, Mykal Rose returns with ‘Rain And Blood’, a new single that could have been taken from another Sly & Robbie-produced Black Uhuru album. In a 1986 proto- digital reggae style, Swiss reggae powerhouse THE 18TH PARALLEL recorded an early dancehall-roots-reggae riddim with none other than the legendary Robbie Shakespeare himself on bass. Mixed by today’s finest sound engineer from Jamaica, Gregory Morris (Protoje, Lila Ike, Mortimer,...), ‘Rain And Blood’ combines the best of modern reggae sound with an impeccable groovy riddim inspired from back in the days. On top of this, the finest horns section of the new Jamaican music scene, TOPP BRASS, graces us with a timeless instrumental cut called ‘Red Sky’. This is heavyweight reggae at its best!
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1
I Kong Feat. Judy Mowatt - Motherless Child
2
Roberto Sánchez & Najavibes - Version
FTR006 features Bob Marley's backing singer Judy Mowatt and a great dub version on the B side by the one and only Roberto Sánchez!
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1
Cosmic Shuffling - Sputnik
2
Cosmic Shuffling - Sun Storm
3
Cosmic Shuffling - Poor M. Collins
4
Cosmic Shuffling - Laika's Lament
5
Cosmic Shuffling - Asteroid Field II
6
Cosmic Shuffling - Memories of Plans-Bochet
7
Cosmic Shuffling - Jupiter's Garden
8
Cosmic Shuffling - Lost Pluto
9
Cosmic Shuffling - Aldebaran
10
Cosmic Shuffling - Lovonauts' Odyssey
In 2023, all sources of life across the multiverse jumped and twisted to the irresistible sound of COSMIC QUEST, the second full-length record of Swiss septet extraordinaire COSMIC SHUFFLING. Today, the Geneva based combo returns with the second half of the quest: a FULL INSTRUMENTAL long play.
This new record carries on the band’s journey to a realm where the stars dance to the beat of your heart. Travelling across galaxies, passing through nebulas, black holes and asteroid fields, the handsome lads disseminate the classic sound of SKA and ROCKSTEADY with burning hot-like-plasma scorchers. Temperature rises,
bodies warm up, sway, embrace and go wild. This is the effect produced by the explorers of unconditional cosmic love: the LOVONAUTS.
Welcome to the LOVONAUTS’ ODYSSEY – the ultimate soundtrack of the septet astral adventures. Let yourself be carried away by these ten love letters to Jamaica’s iconic sound of the 60’s and its greatest musical stars
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This new record carries on the band’s journey to a realm where the stars dance to the beat of your heart. Travelling across galaxies, passing through nebulas, black holes and asteroid fields, the handsome lads disseminate the classic sound of SKA and ROCKSTEADY with burning hot-like-plasma scorchers. Temperature rises,
bodies warm up, sway, embrace and go wild. This is the effect produced by the explorers of unconditional cosmic love: the LOVONAUTS.
Welcome to the LOVONAUTS’ ODYSSEY – the ultimate soundtrack of the septet astral adventures. Let yourself be carried away by these ten love letters to Jamaica’s iconic sound of the 60’s and its greatest musical stars
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1
Benjammin & The 18th Parallel - Warmonger
2
Benjammin & The 18th Parallel - Dubmonger
The four horsemen are the rhythm section of The 18th Parallel riding down the plains to the sound of an heavyweight stepper inspired by the late 70s playing of the Revolutionaries at Channel One. Slow, refined and powerful, the interaction of the drums, bass and organ leaves room to an otherworldly horns chant calling everyone to dance and sing along. Probably one of Fruits Records heaviest release ever!
The first 7“ of this series features Spanish based UK singer Benjammin known for his superb work with Roberto Sánchez. He chants down all ‘Warmongers’. His singing style reminiscent of BurningSpear’s greatest days sends shivers down your spine! Dub by Roberto Sánchez on the flip.
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The first 7“ of this series features Spanish based UK singer Benjammin known for his superb work with Roberto Sánchez. He chants down all ‘Warmongers’. His singing style reminiscent of BurningSpear’s greatest days sends shivers down your spine! Dub by Roberto Sánchez on the flip.
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1
The Mighty Gravillons & The18th Parallel - Crumbling World
2
The Mighty Gravillons & The18th Parallel - Peace Treaty
The second 7” introduces to the world The Mighty Gravillons, an obscure vocal trio bringing us right back to the golden days of roots reggae. With powerful and thought-provoking lyrics, ‘Crumbling World’ is a desperate cry to the world we’re building for the next generations. How can we leave such a world of wars, political conflicts and environmental crisis to our kids? The B side shines by it’s simplicity: The 18th Parallel invited one of their favourite musicians of today’s reggae scene to blow his spellbinding saxophone, Anant Pradhan. The legacy of Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso or Cedric Brooks has found its worthy embodiment. New York saxophonist graces us with ‘Peace Treaty’.
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1
Jah Bast & The 18th Parallel - Far I Love
2
Jah Bast & The 18th Parallel - Far I Version
The series third 7” presents Geneva based singer Jah Bast. ‘Far I Love’ is a chant to the Most High. The riddim and mix get as dread and terrible as Jah Bast message of love gets powerful. Version of the B side for all DJ to mash up the riddim inna dance!
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1
Roots Architects - 1000 Light Years ft. High Times Players, Lloyd Obeah Denton
2
Roots Architects - In The Shadow ft. Vin Gordon, Glen DaCosta, Sheldon "ATiiBA" Bernard
3
Roots Architects - Whitewater ft. Ibo Cooper, Lew Chang
4
Roots Architects - Memories of Old ft. Ernest Ranglin, Tyrone Downie
5
Roots Architects - Rose Hall’s Birds ft. Vin Gordon, Glen DaCosta
6
Roots Architects - Squirrel Inna Barrel ft. Ernest Ranglin, Vin Gordon, Karl Bryan
7
Roots Architects - Under The Cotton Tree ft. Glen DaCosta, Ibo Cooper, Cat Coore
8
Roots Architects - 45 Charles Street ft. Roots Radics, Dwight Pickney, Dean Fraser
9
Roots Architects - Everlasting Love ft. Sly & Robbie, Dean Fraser, Peace Diouf
Bringing together over 50 of Jamaica's greatest session musicians, whose work spans from the birth of reggae in the late 1960s until today, Roots Architects is the largest gathering of Jamaican musical talent on one all-instrumental album. Never before have so many veterans, who helped create the immortal rhythms that made reggae internationally successful, been assembled to play on new material without vocals. This album aims to celebrate and pay tribute to the unsung heroes of reggae music: the rhythm builders or Roots Architects.
The project is the brainchild of Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme. In 2013, he travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, to produce The Inspirators project, an all-star album gathering Leroy ”Horse-mouth” Wallace, Lloyd Parks, Earl ”Chinna” Smith and Sangie Davis, the four of them acting both as musicians and vocalists. This first experience in Kingston studio life paved the way to what would become the Roots Architects project. In February and March 2017 Mathias Liengme travelled for the fifth time to Kingston to record as many of reggae’s greatest living veteran musicians as he could. With the help of a few of these Architects like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender or Dalton Browne, he managed to gather over 50 session musicians aged 60 to 85 on nine instrumental songs.
Roots Architects are legends back together in Kingston studios doing what they do best: creating in-strumental music all together!
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The project is the brainchild of Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme. In 2013, he travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, to produce The Inspirators project, an all-star album gathering Leroy ”Horse-mouth” Wallace, Lloyd Parks, Earl ”Chinna” Smith and Sangie Davis, the four of them acting both as musicians and vocalists. This first experience in Kingston studio life paved the way to what would become the Roots Architects project. In February and March 2017 Mathias Liengme travelled for the fifth time to Kingston to record as many of reggae’s greatest living veteran musicians as he could. With the help of a few of these Architects like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender or Dalton Browne, he managed to gather over 50 session musicians aged 60 to 85 on nine instrumental songs.
Roots Architects are legends back together in Kingston studios doing what they do best: creating in-strumental music all together!
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1
The Viceroys - Trod On
2
Lone Ranger - Trod Along
3
Prince Alla - Jah Love In The Morning
4
Roberto Sanchez - Jah Love Dub
2024 Repress!
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1
Cosmic Shuffling - Sputnik
2
Cosmic Shuffling - Sun Storm
Sputnik is an explosive ska tune reminiscent of the greatest days of Jamaican furious dance music. Trombone and tenor saxophone solos stir your ears while the six piece horns section will blow your away. On the B side, in a completely different style, the organ drives an early and heavy reggae beat while horns section takes you on a soaring journey. Thrills guaranteed!
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1
Cosmic Shuffling - Poor M. Collins
2
Cosmic Shuffling - Memories Of Plans-Bochet
Cosmic Shuffling took us on its journey last year with its magnificent vocal album COSMIC QUEST. Now the Swiss septet extraordinaire returns with the sequel of its latest album: the instrumental side of the Quest. These two brand new 7” singles present four instrumentals taken from an upcoming full instrumental album due out September 2024. If you wish that Tommy McCook, Bobby Ellis, Roland Alphonso or Don Drummond had written more melancholic instrumentals, these tunes are for you! Burning hot scorchers!
Led by a gorgeous horns and flute top line, ‘Poor M. Collins’ grooves with a rhythmic finesse that will have you swaying to its infectious beat, while ‘Memories of Plans-Bochet’ takes you on a nostalgic ride, leaving an indelible mark on your soul.
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Germany
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Led by a gorgeous horns and flute top line, ‘Poor M. Collins’ grooves with a rhythmic finesse that will have you swaying to its infectious beat, while ‘Memories of Plans-Bochet’ takes you on a nostalgic ride, leaving an indelible mark on your soul.
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Germany
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1
I Kong - Keep Grooving (Extented Mix)
2
Najavibes, Fyah Horns - Keep Blowing (Instrumental)
3
Androo - Keep Moving (Polyremix)
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
Roots Architects w/ Ernest Ranglin & Tyr - Memories Of Old
2
Roots Architects w/ Ernest Ranglin & Tyr - Version
Bringing together over 50 of Jamaica's greatest session musicians, whose work spans from the birth of reggae in the late 1960s until today, Roots Architects is the largest gathering of Jamaican musical talent on one all-instrumental album. Never before have so many veterans, who helped create the immortal rhythms that made reggae internationally successful, been assembled to play on new material without vocals. This project aims to celebrate and pay tribute to the unsung heroes of reggae music: the rhythm builders or Roots Architects.Before releasing the full album, due out April 2024, this new single gives you a taste of what's coming your way. Legends back together in Kingston studios doing what they do best: creating instrumental music all together! 'Memories of Old' pays tribute to the rocksteady era. You'll be delighted by Ernest Ranglin's guitar solo and Tyrone Downie's organ solo.B side features a version expertly mixed by Roberto Sánchez!
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Babylon A Quake
2
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Dub Quake
3
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Gwaan And Low Me (Extended)
4
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - I Man Beam
5
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - I And I Dub
6
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Old John Crow
7
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Dub Crow
8
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Nil Rome
9
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Annihilation Dub
10
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Row Fisherman
11
Derajah Meets The 18th Parallel - Fisherdub
Known for being part of the INNA DE YARD family for almost 20 years, Jamaican singer extraordinaire DERAJAH is a major figure in Kingston music scene. He is the bridge between the old and new generations, passing the knowledge from the elders to the youths. We are delighted to present his latest effort in collaboration with A-class studio band The 18th Parallel: ‘PROSPERITY’. A showcase album of 6 songs with dub versions produced between Geneva, Switzerland and Kingston, Jamaica. With the expert touch of mixing maestro Westfinga, the 11 tracks of ‘Prosperity’ are sonic masterpieces, timeless and innovative.
In between the raw and brutal sound of 80’s Jamaican rub a dub and today’s sophisticated and polished modern sound. Derajah's raw and emotive vocals paint vivid pictures of struggle and resilience, carrying a profound message of social consciousness and resistance against oppressive forces, while The 18th Parallel's ultra-solid riddims create a rich tapestry of sound that will transport you to the heart of roots reggae. With its impeccable production quality, ‘Prosperity’ captures the essence of reggae's golden era.
This groundbreaking album is a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, uplift, and ignite change.
The story towards the creation of this album also needs to be shared. As Fruits Records members were in Jamaica on tour and to record their first projects, they crossed Derajah paths a couple times without getting a chance to work together. But this was enough to set a strong foundation to a relationship that goes way beyond the musical side only. A few years after this meeting, one phone call only was enough to start the process. The rest is pure magic! Spontaneity, trust and loyalty became the guidelines for the creation of this gem, which stand out of time and space, and aim to carry on its path anyone seeking for knowledge, love and prosperity.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
In between the raw and brutal sound of 80’s Jamaican rub a dub and today’s sophisticated and polished modern sound. Derajah's raw and emotive vocals paint vivid pictures of struggle and resilience, carrying a profound message of social consciousness and resistance against oppressive forces, while The 18th Parallel's ultra-solid riddims create a rich tapestry of sound that will transport you to the heart of roots reggae. With its impeccable production quality, ‘Prosperity’ captures the essence of reggae's golden era.
This groundbreaking album is a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, uplift, and ignite change.
The story towards the creation of this album also needs to be shared. As Fruits Records members were in Jamaica on tour and to record their first projects, they crossed Derajah paths a couple times without getting a chance to work together. But this was enough to set a strong foundation to a relationship that goes way beyond the musical side only. A few years after this meeting, one phone call only was enough to start the process. The rest is pure magic! Spontaneity, trust and loyalty became the guidelines for the creation of this gem, which stand out of time and space, and aim to carry on its path anyone seeking for knowledge, love and prosperity.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Joe Yorke, The 18th Parallel - End Of The Day
2
Joe Yorke, The 18th Parallel - Dub Of The Day
Two of the most prominent activists on the current European reggae scene join forces on this brand new song. ‘END OF THE DAY’ is a combination between Bristol singer JOE YORKE and Swiss reggae band THE 18TH PARALLEL. Written by master storyteller Eeyun Delroy Purkins from The Co-Operators who recently released a highly acclaimed album with Joe Yorke titled ‘A Distant Beat’, ‘End of The Day’ showcases the remarkable talent of both crews: on the one hand enchanting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics provided by Joe’s soulful voice and Eeyun’s brilliant pen, on the other infectious grooves and impeccable musicianship by The 18th Parallel. This mesmerizing collaboration is highlighted by Westfinga’s perfect early 80’s rub a dub mixing. When these extraordinary forces collide, magic happens. Step into the rhythm and embrace a state of pure musical bliss!
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Germany
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Customers who bought this also bought this
Label:Lo Recordings
Cat-No:Lo253
Release-Date:03.10.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:2LP
Label:Lo Recordings
Cat-No:Lo253
Release-Date:03.10.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:2LP
1
Susumu Yokota - Saku
2
Susumu Yokota - Uchu Tanjyo
3
Susumu Yokota - Hagoromo
4
Susumu Yokota - Genshi
5
Susumu Yokota - Gekkoh
6
Susumu Yokota - Kirakiraboshi
7
Susumu Yokota - Kodomotachi
8
Susumu Yokota - Hisen
9
Susumu Yokota - Tobiume
10
Susumu Yokota - Naminote
11
Susumu Yokota - Shinsen
12
Susumu Yokota - Azukiiro No Kaori
Repress coming on the 19th of December!
Format:
- Limited edition petrol blue 2x12” vinyl LP.
- Housed in PMS printed inner sleeve, featuring custom fonts by No Format and spot gloss abstraction of the original album artwork.
- Accompanied with a double sided 2-panel insert and double sided 4 panel poster.
- All sleeved in a custom PMS reverse board outer sleeve with die cut square centre panel and belly band.
Sakura is without doubt the most loved and lauded entry in Susumu Yokota’s catalogue.
The music unravels like cascades of petals falling from the eponymous cherry blossom trees. Yokota intended to ‘express ki-do-ai-raku (the four emotions; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness) through music’, and throughout Sakura, the effect fluctuates between profound tranquillity, hesitation, melancholy and joy with ease, addressing the fickle nature of human emotion, while transcending the inclination to label moods entirely.
Sakura became Yokota’s best selling album. It was greeted with universal acclaim, lauded by Philip Glass and Brian Eno and launched Yokota internationally.
‘A bittersweet beauty, heightened by the sadness that all things must one day end.’ - Martyn Pepperell
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Format:
- Limited edition petrol blue 2x12” vinyl LP.
- Housed in PMS printed inner sleeve, featuring custom fonts by No Format and spot gloss abstraction of the original album artwork.
- Accompanied with a double sided 2-panel insert and double sided 4 panel poster.
- All sleeved in a custom PMS reverse board outer sleeve with die cut square centre panel and belly band.
Sakura is without doubt the most loved and lauded entry in Susumu Yokota’s catalogue.
The music unravels like cascades of petals falling from the eponymous cherry blossom trees. Yokota intended to ‘express ki-do-ai-raku (the four emotions; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness) through music’, and throughout Sakura, the effect fluctuates between profound tranquillity, hesitation, melancholy and joy with ease, addressing the fickle nature of human emotion, while transcending the inclination to label moods entirely.
Sakura became Yokota’s best selling album. It was greeted with universal acclaim, lauded by Philip Glass and Brian Eno and launched Yokota internationally.
‘A bittersweet beauty, heightened by the sadness that all things must one day end.’ - Martyn Pepperell
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Robert Leiner - Out Of Control
2
Robert Leiner - Visions Of The Past
3
Robert Leiner - Interval
4
Robert Leiner - To Places You've Never Been
5
Robert Leiner - Aqua Viva
6
Robert Leiner - Full Moon Ritual
7
Robert Leiner - Zenit
8
Robert Leiner - Dream Of Reality
9
Robert Leiner - From Beyond And Back
10
Robert Leiner - Northern Dark
Swedish producer Robert Leiner’s landmark 1994 album ‘Visions Of The Past’ finally gets a vinyl LP reissue on Apollo, the ‘ambient division’ of R&S Records. Long regarded as one of the pivotal ambient/electronic long players, the album has stood the test of time and serves as a reminder on how potent the early ambient techno releases were.
Leiner was a central figure in the early European techno and ambient landscape, carving out a distinctive sound that bridged atmospheric depth and rhythmic intensity. Known for his releases as The Source Experience and contributions to the R&S/Apollo catalogue, as a producer and engineer, Leiner’s work resonated across the underground, earning him a reputation for visionary, emotionally charged productions that stood apart from his contemporaries.
'Visions Of The Past’ captures this duality perfectly with expansive ambient passages that drift into hypnotic techno, while layers of intricate sound design and pulsating low end create a timeless and immersive listening experience. Tracks unfold with patience and precision, like the 12-minute-long marine epic ‘Aqua Viva’, balancing introspection with kinetic dance energy, and the new age ambience of ‘Dream Or Reality’ and ‘Northern Dark’ embodying the forward-thinking ethos that defined Apollo’s golden era.
Three decades on, this long out of print album finally returns on vinyl format, freshly remastered and restored, reaffirming its status as an essential document of electronic music’s evolution and Robert Leiner’s enduring influence.
‘Visions Of The Past’ by Robert Leiner is available on Apollo Records from 7th November 2025.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Leiner was a central figure in the early European techno and ambient landscape, carving out a distinctive sound that bridged atmospheric depth and rhythmic intensity. Known for his releases as The Source Experience and contributions to the R&S/Apollo catalogue, as a producer and engineer, Leiner’s work resonated across the underground, earning him a reputation for visionary, emotionally charged productions that stood apart from his contemporaries.
'Visions Of The Past’ captures this duality perfectly with expansive ambient passages that drift into hypnotic techno, while layers of intricate sound design and pulsating low end create a timeless and immersive listening experience. Tracks unfold with patience and precision, like the 12-minute-long marine epic ‘Aqua Viva’, balancing introspection with kinetic dance energy, and the new age ambience of ‘Dream Or Reality’ and ‘Northern Dark’ embodying the forward-thinking ethos that defined Apollo’s golden era.
Three decades on, this long out of print album finally returns on vinyl format, freshly remastered and restored, reaffirming its status as an essential document of electronic music’s evolution and Robert Leiner’s enduring influence.
‘Visions Of The Past’ by Robert Leiner is available on Apollo Records from 7th November 2025.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Reflection - Because
2
Ara Pacis - To The Westcoast
3
Mainpoint - Frisbee
4
Nuages - Strange Weekend
5
Austrian Sky - Dieter Heyduk
6
Gavin James - River of Laughter
7
Top Spin - Bikin
8
Jan Pack Band - Cable Dance
9
Goldfinger - Walkin' In The Sand
10
Major Seven - Silverboat
ONLY Europe! NO rest of WW / UK!
When people think of Yacht Rock-those smooth, sun-drenched sounds that once drifted from Californian radio stations in the late '70s and early '80s-they rarely imagine it echoing through rehearsal rooms in Hamburg or Linz. Yet even far from the Pacific coastline, the appeal of shimmering chords, laid-back grooves, and polished production found fertile ground.
This compilation gathers rare and overlooked tracks from Germany and Austria. These artists embraced West Coast aesthetics with sincerity and subtle twists, resulting in music that feels both familiar and refreshingly new-smooth sounds for cloudy skies. So drop anchor, pour something cool, and enjoy this unexpected cruise through the lesser-charted waters of Euro Yacht Rock.
Our journey begins in Austria, where Reflection's Because (1981) set the tone with blue-eyed soul and analogue warmth-a sunlit blend of Doobie Brothers polish and local charm. Its creator, Dieter Heyduk, reappears with Austrian Sky, a heartfelt nod to his homeland that fuses mountain calm with oceanic longing.
From the North Sea island of Föhr, Ara Pacis dreamed of California on their 1979 self-release To the Westcoast. Inspired by Steely Dan and Lake, they turned German rock precision into breezy, melodic sophistication. Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, Mainpoint fused funk and jazz-rock on Frisbee, their 1980 single bursting with rhythmic drive and optimism before the tide of the Neue Deutsche Welle swept such grooves aside.
Bremerhaven's Nuages offered the compilation's only instrumental gem, Strange Weekend (1985)-a gentle blend of jazz-funk and rock and largely lost to time. Its cool restraint captures the European interpretation of Californian ease.
Around the same period, British traveler Gavin James recorded River of Laughter in southern Germany, backed by the blues-rock band Black Cat Bone. His acoustic reflections on water and flow mirrored the soft, meditative pulse at Yacht Rock's core.
Berlin's Top Spin kept things playful with Bikin (1985), a funk-fusion snapshot of urban joy that showcased the city's finest session players. From the Ruhr area, the Jan Pack Band is up next. While not a typical Yacht Rock track, Cable Dance is driven by an effortless, groovy '80s vibe.
Peter Seiler's Goldfinger project reimagined Walkin' in the Sand as a relaxed reggae-tinged track, while Munich's Major Seven closed the voyage with Silverboat, a wistful soft rock ballad gliding between melancholy and light.
Across these hidden harbors of German and Austrian pop, the West Coast dream took on new forms-reflected in rivers, skies, and studio lights half a world away from L.A. Under and Above the Clouds celebrates that spirit: the enduring pull of smooth music, wherever it's made.
Special remarks:
- Co-release with Tramp Records
- First ever German Yacht Rock compilation with a selection of extremely rare tunes
- Fully Licenced
- Thick gatefold sleeve with hype sticker and extended liner notes
- Artwork by Chrisse Kunst
- Pressed on BIO VINYL -> Replacement of petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases
- Manufactured in Germany
Tracklist:
Side A:
Reflection - Because
Ara Pacis - To The Westcoast
Mainpoint - Frisbee
Nuages - Strange Weekend
Dieter Heyduk - Austrian Sky
Side B:
Gavin James - River of Laughter
Top Spin - Bikin
Jan Pack Band - Cable Dance
Goldfinger - Walkin' In The Sand
Major Seven - Silverboat
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
When people think of Yacht Rock-those smooth, sun-drenched sounds that once drifted from Californian radio stations in the late '70s and early '80s-they rarely imagine it echoing through rehearsal rooms in Hamburg or Linz. Yet even far from the Pacific coastline, the appeal of shimmering chords, laid-back grooves, and polished production found fertile ground.
This compilation gathers rare and overlooked tracks from Germany and Austria. These artists embraced West Coast aesthetics with sincerity and subtle twists, resulting in music that feels both familiar and refreshingly new-smooth sounds for cloudy skies. So drop anchor, pour something cool, and enjoy this unexpected cruise through the lesser-charted waters of Euro Yacht Rock.
Our journey begins in Austria, where Reflection's Because (1981) set the tone with blue-eyed soul and analogue warmth-a sunlit blend of Doobie Brothers polish and local charm. Its creator, Dieter Heyduk, reappears with Austrian Sky, a heartfelt nod to his homeland that fuses mountain calm with oceanic longing.
From the North Sea island of Föhr, Ara Pacis dreamed of California on their 1979 self-release To the Westcoast. Inspired by Steely Dan and Lake, they turned German rock precision into breezy, melodic sophistication. Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, Mainpoint fused funk and jazz-rock on Frisbee, their 1980 single bursting with rhythmic drive and optimism before the tide of the Neue Deutsche Welle swept such grooves aside.
Bremerhaven's Nuages offered the compilation's only instrumental gem, Strange Weekend (1985)-a gentle blend of jazz-funk and rock and largely lost to time. Its cool restraint captures the European interpretation of Californian ease.
Around the same period, British traveler Gavin James recorded River of Laughter in southern Germany, backed by the blues-rock band Black Cat Bone. His acoustic reflections on water and flow mirrored the soft, meditative pulse at Yacht Rock's core.
Berlin's Top Spin kept things playful with Bikin (1985), a funk-fusion snapshot of urban joy that showcased the city's finest session players. From the Ruhr area, the Jan Pack Band is up next. While not a typical Yacht Rock track, Cable Dance is driven by an effortless, groovy '80s vibe.
Peter Seiler's Goldfinger project reimagined Walkin' in the Sand as a relaxed reggae-tinged track, while Munich's Major Seven closed the voyage with Silverboat, a wistful soft rock ballad gliding between melancholy and light.
Across these hidden harbors of German and Austrian pop, the West Coast dream took on new forms-reflected in rivers, skies, and studio lights half a world away from L.A. Under and Above the Clouds celebrates that spirit: the enduring pull of smooth music, wherever it's made.
Special remarks:
- Co-release with Tramp Records
- First ever German Yacht Rock compilation with a selection of extremely rare tunes
- Fully Licenced
- Thick gatefold sleeve with hype sticker and extended liner notes
- Artwork by Chrisse Kunst
- Pressed on BIO VINYL -> Replacement of petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases
- Manufactured in Germany
Tracklist:
Side A:
Reflection - Because
Ara Pacis - To The Westcoast
Mainpoint - Frisbee
Nuages - Strange Weekend
Dieter Heyduk - Austrian Sky
Side B:
Gavin James - River of Laughter
Top Spin - Bikin
Jan Pack Band - Cable Dance
Goldfinger - Walkin' In The Sand
Major Seven - Silverboat
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
V.A. - A1.Man
2
V.A. - A2.Light
3
V.A. - B1.Jack
4
V.A. - B2.Titanic
Essential Item Limited Edition No Re-Press...
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
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Molly Nilsson - 1. Die Cry Lie
2
Molly Nilsson - 2. Valhalla
3
Molly Nilsson - 3. Swedish Nightmare
4
Molly Nilsson - 4. Classified
5
Molly Nilsson - 5. Long Time No See
6
Molly Nilsson - 6. Fatal Distraction
7
Molly Nilsson - 7. Get A Life
8
Molly Nilsson - 8. Joe Hill’s Last Will
9
Molly Nilsson - 9. How Much Is The World
10
Molly Nilsson - 10. Creeping Beauty
11
Molly Nilsson - 11. All The Way
12
Molly Nilsson - 12. Big Life
13
Molly Nilsson - 13. The Bitter End
LP - territory: WW- UK/USA/CA/Benelux/AU/NZ/JP
Lp - BLACK VINYL ONLY IN GLOSS LAMINATED SLEEVE
Tracklist:
1. Die Cry Lie
2. Valhalla
3. Swedish Nightmare
4. Classified
5. Long Time No See
6. Fatal Distraction
7. Get A Life
8. Joe Hill’s Last Will
9. How Much Is The World
10. Creeping Beauty
11. All The Way
12. Big Life
13. The Bitter End
The word "amateur" originates from the Latin word "amator," meaning "lover" or "admirer". This Latin term is derived from "amare," which means "to
love". The French adopted "amateur" from Latin, and the English then borrowed it from French, initially retaining the sense of someone who loves or
is devoted to something. Over time, the English usage of "amateur" also developed a meaning related to a lack of professional skill or experience.
How did a word derived from love become a slur? Is love really so defenseless? They say love conquers all, but in reality isn’t love quite ridiculous?
It has no intention, no motive, no agenda. How could it possibly prevail? It can’t be bought or sold, or so they say.Its mere existence can't be proven or
even measured. What an impossible thing. Trying and failing, time and time again, no wonder cynicism always seems to win. I see “amateurism” as a
delighted, even foolish, protest. Protest against everything. Of what’s expected of someone, or expected of someone to desire or strive for. To be elite,
to be expert, to be professional, to be a master, to excel and succeed. Where’s the joy in that? I just want to have fun. I want to want. I want to love.
And keep doing it, forever. I want to have fun, even when it’s tiring and sometimes even heaven is boring as hell. I want to be bad. I want to do my
own thing. “I vant to be alone”. I want to be someone so dedicated to their passion that it starts to seem like there’s something wrong with them. All
the way. We can take it all the way, and never get it back.
” - Molly Nilsson
Amateur is the 12th studio album by Molly Nilsson. Deep in the teeth of a career that threatens to tip into something resembling a “legacy,” Molly
Nilsson celebrates with an album recorded instinctively, quickly and bursting with so many moments of emotional brilliance and clarity it may be her
greatest yet. Hers has been a career spent reaching out, perennially powerful in her earnestness, a warrior ridiculously defenceless and armed with a
glittering sincerity. Shearing herself of the machinations of the music industry, recording at home, writing direct to the heart.
Amateur is a jubilee for losers. A treatise in 13 songs, Amateur states clearly that we should live our life with eternal curiosity, offers us an open hand
of comradeship out of the rat race. The songs on the album are both some of the most personal of Nilsson’s career and the most anthemic. First
single How Much Is The World asks us to re-evaluate value in the face of a Neo-liberal system squeezing the life out of our loves. Pulsing opener Die
Cry Lie satirises the commercialisation of emotion in the form of a shout-along diss-track. With a pounding rhythm track held down by gorgeous chord
changes, heartbreaker Valhalla carries the torch for the main themes of the album: never growing up, making mistakes with kindness, moving on.
When the drums crash in on the line “It’s going to get better now, you’ll see, going to be much better off without me” there is a world of feeling swirling
about in the vocal delivery. One reading of the track might be that it’s a break up song but the subtext is classic Molly Nilsson: by living truthfully,
making mistakes, we’re active agents against the myriad oppressions of the world.
All The Way takes the theme for a run into the eternal sunset. It’s a manifesto for living fully. “Take it all the way, and never get it back” - it’s the
process that’s the important point. The journey not the destination. Big Life, follows on like a part 2: An ode not only to Molly Nilsson’s career of
endless gigs, endless connections with people, it’s a massive ode for following your dreams, doing it yourself. Closer The Bitter End is a powerful
anthem for friendship, another definition of love infused in Nilsson’s work, A beautifully poignant ode to comradeship til the end, it seems to be the
songwriter approaching aging, approaching life’s inevitability with the same vigour and earnestness, the same love of life she enjoyed at the onset of
her career.
There are moments on Amateur shrouded in reverb, slightly out of focus, forcing the listener to step deeper into the Mollyverse.. Nilsson’s open-armed
beseeching to the world permeates every beat, every chord. These are songs exploding with life: the chunky, aggressive bassline on the punker Get A
Life can’t hide its massive, catchy chorus. The sweeping Swedish Nightmare might be a tongue-in-cheek self-reference, but at its heart it’s a song
about the duality of living life large, what is a dream, what is a nightmare? Molly Nilsson says you can’t have one without the other, and why would you
want to?
Here’s to making mistakes.
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
Lp - BLACK VINYL ONLY IN GLOSS LAMINATED SLEEVE
Tracklist:
1. Die Cry Lie
2. Valhalla
3. Swedish Nightmare
4. Classified
5. Long Time No See
6. Fatal Distraction
7. Get A Life
8. Joe Hill’s Last Will
9. How Much Is The World
10. Creeping Beauty
11. All The Way
12. Big Life
13. The Bitter End
The word "amateur" originates from the Latin word "amator," meaning "lover" or "admirer". This Latin term is derived from "amare," which means "to
love". The French adopted "amateur" from Latin, and the English then borrowed it from French, initially retaining the sense of someone who loves or
is devoted to something. Over time, the English usage of "amateur" also developed a meaning related to a lack of professional skill or experience.
How did a word derived from love become a slur? Is love really so defenseless? They say love conquers all, but in reality isn’t love quite ridiculous?
It has no intention, no motive, no agenda. How could it possibly prevail? It can’t be bought or sold, or so they say.Its mere existence can't be proven or
even measured. What an impossible thing. Trying and failing, time and time again, no wonder cynicism always seems to win. I see “amateurism” as a
delighted, even foolish, protest. Protest against everything. Of what’s expected of someone, or expected of someone to desire or strive for. To be elite,
to be expert, to be professional, to be a master, to excel and succeed. Where’s the joy in that? I just want to have fun. I want to want. I want to love.
And keep doing it, forever. I want to have fun, even when it’s tiring and sometimes even heaven is boring as hell. I want to be bad. I want to do my
own thing. “I vant to be alone”. I want to be someone so dedicated to their passion that it starts to seem like there’s something wrong with them. All
the way. We can take it all the way, and never get it back.
” - Molly Nilsson
Amateur is the 12th studio album by Molly Nilsson. Deep in the teeth of a career that threatens to tip into something resembling a “legacy,” Molly
Nilsson celebrates with an album recorded instinctively, quickly and bursting with so many moments of emotional brilliance and clarity it may be her
greatest yet. Hers has been a career spent reaching out, perennially powerful in her earnestness, a warrior ridiculously defenceless and armed with a
glittering sincerity. Shearing herself of the machinations of the music industry, recording at home, writing direct to the heart.
Amateur is a jubilee for losers. A treatise in 13 songs, Amateur states clearly that we should live our life with eternal curiosity, offers us an open hand
of comradeship out of the rat race. The songs on the album are both some of the most personal of Nilsson’s career and the most anthemic. First
single How Much Is The World asks us to re-evaluate value in the face of a Neo-liberal system squeezing the life out of our loves. Pulsing opener Die
Cry Lie satirises the commercialisation of emotion in the form of a shout-along diss-track. With a pounding rhythm track held down by gorgeous chord
changes, heartbreaker Valhalla carries the torch for the main themes of the album: never growing up, making mistakes with kindness, moving on.
When the drums crash in on the line “It’s going to get better now, you’ll see, going to be much better off without me” there is a world of feeling swirling
about in the vocal delivery. One reading of the track might be that it’s a break up song but the subtext is classic Molly Nilsson: by living truthfully,
making mistakes, we’re active agents against the myriad oppressions of the world.
All The Way takes the theme for a run into the eternal sunset. It’s a manifesto for living fully. “Take it all the way, and never get it back” - it’s the
process that’s the important point. The journey not the destination. Big Life, follows on like a part 2: An ode not only to Molly Nilsson’s career of
endless gigs, endless connections with people, it’s a massive ode for following your dreams, doing it yourself. Closer The Bitter End is a powerful
anthem for friendship, another definition of love infused in Nilsson’s work, A beautifully poignant ode to comradeship til the end, it seems to be the
songwriter approaching aging, approaching life’s inevitability with the same vigour and earnestness, the same love of life she enjoyed at the onset of
her career.
There are moments on Amateur shrouded in reverb, slightly out of focus, forcing the listener to step deeper into the Mollyverse.. Nilsson’s open-armed
beseeching to the world permeates every beat, every chord. These are songs exploding with life: the chunky, aggressive bassline on the punker Get A
Life can’t hide its massive, catchy chorus. The sweeping Swedish Nightmare might be a tongue-in-cheek self-reference, but at its heart it’s a song
about the duality of living life large, what is a dream, what is a nightmare? Molly Nilsson says you can’t have one without the other, and why would you
want to?
Here’s to making mistakes.
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1
Deep Joy - Fall (Andrew Weatherall Let There Be Drums Mix)
2
Thrashing Doves - Je$u$ on the Payroll (Unreleased Instrumental Version)
3
Kc Flightt - Let’s Get Jazzy (Dope Dub Mix)
4
The Metaluna Mutant - Blinky Blue Eyed Sunrise (Original Mix)
Following on from the super-fast stock sell-outs of the 2LP of joyous Alfredo selections, Rebirth follow up with the first of the sample EPs of rare, cherished and formerly unreleased gems. Deep Joy of Brainiak (and Mo Wax) fame had their stunning “Fall” track remixed by lord Sabre, Andrew Weatherall himself; an often-missed indie-chug delight from the early 90’s. The Thrashing Doves and their scene stamping classic Je$u$ on the Payroll, needs very little introduction, but this Unreleased Instrumental Version, like it states, has never been on vinyl before. Flip over for another hip hop/club hybrid of a track with KC Flightt’s “Lets get Jazzy”, and its iconic sound which was remixed by the legendary Blaze; then finishing up with sunrise/sunset jamm, “Blinky Blue Eyed Sunrise”, by The Metaluna Mutant. A must for any lover of the white isle and it’s heritage.
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Germany
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Germany
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1
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Sou Filho Desse Chão
2
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Círculo Vicioso
3
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Girassol
4
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Capoeira
5
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - O Tempo Que Esse Tempo Tem
6
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Manda Embora A Tristeza
7
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Misturando Rock Com Baião
8
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Ter O Que Eu Tenho Sem Você
9
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Capoeira
10
Eduardo Araújo & Silvinha - Opanigê
Brazil is a treasure trove of inspirational music from the past, present, and future. Here we head back to 1976 for a one-of-a-kind kaleidoscopic journey, melding Brazilian regional rhythms with funk, rock, soul, and psychedelia by the married couple Eduardo Araújo and Silvinha. A cult classic and beloved record for some of the scene’s biggest DJs including Floating Points, it was further immortalised when Madlib sampled ‘Opanigê’ for his track ‘São Paulo’.
Singers Eduardo Araújo and Silvinha Araújo had successful careers in Brazil beginning in the 1960s. Eduardo broke through with the rock-infused Jovem Guarda hit ‘O Bom’. Stepping into more soulful territory, Eduardo released ‘A Onda É Boogaloo’ in 1969, produced by a young Tim Maia and followed it up with a number of other notable releases. Also part of the Jovem Guarda movement, Silvinha recorded a string of excellent albums and numerous 7” compactos for Odeon and RCA.
In 1976, the duo set forth the landmark underground album Sou Filho Dêsse Chão, complete with its eye-catching psychedelic cover art by Gustavo Matula and Jan Matula. The album featured a heavyweight line up of musicians, including accordionist supreme Dominguinhos, the drummer Dirceu Medeiros, who played on the first Os Mutantes album, and members of the esteemed bands Banda Black Rio and Som Nosso.
Sou Filho Dêsse Chão was inspired by the pair's travels to Salvador, Bahia. Eduardo was influenced by the Brazilian culture of the region and wanted to incorporate and capture the sounds of capoeira, Forró, and candomblé into the album. Here we have the traditional African-Brazilian culture of Northern Brazil fusing with the contemporary commercial music of Rio and São Paulo’s Tropicalia, MPB, psych-rock, and Black Rio movements. Uniting the cultures, Eduardo and Silvinha managed to combine these genres seamlessly.
It's an album full of highlights, with the Tim Maia-esque funk of ‘O Tempo Que Esse Tempo Tem’ laced with its rock tones, sitting side by side with the accordion-driven ‘Sou Filho Desse Chão’ and rolling groove of ‘Manda Embora A Tristeza’. Elsewhere the elegant trippy psych-funk of ‘Capoeira’ sees Eduardo and Silvinha effortlessly trading vocal duties. The record would also reach a new audience outside of Brazil when one of the standout tracks, the highly original spacey ‘Opanigê’, was sampled by Madlib for his track ‘São Paulo’.
Even though on release it was not a commercial success, Sou Filho Dêsse Chão has since found its place as an iconic and treasured LP.
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Singers Eduardo Araújo and Silvinha Araújo had successful careers in Brazil beginning in the 1960s. Eduardo broke through with the rock-infused Jovem Guarda hit ‘O Bom’. Stepping into more soulful territory, Eduardo released ‘A Onda É Boogaloo’ in 1969, produced by a young Tim Maia and followed it up with a number of other notable releases. Also part of the Jovem Guarda movement, Silvinha recorded a string of excellent albums and numerous 7” compactos for Odeon and RCA.
In 1976, the duo set forth the landmark underground album Sou Filho Dêsse Chão, complete with its eye-catching psychedelic cover art by Gustavo Matula and Jan Matula. The album featured a heavyweight line up of musicians, including accordionist supreme Dominguinhos, the drummer Dirceu Medeiros, who played on the first Os Mutantes album, and members of the esteemed bands Banda Black Rio and Som Nosso.
Sou Filho Dêsse Chão was inspired by the pair's travels to Salvador, Bahia. Eduardo was influenced by the Brazilian culture of the region and wanted to incorporate and capture the sounds of capoeira, Forró, and candomblé into the album. Here we have the traditional African-Brazilian culture of Northern Brazil fusing with the contemporary commercial music of Rio and São Paulo’s Tropicalia, MPB, psych-rock, and Black Rio movements. Uniting the cultures, Eduardo and Silvinha managed to combine these genres seamlessly.
It's an album full of highlights, with the Tim Maia-esque funk of ‘O Tempo Que Esse Tempo Tem’ laced with its rock tones, sitting side by side with the accordion-driven ‘Sou Filho Desse Chão’ and rolling groove of ‘Manda Embora A Tristeza’. Elsewhere the elegant trippy psych-funk of ‘Capoeira’ sees Eduardo and Silvinha effortlessly trading vocal duties. The record would also reach a new audience outside of Brazil when one of the standout tracks, the highly original spacey ‘Opanigê’, was sampled by Madlib for his track ‘São Paulo’.
Even though on release it was not a commercial success, Sou Filho Dêsse Chão has since found its place as an iconic and treasured LP.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Islandman - Rüzgar
2
Islandman - Adada
3
Islandman - Eros
4
Islandman - Ala Geyik
5
Islandman - Cool Saz
6
Islandman - SLWLY
Island5 is Islandman’s most focused and detailed exploration of Anatolian psychedelia to date. They re-imagine the deep-rooted sounds of Anatolia through a modern lens. To them, this music isn’t frozen in time — it’s alive, shifting, and always becoming. Tradition, in their hands, isn’t something to preserve in glass, but something to carry, stretch, and let grow.
Each track offers a different angle into this reimagined sound. Analog synths mimic reed instruments, fuzzed guitars evoke forgotten tales, and percussion carries both the pulse of the city and the stillness of rural ground. There are meditative passages that invite silence (Slwly), and sunlit grooves that move the body before the mind (Adada, Rüzgar). Everything flows as if improvised—but nothing feels accidental.
Tracklisting
1 Rüzgar
2 Adada
3 Eros
4 Ala Geyik
5 Cool Saz
6 SLWLY
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Germany
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Each track offers a different angle into this reimagined sound. Analog synths mimic reed instruments, fuzzed guitars evoke forgotten tales, and percussion carries both the pulse of the city and the stillness of rural ground. There are meditative passages that invite silence (Slwly), and sunlit grooves that move the body before the mind (Adada, Rüzgar). Everything flows as if improvised—but nothing feels accidental.
Tracklisting
1 Rüzgar
2 Adada
3 Eros
4 Ala Geyik
5 Cool Saz
6 SLWLY
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
Safari - Safari
2
Safari - The Morning After
3
Safari - Lonely One In City
4
Safari - Brass Monkey
5
Safari - Mr. Gregg
6
Safari - Day Dream At The Bob's Beach
7
Safari - All Right In The Night
8
Safari - Twin Of The Cafe Au Lait
LP: Transparent Vinyl, Heavyweight 350gsm Sleeve, Obi
Tracklisting LP
A1 Safari 6:17
A2 The Morning After 5:02
A3 Lonely One In City 5:33
A4 Brass Monkey 5:32
B1 Mr. Gregg 5:27
B2 Day Dream At The Bob's Beach 4:43
B3 All Right In The Night 4:42
B4 Twin Of The Cafe Au Lait 6:45
Info
WRWTFWW Records is extremely happy to present the official reissue of Safari's self-titled album from 1984. The Japanese jazz-fusion super gem is available now as a limited-edition transparent vinyl LP housed in a heavyweight sleeve with obi.
Originally released on fabled label VAP, Safari is a one-of-a-kind city pop-adjacent summer blend of AOR, smooth jazz, and sun-drenched boogie. The sole album from the all-star outfit was the brainchild of keyboardist Toshiyuki Daitoku and Japan-based Californian jazz-funk-latin-fusion bassist Gregg Lee. Together with a large team of experienced musicians, they created a lush, immaculately-arranged 8-track cruise filled with poolside grooves, breezy rhythms, and feel-good vocal harmonies.
Safari features the well-known title track which acted as the theme song for an 80s sports program on Fuji Television, the night-swim chill music tune "All Right in The Night", and the fan-favorite buoyant vacation hit "The Morning After".
The official reissue is fully licensed and sourced from the original masters, with an audiophile cut by Sidney Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios, ensuring the warm, pristine sound this lost treasure deserves.
Safari is the second release from WRWTFWW's City Pop Series, following Momoko Kikuchi's beach classic Ocean Side, also available on transparent vinyl LP. The series, complete with a visual identity designed by Lopetz/Büro Destruct, also comes with a limited merch capsule, and more sun-soaked gems lined up for the future.
Points of interest
- For fans of Jazz-fusion, AOR, mellow funk, yacht rock, city pop, smooth jazz, chillwave, vaporwave, very endless summers, private press treasures, skinny dipping at night, living life with no worries.
- Super limited edition transparent vinyl LP reissue of Japanese jazz-fusion classic Safari by…Safari!
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Tracklisting LP
A1 Safari 6:17
A2 The Morning After 5:02
A3 Lonely One In City 5:33
A4 Brass Monkey 5:32
B1 Mr. Gregg 5:27
B2 Day Dream At The Bob's Beach 4:43
B3 All Right In The Night 4:42
B4 Twin Of The Cafe Au Lait 6:45
Info
WRWTFWW Records is extremely happy to present the official reissue of Safari's self-titled album from 1984. The Japanese jazz-fusion super gem is available now as a limited-edition transparent vinyl LP housed in a heavyweight sleeve with obi.
Originally released on fabled label VAP, Safari is a one-of-a-kind city pop-adjacent summer blend of AOR, smooth jazz, and sun-drenched boogie. The sole album from the all-star outfit was the brainchild of keyboardist Toshiyuki Daitoku and Japan-based Californian jazz-funk-latin-fusion bassist Gregg Lee. Together with a large team of experienced musicians, they created a lush, immaculately-arranged 8-track cruise filled with poolside grooves, breezy rhythms, and feel-good vocal harmonies.
Safari features the well-known title track which acted as the theme song for an 80s sports program on Fuji Television, the night-swim chill music tune "All Right in The Night", and the fan-favorite buoyant vacation hit "The Morning After".
The official reissue is fully licensed and sourced from the original masters, with an audiophile cut by Sidney Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios, ensuring the warm, pristine sound this lost treasure deserves.
Safari is the second release from WRWTFWW's City Pop Series, following Momoko Kikuchi's beach classic Ocean Side, also available on transparent vinyl LP. The series, complete with a visual identity designed by Lopetz/Büro Destruct, also comes with a limited merch capsule, and more sun-soaked gems lined up for the future.
Points of interest
- For fans of Jazz-fusion, AOR, mellow funk, yacht rock, city pop, smooth jazz, chillwave, vaporwave, very endless summers, private press treasures, skinny dipping at night, living life with no worries.
- Super limited edition transparent vinyl LP reissue of Japanese jazz-fusion classic Safari by…Safari!
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Saha Gnawa - Soudani Manayou (feat. Nels Cline)
2
Saha Gnawa - Baba Mimoun
3
Saha Gnawa - Bacha Hamou (feat. Nels Cline)
4
Saha Gnawa - Aicha (feat. Gilad Hekselman)
5
Saha Gnawa - Hamdouchia
6
Saha Gnawa - Tbal (feat. Abraham Rodriguez Jr. & Gilmar Gomes)
7
Saha Gnawa - Sandiya
8
Saha Gnawa - Negshah (feat. Donny McCaslin)
Saha Gnawa’s self-titled debut pairs Moroccan Gnawa with NYC jazz and groove, channeling North African futurism through cross-cultural improvisation. Building off centuries-old practices, traditional song forms dissolve into psychedelic outer-space explorations.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
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Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Wally Badarou - It Couldn't Be You
2
Wally Badarou - You Can't Hide Always
3
Wally Badarou - We'll Make It Again
4
Wally Badarou - Walk Straight Ahead
5
Wally Badarou - Painting My Life Blue
6
Wally Badarou - Just Two Lovers
Format Notes:
2025 first time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 It Couldn't Be You
A2 You Can't Hide Always
A3 We'll Make It Again
B1 Walk Straight Ahead
B2 Painting My Life Blue
B3 Just Two Lovers
Release Notes:
Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record Simple Things finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved Colors Of Silence.
The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits. Simply put, Simple Things is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.
Simple Things has been decades in the making. Indeed, Wally struggled not only with the idea of singing these wonderful songs himself but singing them in English and writing his own lyrics, while wrestling with the sensational backing tracks, which themselves seemed to have taken on a life of their own.
As Wally explained to us: "In addition to the instrumental artist I have been known as, so far, there has always been a singer who simply was not sure he was, up until now. Even though “Back To Scales Tonight”, my very first album, was, indeed, a song album."
Opener "It Couldn't Be You" embellishes the uptempo groove of soca-funk gem "The Lights Of Kinshasa". As Wally explained to us, it's about “a simple love story somewhere, one rainy night, under the lights of Kinshasa. A woman, a man, online dating, quite usual in our times. Then they meet, almost missing each other." The guide vocal Wally had laid for Colors Of Silence - with an organ sound - seemed striving for words in Linguala, a Congolese language he could not speak. Therefore the decision to do it himself was not an easy one, for it had to be in English to fit his singing. We think it turned out pretty good!
"You Can't Hide Always" vocalises Wally's deep concerns set to the propulsive "Smiles By The Millions": "Populism, ostracism, radicalism, ethics and values all turned upside down worldwide, are they all inevitably exacerbated by our social networks? It could all melt down one day, like a house of cards in the ocean of fake news and false prophecies”. Wally wanted to keep the track as bare as possible but, inevitably, the backing vocals and the synth-brass arrive ultimately to present a welcome 70s flavour, with no snare-drum added.
The bright and breezy "We'll Make It Again" adds vocals to "Where Were We", a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands. Here's Waly: "Where were we when we last said: "I love you"? Simple words to express something quite common, but never quite simple to deal with. A simple song about the resilience of the broken hearts.” The reggae came from it being conceived when Wally was scoring for “Third World Cop”, a 1999 Jamaican action movie.
"Walk Straight Ahead" provides Wally's gorgeous, contemplative and idiosyncratic vocals to the deep serenity of Colors Of Silence highlight, "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. As Wally describes, "it started as just whispers, sweet amber whispers. Then the colour turned darker, as darker skies seemed to fall upon us while the whole world keeps on walking ahead, straight ahead, regardless of the blatant warnings, feeling much too comfortable in conformity. Initially, the verses were to be spoken only. I realised they could be sung all the while, without overshadowing the ethereal atmosphere." Amen.
The serene, celestial "Painting My Life Blue" presents the vocal version of "Days To Wonder". Says Wally, "how does it feel when your second half is gone after decades of riding life together? Past the temporary loss of your bearings, you come to realise you've been blind to the essential, and suddenly you can see...For this most intimate song of mine, I had tried to come up with a melody on top of the existing backing track, long before realising the melody was in the keyboard part already. It just needed to be properly mixed with it."
The profoundly emotional "Just Two Lovers" works up the formerly-too-brief and glorious "Crystal Falls" into a much fuller masterpiece and features acoustic guitar sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod percussion. Waly explains further: "Dear little green men, please tell me, what is it about us that makes you want to come and visit us so often (contrary to Fermi's assertion)? And here is the reply I believe I heard them sing: "You've got the key you've been searching for: Love”. I reverted to the initial backing track I had made around 1985, which already bore the melody, and which I added acoustic guitars to, before singing it." An astounding closer.
A synth specialist, there can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
When we asked Wally about the significance of this collection's title, he explained: "These are "Simple things” that everyday’s life seems to build upon. The simplest are the harder to describe, but when satisfactorily described i.e. with simple words, they are the more genuine and authentic to express and share. I’ve immersed myself in other classic song lyrics, something I hardly did before, just to appreciate the genius behind the simple words they were made of, and had a great time studying how powerful they were in expressing complex ideas such as love."
Recording was twofold: first, most of the backing tracks were recorded in 2001, in Wally's studio in Normandy, mostly using hardware synths and Yamaha digital consoles. Then, he fine-tuned the melodies and wrote the lyrics in late 2023, then added some overdubs and sang them all during summer 2024. States Wally, "Digital Performer was and remains the DAW I’ve been using throughout, ever since the 80s."
Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Sometimes, the simple things are the most extraordinary.
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
2025 first time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 It Couldn't Be You
A2 You Can't Hide Always
A3 We'll Make It Again
B1 Walk Straight Ahead
B2 Painting My Life Blue
B3 Just Two Lovers
Release Notes:
Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record Simple Things finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved Colors Of Silence.
The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits. Simply put, Simple Things is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.
Simple Things has been decades in the making. Indeed, Wally struggled not only with the idea of singing these wonderful songs himself but singing them in English and writing his own lyrics, while wrestling with the sensational backing tracks, which themselves seemed to have taken on a life of their own.
As Wally explained to us: "In addition to the instrumental artist I have been known as, so far, there has always been a singer who simply was not sure he was, up until now. Even though “Back To Scales Tonight”, my very first album, was, indeed, a song album."
Opener "It Couldn't Be You" embellishes the uptempo groove of soca-funk gem "The Lights Of Kinshasa". As Wally explained to us, it's about “a simple love story somewhere, one rainy night, under the lights of Kinshasa. A woman, a man, online dating, quite usual in our times. Then they meet, almost missing each other." The guide vocal Wally had laid for Colors Of Silence - with an organ sound - seemed striving for words in Linguala, a Congolese language he could not speak. Therefore the decision to do it himself was not an easy one, for it had to be in English to fit his singing. We think it turned out pretty good!
"You Can't Hide Always" vocalises Wally's deep concerns set to the propulsive "Smiles By The Millions": "Populism, ostracism, radicalism, ethics and values all turned upside down worldwide, are they all inevitably exacerbated by our social networks? It could all melt down one day, like a house of cards in the ocean of fake news and false prophecies”. Wally wanted to keep the track as bare as possible but, inevitably, the backing vocals and the synth-brass arrive ultimately to present a welcome 70s flavour, with no snare-drum added.
The bright and breezy "We'll Make It Again" adds vocals to "Where Were We", a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands. Here's Waly: "Where were we when we last said: "I love you"? Simple words to express something quite common, but never quite simple to deal with. A simple song about the resilience of the broken hearts.” The reggae came from it being conceived when Wally was scoring for “Third World Cop”, a 1999 Jamaican action movie.
"Walk Straight Ahead" provides Wally's gorgeous, contemplative and idiosyncratic vocals to the deep serenity of Colors Of Silence highlight, "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. As Wally describes, "it started as just whispers, sweet amber whispers. Then the colour turned darker, as darker skies seemed to fall upon us while the whole world keeps on walking ahead, straight ahead, regardless of the blatant warnings, feeling much too comfortable in conformity. Initially, the verses were to be spoken only. I realised they could be sung all the while, without overshadowing the ethereal atmosphere." Amen.
The serene, celestial "Painting My Life Blue" presents the vocal version of "Days To Wonder". Says Wally, "how does it feel when your second half is gone after decades of riding life together? Past the temporary loss of your bearings, you come to realise you've been blind to the essential, and suddenly you can see...For this most intimate song of mine, I had tried to come up with a melody on top of the existing backing track, long before realising the melody was in the keyboard part already. It just needed to be properly mixed with it."
The profoundly emotional "Just Two Lovers" works up the formerly-too-brief and glorious "Crystal Falls" into a much fuller masterpiece and features acoustic guitar sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod percussion. Waly explains further: "Dear little green men, please tell me, what is it about us that makes you want to come and visit us so often (contrary to Fermi's assertion)? And here is the reply I believe I heard them sing: "You've got the key you've been searching for: Love”. I reverted to the initial backing track I had made around 1985, which already bore the melody, and which I added acoustic guitars to, before singing it." An astounding closer.
A synth specialist, there can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
When we asked Wally about the significance of this collection's title, he explained: "These are "Simple things” that everyday’s life seems to build upon. The simplest are the harder to describe, but when satisfactorily described i.e. with simple words, they are the more genuine and authentic to express and share. I’ve immersed myself in other classic song lyrics, something I hardly did before, just to appreciate the genius behind the simple words they were made of, and had a great time studying how powerful they were in expressing complex ideas such as love."
Recording was twofold: first, most of the backing tracks were recorded in 2001, in Wally's studio in Normandy, mostly using hardware synths and Yamaha digital consoles. Then, he fine-tuned the melodies and wrote the lyrics in late 2023, then added some overdubs and sang them all during summer 2024. States Wally, "Digital Performer was and remains the DAW I’ve been using throughout, ever since the 80s."
Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Sometimes, the simple things are the most extraordinary.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Ramon Morris - First Come, First Serve
2
Ramon Morris - Wijinia
3
Ramon Morris - Sweet Sister Funk
4
Ramon Morris - Sweat
5
Ramon Morris - Don't Ask Me
6
Ramon Morris - Lord Sideways
7
Ramon Morris - People Make The World Go Round
Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished ‘70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.
Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.
A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.
Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.
Housed in a tip-on sleeve.
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
Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.
A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.
Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.
Housed in a tip-on sleeve.
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