1
The Carmets - Silver Moon Beach
2
Ryo Kawasaki and The Golden Dragon - You Are Like The Sunlight
3
Angela Bofill - Under The Moon And Over The Sky
4
Keiko Nosaka & George Murasaki - Oritatamu Umi
5
Fred Bryan & The All Stars - Apartheid Must Go
6
O'Donel Levy - I Am, I Am
7
Joseph - Three O'Clock In The Morning
8
Super Special Band - Lady Lady
9
Harari - Harari
10
Stamp Heat Band - Drum Drops
11
Steve Verdugo - Martinique
12
Pat Wells - The Seeker
13
Band X - Trullion Alastor 2262
14
Yasuko Agawa - L.A. Night (Ambient Mix)
Welcome to Coconut Dreams, a mythical, utopian retreat nestled in the most exquisite of settings, crafted and conjured up by esteemed collector, producer and DJ, Skyrager. At the heart of the experience is a soundtrack evoking this tropical paradise, with an undercurrent of serenity that carries you gently away from the familiar into the expansive. A collection of pleasure-heavy tracks to lean into and get lost within, journeying through sun-drenched folk, dream-inducing soul, astral ambience, AOR breeziness, and much more in between.
Known to many as one half of the illustrious Psychemagik, Danny McLewin has spent decades releasing acclaimed original productions, cherished compilations and touring the world DJing. A collector at heart, he’s been unearthing hidden gems in record shops and private collections everywhere he goes. With a taste second to none, he is no stranger to curating a compilation. Psychemagik’s Magik series and his Traces of Illusion comp under the Skyrager alias are all must-haves for any collection. Coconut Dreams is an embodiment of everything Skyrager is all about - a deep-diving, soft-focused drift that sweeps you up to a place far, far away.
Each track has been chosen with care and consideration and is sequenced to take the listener on a peaceful, dreamlike journey. Every song conveys its own message, but the overarching thread is an invitation to slow down, be present and appreciate the moment. The compilation begins with the crashing waves of The Carmets ‘Silver Moon Beach’ as you check in and leave your hectic day-to-day life behind. The gentle chimes, hypnotic synths and divine female vocals of ‘You Are Like the Sunlight’ and Angela Bofill’s mesmerising soul jazz masterpiece ‘Under The Moon And Over The Sky’ further reset your body and brain, ready to lose yourself in an immersive experience from the very first song to the last.
Alongside the ethereal dreamers there’s also power and pertinence. Keiko Nosaka & George Murasaki's koto-infused prog rock number ‘Oritatamu Umi’ leads into the insistent and ever relevant ‘Apartheid Must Go’ by Fred Bryan & The All Stars. O’Donel Levy’s otherworldly tale of heartache and longing ‘I Am, I Am’ then explodes into a tropical fiesta jam.
You may find yourself moving between states, between memory and imagination, between the known and something just beyond it. Joseph’s soul-rousing, soft rock epic ‘Three O’Clock In the Morning’ and the cosmic-leaning ‘Lady, Lady’ marry with the bird calls and organic feel of ‘Harari’ and the galactic synth-laden ‘Drum Drops’.
Landing you softly back down to earth is a run of celestial brilliance. Those ever-present waves lap up against you on ‘Martinique’, as Pat Wells’ heavenly folk heart-melter ‘The Seeker’ and the glistening bassoon-led ‘Trullion Alastor 2262’ form a blissful penultimate double-header. You return from your tropical paradise escape, lighter and calmer, carried by the sea swell and the ethereal ambient mix of Yasuko Agawa’s ‘LA Nights’.
Unplug, relax and ease into an alternate reality… return trips to Coconut Dreams are essential.
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
Known to many as one half of the illustrious Psychemagik, Danny McLewin has spent decades releasing acclaimed original productions, cherished compilations and touring the world DJing. A collector at heart, he’s been unearthing hidden gems in record shops and private collections everywhere he goes. With a taste second to none, he is no stranger to curating a compilation. Psychemagik’s Magik series and his Traces of Illusion comp under the Skyrager alias are all must-haves for any collection. Coconut Dreams is an embodiment of everything Skyrager is all about - a deep-diving, soft-focused drift that sweeps you up to a place far, far away.
Each track has been chosen with care and consideration and is sequenced to take the listener on a peaceful, dreamlike journey. Every song conveys its own message, but the overarching thread is an invitation to slow down, be present and appreciate the moment. The compilation begins with the crashing waves of The Carmets ‘Silver Moon Beach’ as you check in and leave your hectic day-to-day life behind. The gentle chimes, hypnotic synths and divine female vocals of ‘You Are Like the Sunlight’ and Angela Bofill’s mesmerising soul jazz masterpiece ‘Under The Moon And Over The Sky’ further reset your body and brain, ready to lose yourself in an immersive experience from the very first song to the last.
Alongside the ethereal dreamers there’s also power and pertinence. Keiko Nosaka & George Murasaki's koto-infused prog rock number ‘Oritatamu Umi’ leads into the insistent and ever relevant ‘Apartheid Must Go’ by Fred Bryan & The All Stars. O’Donel Levy’s otherworldly tale of heartache and longing ‘I Am, I Am’ then explodes into a tropical fiesta jam.
You may find yourself moving between states, between memory and imagination, between the known and something just beyond it. Joseph’s soul-rousing, soft rock epic ‘Three O’Clock In the Morning’ and the cosmic-leaning ‘Lady, Lady’ marry with the bird calls and organic feel of ‘Harari’ and the galactic synth-laden ‘Drum Drops’.
Landing you softly back down to earth is a run of celestial brilliance. Those ever-present waves lap up against you on ‘Martinique’, as Pat Wells’ heavenly folk heart-melter ‘The Seeker’ and the glistening bassoon-led ‘Trullion Alastor 2262’ form a blissful penultimate double-header. You return from your tropical paradise escape, lighter and calmer, carried by the sea swell and the ethereal ambient mix of Yasuko Agawa’s ‘LA Nights’.
Unplug, relax and ease into an alternate reality… return trips to Coconut Dreams are essential.
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
More records from Mr Bongo
1
Ella Thompson - Promise To Keep
2
Ella Thompson - Parable
3
Ella Thompson - Make You Believe
4
Ella Thompson - My Weakness
5
Ella Thompson - Time, It Won't Forget
6
Ella Thompson - Beloved
7
Ella Thompson - Change Of Heart
8
Ella Thompson - Dandelion
9
Ella Thompson - Lover's Game (In Love Again)
10
Ella Thompson - When I Fall
Ella Thompson is standing up for feeling. Standing up for joy and pain and all the messy, confusing, beautiful details that make life worth living. Soulful and timeless, her songs tell stories of the heart, finding universal truths in the honesty of personal experience.
Released on UK label Mr Bongo and College of Knowledge in Australia and New Zealand, Triumph & Sadness is her most profound album yet - a powerful and unique record inspired by a classic sweet soul sound and rooted in the contemporary moment. Reaching out with vulnerability and poise, it is a plea for connection in a world gone numb.
Recorded over four fruitful days at an all-analogue studio in the stunning natural surroundings of rural Victoria (with additional sessions for horns vocals and overdubs at Sound Park in Northcote), Triumph & Sadness was cut direct-to-tape with all the urgency and warmth of the iconic ‘60s and ‘70s sessions that first inspired her. Written alongside Liam McGorry (Temporary Blessings), featuring collaborators from bands Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo and mixed by Daptone and The Womack Sisters collaborator Wayne Gordon, it captures the live energy of a band at the top of their game.
Because it is through Melbourne’s vibrant, supportive independent scene that Thompson has found her voice. Coming up alongside contemporaries like Hiatus Kaiyote, two solo releases followed in quick succession, the 7-track EP ‘Domino’ in 2023, and LP Ripple on the Wing in 2024, pushing the boundaries of the song form and immersing herself in studio production, while building a creative community that has in turn shaped her sound.
Inspired by Australian soul singer Renée Geyer, who blazed a trail across the country in the 1970s, and a wide tapestry of influences from soul titans like Nina Simone and Curtis Mayfield, to the philosophical musings of Patti Smith, Alice Walker and Simone Weil, Thompson takes the listener by the heart and hand across the album’s 10 shimmering songs.
Her belief in the significance of connection shines through on the album’s thematic centrepiece, ‘Promise To Keep’. It is a track that feels at once profound and whimsical in the best possible way, about building nerve, embracing naivety, bravery and love in an act that Thompson likens to a renewed romanticism.
Then there is ‘Change of Heart’, which reflects on the temporality, impermanence and synchronicity of a moment, and the bittersweet paradox where everything contains its opposite: absence and presence, innocence and experience, triumph and sadness. Musically, it unfolds as a down-tempo, slinky ballad with falsetto vocals, ending in triumphant horns that signal the release of letting go. Drawing on the group vocal arrangements of bands like The Royalettes, it is devastating in its simplicity.
And so, from ‘My Weakness’, which draws on the myth of Narcissus to question the loops of recognition and unsated longing built into life under Capitalism, to the bubbling intensity of ‘Dandelion’ whose contradiction between bitter taste and beautiful flower inspires Thompson to ask what we fear by caring too much, Triumph & Sadness weaves together threads that speak of life’s great challenges. It is a complete and compelling statement from an artist ready to connect with a global audience for the first time.
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
Released on UK label Mr Bongo and College of Knowledge in Australia and New Zealand, Triumph & Sadness is her most profound album yet - a powerful and unique record inspired by a classic sweet soul sound and rooted in the contemporary moment. Reaching out with vulnerability and poise, it is a plea for connection in a world gone numb.
Recorded over four fruitful days at an all-analogue studio in the stunning natural surroundings of rural Victoria (with additional sessions for horns vocals and overdubs at Sound Park in Northcote), Triumph & Sadness was cut direct-to-tape with all the urgency and warmth of the iconic ‘60s and ‘70s sessions that first inspired her. Written alongside Liam McGorry (Temporary Blessings), featuring collaborators from bands Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo and mixed by Daptone and The Womack Sisters collaborator Wayne Gordon, it captures the live energy of a band at the top of their game.
Because it is through Melbourne’s vibrant, supportive independent scene that Thompson has found her voice. Coming up alongside contemporaries like Hiatus Kaiyote, two solo releases followed in quick succession, the 7-track EP ‘Domino’ in 2023, and LP Ripple on the Wing in 2024, pushing the boundaries of the song form and immersing herself in studio production, while building a creative community that has in turn shaped her sound.
Inspired by Australian soul singer Renée Geyer, who blazed a trail across the country in the 1970s, and a wide tapestry of influences from soul titans like Nina Simone and Curtis Mayfield, to the philosophical musings of Patti Smith, Alice Walker and Simone Weil, Thompson takes the listener by the heart and hand across the album’s 10 shimmering songs.
Her belief in the significance of connection shines through on the album’s thematic centrepiece, ‘Promise To Keep’. It is a track that feels at once profound and whimsical in the best possible way, about building nerve, embracing naivety, bravery and love in an act that Thompson likens to a renewed romanticism.
Then there is ‘Change of Heart’, which reflects on the temporality, impermanence and synchronicity of a moment, and the bittersweet paradox where everything contains its opposite: absence and presence, innocence and experience, triumph and sadness. Musically, it unfolds as a down-tempo, slinky ballad with falsetto vocals, ending in triumphant horns that signal the release of letting go. Drawing on the group vocal arrangements of bands like The Royalettes, it is devastating in its simplicity.
And so, from ‘My Weakness’, which draws on the myth of Narcissus to question the loops of recognition and unsated longing built into life under Capitalism, to the bubbling intensity of ‘Dandelion’ whose contradiction between bitter taste and beautiful flower inspires Thompson to ask what we fear by caring too much, Triumph & Sadness weaves together threads that speak of life’s great challenges. It is a complete and compelling statement from an artist ready to connect with a global audience for the first time.
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
Groundsound - Bittersweet
2
SIMANGAVOLE & SOA RAVELO - NY AMPELA
3
Esa Williams - Vanguard Drive (Kwaai Dub)
4
Oruã - Capoeira Demo
5
Verito Asprilla - Quiero Ser Buena
6
Lenna Bahule - Tulamiê
7
Célia Wa - Broke
8
15 15 - WIPIP
9
Lo Rwa Kaf - Daou Minm (Jako Maron Remix)
10
Brenda x Diva Cruz - Sin Africa
11
Surreal Sessions - Corona
12
Catu Diosis & Neana - Delulu
13
Jus Now - Yalode (Feat. As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã)
14
EVEHIVE & Clementaum - Vulgo Kebradera (ft MC VICKY)
15
Jamz Supernova x Sam Interface - Tan Toddy (Feat. Lateena)
16
Mokotron - Colonised Existence
BBC 6Music radio presenter, DJ and Future Bounce label head, Jamz Supernova presents a new compilation Dance Around The World: Day & Night on Mr Bongo. An evolution of her radio show, event series and Bandcamp community under the same name, this compilation plots a globe-spanning day into night voyage across 16 tracks, from artists, countries and scenes that have shaped Jamz’ musical worldview. Each track, many of which are exclusive to this comp, tells a story of heritage and roots, whilst pushing boundaries and pioneering new sounds in their respective regions. From the Réunion Island to Latin America, East Africa to the Caribbean and Pacific, it’s a 24-hour cycle moving from downtempo to dancefloor.
Brought to life through radio and live events, the concept of Dance Around The World began in the summer of 2025 but has ultimately been a part of Jamz’ journey in music since the beginning. At the centre of it is her 15-year career as radio presenter - her tastes evolving from the early days on Reprezent Radio, to a 1Xtra residency and now a Saturday daytime show on BBC 6Music. There has always been a desire to highlight music from underrepresented scenes to new audiences.
Far removed from the algorithmic hands of AI, each scene, each artist is one that Jamz has a personal connection to. Split across two sides, marking two interconnected moods, the Day side features sun-soaked sounds rooted in activism, storytelling and heritage. Bringing together Equiknoxx founder Gavsborg and dub educator, Riddim Writer, groundsound’s rhythmic yet deeply powerful track ‘Bittersweet’ kicks things off. It sets the scene and intention for the compilation whilst starting a percussive thread that runs through every track - the drums pattern an insight into the song’s origins. Elsewhere, the all-female Maloya group SIMANGAVOLE collaborate with SOA RAVELO for a hypnotic, communal song that hits the spirit.
Moving through the Day you’ll find a love letter to the sounds of Cape Town from London-based, South African DJ and producer Esa Williams, beats-heavy, garage rock courtesy of Rio’s Oruã, and a fusion of traditional Guadeloupean grooves with contemporary jazz and hip hop via Célia Wa. Venturing out to Tumaco on the Pacific side of Colombia, Verito Asprilla serves up a future-facing, reggaeton heater, ‘Quiero Ser Buena’.
Night falls, the rhythms get rowdier the basslines get heavier. Jako Maron’s electronic remix blends his Réunion Island roots with a chugging synth soundscape. Jus Now, the duo of Trinidadian percussionist Keshav and UK producer Sam Interface, showcase their club-driven global sound melding UK bass influences with a Caribbean drum-heavy flavour. Sam then joins Jamz for ‘Tan Toddy’ a fierce dancehall production seen through the lens of UK bashment, with Lateena on the mic and Moses Boyd on the drums.
‘Sin Africa’ is another highlight and one Jamz was trusted to A&R. Brenda’s pumping, heads-down Latin club sound marrying with a deeper message to Diva Cruz’s lyrics. This thread permeates many of the tracks. “Almost everybody on this compilation has been touched or altered in some ways by colonisation. We choose joy and we choose to celebrate what we have and what we've done, but we can't ignore that there has been a colonised existence”, Jamz mentions. It’s a theme that reverberates through Mokotron’s poignant closing track that rounds off the release.
More than a compilation, this is a sonic celebration connecting cultures, scenes and perspectives. Each artist and each track expanding boundaries and borders whilst honouring what has come before them.
Jamz Supernova presents Dance Around The World is available in black or transparent green vinyl 2LP housed in gatefold sleeve with 8 page booklet insert and on CD which includes a booklet.
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
Brought to life through radio and live events, the concept of Dance Around The World began in the summer of 2025 but has ultimately been a part of Jamz’ journey in music since the beginning. At the centre of it is her 15-year career as radio presenter - her tastes evolving from the early days on Reprezent Radio, to a 1Xtra residency and now a Saturday daytime show on BBC 6Music. There has always been a desire to highlight music from underrepresented scenes to new audiences.
Far removed from the algorithmic hands of AI, each scene, each artist is one that Jamz has a personal connection to. Split across two sides, marking two interconnected moods, the Day side features sun-soaked sounds rooted in activism, storytelling and heritage. Bringing together Equiknoxx founder Gavsborg and dub educator, Riddim Writer, groundsound’s rhythmic yet deeply powerful track ‘Bittersweet’ kicks things off. It sets the scene and intention for the compilation whilst starting a percussive thread that runs through every track - the drums pattern an insight into the song’s origins. Elsewhere, the all-female Maloya group SIMANGAVOLE collaborate with SOA RAVELO for a hypnotic, communal song that hits the spirit.
Moving through the Day you’ll find a love letter to the sounds of Cape Town from London-based, South African DJ and producer Esa Williams, beats-heavy, garage rock courtesy of Rio’s Oruã, and a fusion of traditional Guadeloupean grooves with contemporary jazz and hip hop via Célia Wa. Venturing out to Tumaco on the Pacific side of Colombia, Verito Asprilla serves up a future-facing, reggaeton heater, ‘Quiero Ser Buena’.
Night falls, the rhythms get rowdier the basslines get heavier. Jako Maron’s electronic remix blends his Réunion Island roots with a chugging synth soundscape. Jus Now, the duo of Trinidadian percussionist Keshav and UK producer Sam Interface, showcase their club-driven global sound melding UK bass influences with a Caribbean drum-heavy flavour. Sam then joins Jamz for ‘Tan Toddy’ a fierce dancehall production seen through the lens of UK bashment, with Lateena on the mic and Moses Boyd on the drums.
‘Sin Africa’ is another highlight and one Jamz was trusted to A&R. Brenda’s pumping, heads-down Latin club sound marrying with a deeper message to Diva Cruz’s lyrics. This thread permeates many of the tracks. “Almost everybody on this compilation has been touched or altered in some ways by colonisation. We choose joy and we choose to celebrate what we have and what we've done, but we can't ignore that there has been a colonised existence”, Jamz mentions. It’s a theme that reverberates through Mokotron’s poignant closing track that rounds off the release.
More than a compilation, this is a sonic celebration connecting cultures, scenes and perspectives. Each artist and each track expanding boundaries and borders whilst honouring what has come before them.
Jamz Supernova presents Dance Around The World is available in black or transparent green vinyl 2LP housed in gatefold sleeve with 8 page booklet insert and on CD which includes a booklet.
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
Rubel - Intro
2
Rubel - Colégio
3
Rubel - Cachorro
4
Rubel - Pinguim
5
Rubel - Casquinha
6
Rubel - Batuque
7
Rubel - Mantra Ft. Emicida
8
Rubel - Passagem
9
Rubel - Explodir
10
Rubel - Sapato
11
Rubel - Chiste Ft. Rincon Sapiência
12
Rubel - Fogueira
13
Rubel - Partilhar
14
Rubel - Santana
Brazilian artist Rubel isn’t one to be pigeonholed and typecast into staying in one sound. Casas, the follow-up to his debut album Pearl from 2015, brought a bigger, more epic, and richer production quality to the table. Fusing the worlds of MPB and hip hop, Rubel’s sophomore LP built on the momentum of its predecessor, gaining a Latin-Grammy nomination along the way. Mr Bongo is proud to be giving Casas its first worldwide release on vinyl and CD outside of Brazil and Japan.
The cliché they say is that the second album is always the trickiest; however, Rubel doesn’t seem to have had any problems on Casas. It’s a fountain of creativity and originality, marking an artist in full flow.
Conceived after Rubel spent six months living in Los Angeles, Casas is MPB-leaning at its core but is also driven by a hip hop inspired pulse. There is a clear influence from hip hop’s aesthetic across the 2010s woven subtly but fundamentally throughout. Nods to Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator can be heard across an album full of playful edge and personality. Luscious string-led arrangements and tracks that explore the rich folkloric rhythms of Brazil, sit next to songs with low-fi drum machines and features from acclaimed Brazilian rappers.
One of the highlights of the album, ‘Mantra’, starts with a traditional Brazilian rhythm that morphs into a hazy hip hop beat. A sublime song with a hooky call and response chorus, it features a guest appearance and verse by the Brazilian MC Emicida. Another highlight is the epic ‘Colégio’ (College) which further showcases the melding of stripped back drum machine beats with cinematic, sweeping arrangements. Elsewhere, ‘Partilhar’ is a swaying, heartwarming hug. A tale of longing and love that has become a singalong fan favourite at Rubel’s concerts.
Casas also shines a light on a string of key players in Brazil’s new vanguard, such as Pedro Fonte, Gus Levy, and Brazilian rapper / poet Rincon Sapiência to name a handful. The record has pop sensibilities yet also feels underground. It beats with the heart of a singer-songwriter, a feeling that was felt so strongly on Pearl, yet this time is bolstered by a level of arrangement and richness of sound that take it to another dimension - soaring horn and string sections elevating the songs from home recording to stadium-ready anthems. Keeping that intrinsic beauty and simplicity of a well-constructed song yet reframing it within a pop context is the true gift of this album.
Casas cemented Rubel’s status as one of Brazil’s leading contemporary talents and a key figure enriching the country’s already effervescent scene.
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
The cliché they say is that the second album is always the trickiest; however, Rubel doesn’t seem to have had any problems on Casas. It’s a fountain of creativity and originality, marking an artist in full flow.
Conceived after Rubel spent six months living in Los Angeles, Casas is MPB-leaning at its core but is also driven by a hip hop inspired pulse. There is a clear influence from hip hop’s aesthetic across the 2010s woven subtly but fundamentally throughout. Nods to Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator can be heard across an album full of playful edge and personality. Luscious string-led arrangements and tracks that explore the rich folkloric rhythms of Brazil, sit next to songs with low-fi drum machines and features from acclaimed Brazilian rappers.
One of the highlights of the album, ‘Mantra’, starts with a traditional Brazilian rhythm that morphs into a hazy hip hop beat. A sublime song with a hooky call and response chorus, it features a guest appearance and verse by the Brazilian MC Emicida. Another highlight is the epic ‘Colégio’ (College) which further showcases the melding of stripped back drum machine beats with cinematic, sweeping arrangements. Elsewhere, ‘Partilhar’ is a swaying, heartwarming hug. A tale of longing and love that has become a singalong fan favourite at Rubel’s concerts.
Casas also shines a light on a string of key players in Brazil’s new vanguard, such as Pedro Fonte, Gus Levy, and Brazilian rapper / poet Rincon Sapiência to name a handful. The record has pop sensibilities yet also feels underground. It beats with the heart of a singer-songwriter, a feeling that was felt so strongly on Pearl, yet this time is bolstered by a level of arrangement and richness of sound that take it to another dimension - soaring horn and string sections elevating the songs from home recording to stadium-ready anthems. Keeping that intrinsic beauty and simplicity of a well-constructed song yet reframing it within a pop context is the true gift of this album.
Casas cemented Rubel’s status as one of Brazil’s leading contemporary talents and a key figure enriching the country’s already effervescent scene.
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
Bobby Williams - Funky Superfly (Part 1 & 2)
2
Bobby Williams - Morning Of Love
3
Bobby Williams - Let's Jam
4
Bobby Williams - Teach Me
5
Bobby Williams - Soul Brother Party (Part 1 & 2)
6
Bobby Williams - Get Into It
7
Bobby Williams - Make Yourself Funky
8
Bobby Williams - Fair Trade
Mr Bongo reissue Bobby Williams’ coveted deep funk rarity Funky Super Fly from 1974. Rich in raw, gritty, from-the-heart grooves, the influence of James Brown is strong, yet the tracks are distinctly Bobby. Oozing style and substance, the album is full of fiery horn sections, strutting guitars and infectious basslines tracked by plenty of prime breakbeats. Front to back stacked with highlights, cuts from the album have been famously sampled by DJ Shadow, Coldcut, and more.
For years Funky Super Fly has been a funk aficionado favourite. It’s a sensational set of recordings from vocalist and bandleader Bobby Williams, with plenty of cherished raw-funk heaters in the mix. ‘Funky Superfly’, ‘Soul Brother Party’, and ‘Let’s Jam’, are three standouts that have all the ingredients to ignite even the most subdued of dancefloors. The unprocessed natural energy in these songs speaks to your very soul – Bobby grooving over his captivating funk-fuelled band with dynamism and class. Both ‘Funky Superfly’ and ‘Soul Brother Party’ appear on the album as one continuous track, whereas on the 7” versions they were cut into parts 1 & 2.
Alongside the uptempo dancers on the album, Bobby goes deep on the soul ballad ‘Morning Of Love’, which simmers with intensity and heartache. The album's closing instrumental track, ‘Fair Trade,’ has a wah-wah guitar-driven Blaxploitation film soundtrack sensibility, and is a slept-on gem off the album nestled amongst the big hitters.
The use of Bobby’s music has been sampled decades later, immortalising him for a new audience of record collectors and sample hunters. The pulsating title track ‘Funky Superfly’ was used as a sample source for DJ Shadow’s ‘The Number Song’ off his iconic Endtroducing..... album in 1996. In addition, ‘Soul Brother Party’ was used a year later on Coldcut’s fantastic ‘More Beats & Pieces’ album. This turned a whole new audience onto the magnetism of Bobby Williams' music and added to the frenzy of hungry DJs in the ‘90s looking to unearth obscure funk 45s.
Funky Super Fly is for those who like their funk and soul at its purest. It’s no-nonsense, electrifying and one of the jewels of ‘70s funk, perfect for fans of James Brown and Charles Bradley.
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
For years Funky Super Fly has been a funk aficionado favourite. It’s a sensational set of recordings from vocalist and bandleader Bobby Williams, with plenty of cherished raw-funk heaters in the mix. ‘Funky Superfly’, ‘Soul Brother Party’, and ‘Let’s Jam’, are three standouts that have all the ingredients to ignite even the most subdued of dancefloors. The unprocessed natural energy in these songs speaks to your very soul – Bobby grooving over his captivating funk-fuelled band with dynamism and class. Both ‘Funky Superfly’ and ‘Soul Brother Party’ appear on the album as one continuous track, whereas on the 7” versions they were cut into parts 1 & 2.
Alongside the uptempo dancers on the album, Bobby goes deep on the soul ballad ‘Morning Of Love’, which simmers with intensity and heartache. The album's closing instrumental track, ‘Fair Trade,’ has a wah-wah guitar-driven Blaxploitation film soundtrack sensibility, and is a slept-on gem off the album nestled amongst the big hitters.
The use of Bobby’s music has been sampled decades later, immortalising him for a new audience of record collectors and sample hunters. The pulsating title track ‘Funky Superfly’ was used as a sample source for DJ Shadow’s ‘The Number Song’ off his iconic Endtroducing..... album in 1996. In addition, ‘Soul Brother Party’ was used a year later on Coldcut’s fantastic ‘More Beats & Pieces’ album. This turned a whole new audience onto the magnetism of Bobby Williams' music and added to the frenzy of hungry DJs in the ‘90s looking to unearth obscure funk 45s.
Funky Super Fly is for those who like their funk and soul at its purest. It’s no-nonsense, electrifying and one of the jewels of ‘70s funk, perfect for fans of James Brown and Charles Bradley.
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
1
Rubel - O Velho E O Mar
2
Rubel - Mascarados
3
Rubel - Pearl
4
Rubel - Quando Bate Aquela Saudade
5
Rubel - Ben
6
Rubel - Nuvem
7
Rubel - Quadro Verde
Mr Bongo proudly presents a first-time worldwide vinyl and CD issue of Rubel’s debut album Pearl. Self-released on YouTube in 2013, the album quietly became a huge hit in Brazil with the lead single and accompanying video for ‘Quando Bate Aquela Saudade’ amassing over 85 million views to date. Pearl laid the foundations for Rubel’s path to greatness - a first glimpse into the brilliance of a modern-day troubadour and ever-evolving Brazilian artist who deftly mixes classic and contemporary influences. Fusing MPB, folk, pop, and indie, it charts Rubel at his purest and most personal.
The journey of Pearl begins with Rubel in his early 20’s studying film in Austin, Texas. Immersing himself in the city’s vibrant DIY music scene and surrounded by countless musicians who he shared a large house with, he set up a home studio with an assortment of rented gear and recorded the album without any expectations. It was inspired by an environment of youth, music and experimentation Rubel found himself within. The seven songs are an attempt to record and take with him a little of what he lived and learned whilst there. He uploaded the album to YouTube, didn’t think much of it and continued to pursue a career in film in LA. Over the next few years however it became a viral hit in Brazil, with a subsequent Brazil only vinyl and CD issue, drawing him both back to Rio and a trajectory to musical stardom.
The spirit of Pearl has a timeless nostalgia; it feels familiar from the outset, and whether a Portuguese speaker or not, the songs touch your soul. It’s an unpretentious album, with Rubel putting himself, his musicianship and his songwriting upfront and centre. The epic ‘O Velho e o Mar’ delicately layers acoustic guitar, banjo and vocal harmonies, as the track builds with a simmering intensity and an accordion drifts in across its final stages. Elsewhere, title track ‘Pearl’ has a global singer-songwriter aesthetic and could be Thom Yorke at his most acoustic.
At nearly seven minutes, ‘Quando Bate Aquela Saudade’ is an unlikely breakthrough single, but its message really resonated with the Brazilian / Portuguese-speaking audience. Anyone who has witnessed Rubel live has felt the energy and interplay between musician and audience, with the crowd making this song as much their own as it is Rubel’s. A true modern-day classic.
‘Ben’ echoes and channels the Brazilian greats; Caetano Veloso comes to mind whilst listening to this stripped-down tender ballad. The folk-leaning tones of the banjo make a return on the closing ‘Quadro Verde’. A cinematic and anthemic track that could easily be imagined soundtracking a Wes Anderson film.
Now a global, Latin-Grammy nominated star, Rubel is one of those rare artists who can straddle both mainstream pop success with the humbleness of an independent, underground recording artist. Those roots are on show here on Pearl, embodying an authenticity and rawness that spoke to a generation. We are proud to be able to give a worldwide release to this authentic and unpretentious first chapter in Rubel’s story.
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
The journey of Pearl begins with Rubel in his early 20’s studying film in Austin, Texas. Immersing himself in the city’s vibrant DIY music scene and surrounded by countless musicians who he shared a large house with, he set up a home studio with an assortment of rented gear and recorded the album without any expectations. It was inspired by an environment of youth, music and experimentation Rubel found himself within. The seven songs are an attempt to record and take with him a little of what he lived and learned whilst there. He uploaded the album to YouTube, didn’t think much of it and continued to pursue a career in film in LA. Over the next few years however it became a viral hit in Brazil, with a subsequent Brazil only vinyl and CD issue, drawing him both back to Rio and a trajectory to musical stardom.
The spirit of Pearl has a timeless nostalgia; it feels familiar from the outset, and whether a Portuguese speaker or not, the songs touch your soul. It’s an unpretentious album, with Rubel putting himself, his musicianship and his songwriting upfront and centre. The epic ‘O Velho e o Mar’ delicately layers acoustic guitar, banjo and vocal harmonies, as the track builds with a simmering intensity and an accordion drifts in across its final stages. Elsewhere, title track ‘Pearl’ has a global singer-songwriter aesthetic and could be Thom Yorke at his most acoustic.
At nearly seven minutes, ‘Quando Bate Aquela Saudade’ is an unlikely breakthrough single, but its message really resonated with the Brazilian / Portuguese-speaking audience. Anyone who has witnessed Rubel live has felt the energy and interplay between musician and audience, with the crowd making this song as much their own as it is Rubel’s. A true modern-day classic.
‘Ben’ echoes and channels the Brazilian greats; Caetano Veloso comes to mind whilst listening to this stripped-down tender ballad. The folk-leaning tones of the banjo make a return on the closing ‘Quadro Verde’. A cinematic and anthemic track that could easily be imagined soundtracking a Wes Anderson film.
Now a global, Latin-Grammy nominated star, Rubel is one of those rare artists who can straddle both mainstream pop success with the humbleness of an independent, underground recording artist. Those roots are on show here on Pearl, embodying an authenticity and rawness that spoke to a generation. We are proud to be able to give a worldwide release to this authentic and unpretentious first chapter in Rubel’s story.
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
1619 Bad Ass Band - Love To Love
2
1619 Bad Ass Band - I Am Mine
3
1619 Bad Ass Band - Step Out
4
1619 Bad Ass Band - Where Do I Go From Here
5
1619 Bad Ass Band - Nothing Can Stop My Loving You
6
1619 Bad Ass Band - Just For You
7
1619 Bad Ass Band - Rain (Always Finds Me Crying)
8
1619 Bad Ass Band - For A Taste Of Your Love
9
1619 Bad Ass Band - Nobody
Mr Bongo presents a reissue of the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s self-titled album, originally released in 1976 on the ultra-rare tax-scam imprint TSG Records. Formed by Khalid Abdul Shalid, the record was the only album released by the group, and has since become a mythical, highly sought-after prize for collectors and DJs, ranking among the most coveted albums on the 1970s rare soul scene.
This New Jersey soul-funk gem captures the raw energy of mid-‘70s underground funk and soul. Its journey began in relative obscurity having been released on TSG, one of several US “tax-scam” labels operating at the time. These labels exploited loopholes in the tax system by inflating production costs to create write-offs against their tax bills, meaning commercial success was never the objective. Records were often pressed in extremely limited quantities, with little to no promotion or distribution and in many cases, artists were unaware their music had even been released. While this led to the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s album slipping into obscurity upon release, it later cemented its status as a holy grail for diggers and DJs. Unfortunately, like many releases of its kind, it also meant the band never received the recognition they deserved at the time.
Musically, the album is a unique listen with a varied palette that will appeal to fans of a broad range of tastes. From the luscious, dreamy ballad ‘Rain (Always Finds Me Crying)’, which will melt even the stoniest of hearts, to the raw, drum-heavy funk of ‘Love To Love’, it showcases the group’s depth and versatility. Highlights include the string-laden, floaty stepper ‘Just From You’, and ‘Nothing Can Stop My Loving You’, with its spacey synth lines, which will be a joy for modern soul fans. Elsewhere, ‘Step Out’ opens with a heavy drum break (later sampled on Latyrx’s ‘Interlude’ from their 1997 debut) before unfolding into a brilliant male-female vocal exchange.
Every track on here is a winner and it’s criminal that the band never received the publicity or credit they deserved when it was first released. Alongside the TSG Records release in 1976, the album was later released again in 1978 with alternate cover art on another tax-scam label, Graham International. Both versions have since become highly collectable and over time, the album has steadily gained the recognition it always deserved. This reissue by Mr Bongo offers a wider audience the chance to experience a truly special record, one that stands as a testament to the overlooked brilliance of the era’s underground soul and funk scene.
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
This New Jersey soul-funk gem captures the raw energy of mid-‘70s underground funk and soul. Its journey began in relative obscurity having been released on TSG, one of several US “tax-scam” labels operating at the time. These labels exploited loopholes in the tax system by inflating production costs to create write-offs against their tax bills, meaning commercial success was never the objective. Records were often pressed in extremely limited quantities, with little to no promotion or distribution and in many cases, artists were unaware their music had even been released. While this led to the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s album slipping into obscurity upon release, it later cemented its status as a holy grail for diggers and DJs. Unfortunately, like many releases of its kind, it also meant the band never received the recognition they deserved at the time.
Musically, the album is a unique listen with a varied palette that will appeal to fans of a broad range of tastes. From the luscious, dreamy ballad ‘Rain (Always Finds Me Crying)’, which will melt even the stoniest of hearts, to the raw, drum-heavy funk of ‘Love To Love’, it showcases the group’s depth and versatility. Highlights include the string-laden, floaty stepper ‘Just From You’, and ‘Nothing Can Stop My Loving You’, with its spacey synth lines, which will be a joy for modern soul fans. Elsewhere, ‘Step Out’ opens with a heavy drum break (later sampled on Latyrx’s ‘Interlude’ from their 1997 debut) before unfolding into a brilliant male-female vocal exchange.
Every track on here is a winner and it’s criminal that the band never received the publicity or credit they deserved when it was first released. Alongside the TSG Records release in 1976, the album was later released again in 1978 with alternate cover art on another tax-scam label, Graham International. Both versions have since become highly collectable and over time, the album has steadily gained the recognition it always deserved. This reissue by Mr Bongo offers a wider audience the chance to experience a truly special record, one that stands as a testament to the overlooked brilliance of the era’s underground soul and funk scene.
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
Curió Curió - Tô Chegando
2
Curió Curió - Bem Querer
3
Curió Curió - Menina Passarinho
4
Curió Curió - Vem Pra Casa
5
Curió Curió - Raiz
6
Curió Curió - Vida Que Entorna (Interlúdio)
7
Curió Curió - Amor Doente
8
Curió Curió - Mar Sem Dar Pé
9
Curió Curió - Canto De Calma
10
Curió Curió - Amizade
11
Curió Curió - A Cor Do Meu Sonho
Curió Curió came to flight by chance. Two artists, Rio-born, Austria-based singer and actress Luiza Monteiro and German producer Dustin Braun, had separately reached a fork in their journeys. An opportune encounter soon blossomed into an uplifting, heartfelt Brazilian MPB-groove project shaped by psychedelic disco and studio experimentation.
In their own words Curió Curió’s sonic vision “is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic”. A modern fusion influenced as much by Gal Costa and Jorge Ben Jor as Say She She and Bala Desejo, their sound deftly plots a course all of its own. A celebration of freedom, movement, love and life, intertwined with introspective moments of reflection.
Treating tradition as something alive, migratory and unresolved, the album is not simply bound by a shared love of Brazilian music, but by a deeper question that runs through every track; where does one belong when home becomes plural?
As a Brazilian living in Europe, Luiza's lyrics explore themes of identity, culture, and existence. The tracks move between cities and emotional registers without settling, tracing a sense of identity that shifts rather than resolves.
Songs like ‘Amor Doente’ and ‘Mar sem Dar Pé’ circle around relationships that resist clarity, while ‘Menina Passarinho’ captures the fear and necessity of committing to music as a path. For Luiza, deepening her commitment to music alongside years in theatre was both inevitable and difficult.
Braun’s production follows a similar logic. Initial ideas were often built without obvious reference points, only later incorporating rhythmic and vocal elements that hint at Brazil without reproducing it. Analogue techniques, tape, ribbon microphones and live ensemble recording bring a tactile quality that reflects the duo’s interest in process as much as outcome. Highlights include ‘Bem Querer’, built on an authentic samba street vibe with a super-catchy sing-along chorus, and ‘Vem pra Casa’ with its cosmic-tinged Brazilian boogie flavour.
The album closes with ‘A Cor do Meu Sonho’, a quiet act of insistence. A refusal to shrink in unfamiliar environments, and a belief in the strength of difference. It is less a conclusion than a continuation, leaving the central question open. “I started to understand that I can belong to many places at once”, Luiza reflects. “And that can be something to embrace”. Lyrics from the song ‘Raiz’ translate in English to “I value a burning sun and the cold in the air. Constant change is my companion”. With Curió Curió, that idea is lived through sound, story and collaboration. A debut that feels both searching and assured, grounded in heritage yet shaped by distance.
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
In their own words Curió Curió’s sonic vision “is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic”. A modern fusion influenced as much by Gal Costa and Jorge Ben Jor as Say She She and Bala Desejo, their sound deftly plots a course all of its own. A celebration of freedom, movement, love and life, intertwined with introspective moments of reflection.
Treating tradition as something alive, migratory and unresolved, the album is not simply bound by a shared love of Brazilian music, but by a deeper question that runs through every track; where does one belong when home becomes plural?
As a Brazilian living in Europe, Luiza's lyrics explore themes of identity, culture, and existence. The tracks move between cities and emotional registers without settling, tracing a sense of identity that shifts rather than resolves.
Songs like ‘Amor Doente’ and ‘Mar sem Dar Pé’ circle around relationships that resist clarity, while ‘Menina Passarinho’ captures the fear and necessity of committing to music as a path. For Luiza, deepening her commitment to music alongside years in theatre was both inevitable and difficult.
Braun’s production follows a similar logic. Initial ideas were often built without obvious reference points, only later incorporating rhythmic and vocal elements that hint at Brazil without reproducing it. Analogue techniques, tape, ribbon microphones and live ensemble recording bring a tactile quality that reflects the duo’s interest in process as much as outcome. Highlights include ‘Bem Querer’, built on an authentic samba street vibe with a super-catchy sing-along chorus, and ‘Vem pra Casa’ with its cosmic-tinged Brazilian boogie flavour.
The album closes with ‘A Cor do Meu Sonho’, a quiet act of insistence. A refusal to shrink in unfamiliar environments, and a belief in the strength of difference. It is less a conclusion than a continuation, leaving the central question open. “I started to understand that I can belong to many places at once”, Luiza reflects. “And that can be something to embrace”. Lyrics from the song ‘Raiz’ translate in English to “I value a burning sun and the cold in the air. Constant change is my companion”. With Curió Curió, that idea is lived through sound, story and collaboration. A debut that feels both searching and assured, grounded in heritage yet shaped by distance.
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
As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã - Maré mansa
2
Ubunto - O Vento Part. As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã
3
Castanheiro - Este Samba É Meu
4
Eduardo Araújo - Madrugada
5
Tyaraju & Dutra - Pé De Foguete
6
Tema IV - Tema I
7
Orquesta El Sabor De Nacho - Bim Bim Bom Bom “Que Se Sepa”
8
The Trinikas - Remember Me
9
Tommy McGee - Now That I Have You
10
Trevor Dandy - Is There Any Love
11
Wilfred Luckie - My Thing
12
The Sylvers - Wish That I Could Talk To You (Kenny Dope Edit)
13
K.L. Hamilton - I'm Trying
14
Wil Collins & Willpower - Anything I Can Do
15
Powerline - Watching You (Brand New Remix)
16
Mac Mathunjwa - Give Us More Love (Edit)
17
Tapper Zukie - Visions Of Love
18
Urias - Vontade De Voar
Welcome to Volume 8 of the Mr Bongo Record Club series, our in-house curated compilations that give us a chance to share some of our favourite tracks, hard-fought finds, and unsung gems. These are tracks that have been inspiring us at home, in the office, while DJing, and on the dancefloor.
In the cross-genre spirit of the series, for Volume 8 we have selected music from the worlds of soul, boogie, disco-reggae, jazz-funk, and Latin, with a hefty chunk of beloved Brazilian music. Pulling these compilations together is always a highlight of our year, and eight volumes in, we feel this is one of our strongest to date.
The album’s journey begins with a heartfelt epic by As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã, from the Bahian town of Itapuã. It’s an area of Brazil that holds a special place in David ‘Mr Bongo’ Buttle’s heart, and where he first met our dear friend, Luciano Rodrigues Dos Santos, to whose memory this compilation is dedicated to.
Staying in Northern Brazil, next up is a contemporary dancefloor gem by Ubunto, a DJ and producer from Salvador, which also features As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã. The raw, dusty, punchy sounds of zabumba drummer Castanheiro and the furious guitar-heavy dancer by Tyaraju & Dutra are just two more examples of the Brazilian beauties included on the compilation.
There is also a heavy dose of soul music on this volume. The Canadian-gospel sounds of Trevor Dandy, a modern-soul rarity by Wil Collins & Willpower (which has been on our list for years), and a soul-stepper masterpiece by Tommy McGee, are just a handful of the highlights. Not stopping there, we are incredibly proud to present an exclusive rework of The Sylvers' ‘Wish That I Could Talk To You’ by the legendary Kenny Dope. Kenny has excelled himself with this one, fattening up the drums while bringing more drama to the horns and strings. The song now feels more contemporary yet still stays true to its roots. Complete genius!
Elsewhere on the compilation, you’ll find a cosmic reggae-not-reggae disco oddity by Tapper Zukie, a South African jazz-funk-disco groover by Mac Mathunjwa, a sought-after Brazilian compacto by Eduardo Araújo, and a Brit-funk / boogie treasure by Powerline.
Traversing time, genre, and location, all the tracks on Volume 8 are favourites for their own unique reasons. Music will forever be a constant source of comfort, able to affect you deeply in the most meaningful ways. It’s the gift that keeps giving, and there is so much more to learn, discover, and share, both old and new.
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
In the cross-genre spirit of the series, for Volume 8 we have selected music from the worlds of soul, boogie, disco-reggae, jazz-funk, and Latin, with a hefty chunk of beloved Brazilian music. Pulling these compilations together is always a highlight of our year, and eight volumes in, we feel this is one of our strongest to date.
The album’s journey begins with a heartfelt epic by As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã, from the Bahian town of Itapuã. It’s an area of Brazil that holds a special place in David ‘Mr Bongo’ Buttle’s heart, and where he first met our dear friend, Luciano Rodrigues Dos Santos, to whose memory this compilation is dedicated to.
Staying in Northern Brazil, next up is a contemporary dancefloor gem by Ubunto, a DJ and producer from Salvador, which also features As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã. The raw, dusty, punchy sounds of zabumba drummer Castanheiro and the furious guitar-heavy dancer by Tyaraju & Dutra are just two more examples of the Brazilian beauties included on the compilation.
There is also a heavy dose of soul music on this volume. The Canadian-gospel sounds of Trevor Dandy, a modern-soul rarity by Wil Collins & Willpower (which has been on our list for years), and a soul-stepper masterpiece by Tommy McGee, are just a handful of the highlights. Not stopping there, we are incredibly proud to present an exclusive rework of The Sylvers' ‘Wish That I Could Talk To You’ by the legendary Kenny Dope. Kenny has excelled himself with this one, fattening up the drums while bringing more drama to the horns and strings. The song now feels more contemporary yet still stays true to its roots. Complete genius!
Elsewhere on the compilation, you’ll find a cosmic reggae-not-reggae disco oddity by Tapper Zukie, a South African jazz-funk-disco groover by Mac Mathunjwa, a sought-after Brazilian compacto by Eduardo Araújo, and a Brit-funk / boogie treasure by Powerline.
Traversing time, genre, and location, all the tracks on Volume 8 are favourites for their own unique reasons. Music will forever be a constant source of comfort, able to affect you deeply in the most meaningful ways. It’s the gift that keeps giving, and there is so much more to learn, discover, and share, both old and new.
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
Ella Thompson - Promise To Keep
2
Ella Thompson - Change Of Heart
Mr Bongo are thrilled to have one of the leading lights in contemporary soul joining the label. Melbourne-based vocalist, musician, and songwriter Ella Thompson is an artist whose name is being championed by some of the best in the business. She’s been building a reputation as one to watch, with two standout releases on Hopestreet Recordings, Domino EP in 2023 and Ripple On The Wing LP in 2024, alongside a heavy touring schedule and a stacked list of support slots and collaborations.
For this new 7” single, Ella collaborates with a selection of artists at the forefront of Naarm/Melbourne’s soulful DIY community. Featuring members of Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, Liam McGorry from Temporary Blessings (College Of Knowledge) joins Ella as co-writer and co-producer, with go-to Melbourne engineer Henry Jenkins also producing and recording the track.
Bridging the worlds of classic and contemporary soul, Ella’s songwriting is drenched in emotion and personal experience. With a timeless feel that is hard to tie to any particular period, she has crafted a sound that instantly hits deep. It’s warm, tasteful and distinctly Ella. That talent has also seen her tour with Mark Ronson, and support other contemporary greats like Jalen Ngonda, Lee Fields, and Thee Sacred Souls.
‘Promise To Keep’ is the first taste of Ella’s new material on this 7” single. An irrepressible upbeat groover that echoes mid-to-late-sixties vocal groups. That influence though never overpowers Ella’s own unique creative voice or distinct sense of self. She draws from it, but the colour is all her own. The song tells a story of being carried by the current that keeps us moving, giving us courage. A commitment to oneself that speaks to action shaped by vision, and the pull of following what feels correct even when the distance is far.
The flip side finds Ella in a different mood. ‘Change Of Heart’ is a heavy sweet-soul ballad. Rich in drama, Ella’s falsetto vocals build to a stunning climax in the final section, with triumphant horns that signal the release of letting go. The lyrics reflect on temporality and impermanence, and the way moments can be missed or arrive with synchronicity. It’s that bittersweet paradox of triumph and sadness, where everything contains its opposite: absence and presence, innocence and experience. The song is underpinned by a brooding production quality and atmospheric, beat-heavy flavour that Surprise Chef and cinematic soul fans will relish.
Mixed by Wayne Gordon (Daptone, Womack Sisters), ‘Promise To Keep’ and ‘Change Of Heart’ are a glimpse of things to come from Ella. Keep an eye open for more new music incoming from this phenomenal artist at the top of her game.
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
For this new 7” single, Ella collaborates with a selection of artists at the forefront of Naarm/Melbourne’s soulful DIY community. Featuring members of Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, Liam McGorry from Temporary Blessings (College Of Knowledge) joins Ella as co-writer and co-producer, with go-to Melbourne engineer Henry Jenkins also producing and recording the track.
Bridging the worlds of classic and contemporary soul, Ella’s songwriting is drenched in emotion and personal experience. With a timeless feel that is hard to tie to any particular period, she has crafted a sound that instantly hits deep. It’s warm, tasteful and distinctly Ella. That talent has also seen her tour with Mark Ronson, and support other contemporary greats like Jalen Ngonda, Lee Fields, and Thee Sacred Souls.
‘Promise To Keep’ is the first taste of Ella’s new material on this 7” single. An irrepressible upbeat groover that echoes mid-to-late-sixties vocal groups. That influence though never overpowers Ella’s own unique creative voice or distinct sense of self. She draws from it, but the colour is all her own. The song tells a story of being carried by the current that keeps us moving, giving us courage. A commitment to oneself that speaks to action shaped by vision, and the pull of following what feels correct even when the distance is far.
The flip side finds Ella in a different mood. ‘Change Of Heart’ is a heavy sweet-soul ballad. Rich in drama, Ella’s falsetto vocals build to a stunning climax in the final section, with triumphant horns that signal the release of letting go. The lyrics reflect on temporality and impermanence, and the way moments can be missed or arrive with synchronicity. It’s that bittersweet paradox of triumph and sadness, where everything contains its opposite: absence and presence, innocence and experience. The song is underpinned by a brooding production quality and atmospheric, beat-heavy flavour that Surprise Chef and cinematic soul fans will relish.
Mixed by Wayne Gordon (Daptone, Womack Sisters), ‘Promise To Keep’ and ‘Change Of Heart’ are a glimpse of things to come from Ella. Keep an eye open for more new music incoming from this phenomenal artist at the top of her game.
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
Reality - Reality
2
Reality - Road
3
Reality - Disco Party (Let's Have A)
4
Reality - Welcome
5
Reality - Movin' & Groovin'
6
Reality - Let's Party People
7
Reality - You Keep Me Holdin' On
8
Reality - Clap & Hustle
Mr Bongo presents a reissue of one of the rarest releases on the illustrious and now ultra-rare tax scam label TSG Records. A label with a checkered past, operated by Lloyd Price and with alleged ties to boxing promoter Don King. The album in question, Disco Party by Reality, is a stunning journey through ‘70s dancefloor-focussed funk into early proto-disco grooves.
Back in mid-‘70s Manhattan, Dr. Otto Gomez and a group of fellow New York musicians including Tony Dixon, Norman Drayton, Tony Dupree, Al Jones and Fred Nanton were brought in for a recording session by songwriter and producer, Billy Nichols. Laying down one of Nichols' songs and a selection of the group's own, they were paid as session musicians and thought little of it. The tapes came to the attention of Lloyd Price who struck a deal with Nichols unbeknownst to Gomez and the rest of the band.
Price then pressed the album and put it out in 1976 on a newly formed subsidiary label, TSG Records, that would later be documented as one of the US tax scam labels of the ‘70s. Such labels were created to exploit a loophole in the US tax system, running up inflated production costs / losses that investors or the parent label could write off against their tax bills. Releases on these labels were never intended to have commercial success. They would usually be produced in incredibly limited pressing numbers and have little to no promotion or distribution.
As such many of these records instantly fell into obscurity, becoming mythical amongst DJs and record collectors. Sadly, this meant that artists like Dr. Otto Gomez and friends never had the chance for their record and their talents to shine at the time. In fact, it was only when Jazzman reached out for their 2022 reissue that Dr. Otto Gomez became aware that the album had ever been released and heard the story behind it.
Disco Party is a time capsule where ‘70s instrumental funk edges and intertwines into an early disco sound. The sessions are for the dancefloor, minimalist and groove-based. The bass and drums are at the forefront, providing the pulse of the album. Driving funky guitar licks, and a brilliant horn section weave their way in and out of the productions. Highlights include the uplifting feel-good ‘Let's Party People’, the early disco swagger of ‘Reality’, and ‘Disco Party (Let's Have A)’ with its wah-wah groove and percussion break, which could easily have found its home on a Blaxploitation film soundtrack of the period.
It’s not just rarity that makes this record so sought after, but rather the fact that it is a superb example of dancefloor-focussed mid ‘70s funk and disco.
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
Back in mid-‘70s Manhattan, Dr. Otto Gomez and a group of fellow New York musicians including Tony Dixon, Norman Drayton, Tony Dupree, Al Jones and Fred Nanton were brought in for a recording session by songwriter and producer, Billy Nichols. Laying down one of Nichols' songs and a selection of the group's own, they were paid as session musicians and thought little of it. The tapes came to the attention of Lloyd Price who struck a deal with Nichols unbeknownst to Gomez and the rest of the band.
Price then pressed the album and put it out in 1976 on a newly formed subsidiary label, TSG Records, that would later be documented as one of the US tax scam labels of the ‘70s. Such labels were created to exploit a loophole in the US tax system, running up inflated production costs / losses that investors or the parent label could write off against their tax bills. Releases on these labels were never intended to have commercial success. They would usually be produced in incredibly limited pressing numbers and have little to no promotion or distribution.
As such many of these records instantly fell into obscurity, becoming mythical amongst DJs and record collectors. Sadly, this meant that artists like Dr. Otto Gomez and friends never had the chance for their record and their talents to shine at the time. In fact, it was only when Jazzman reached out for their 2022 reissue that Dr. Otto Gomez became aware that the album had ever been released and heard the story behind it.
Disco Party is a time capsule where ‘70s instrumental funk edges and intertwines into an early disco sound. The sessions are for the dancefloor, minimalist and groove-based. The bass and drums are at the forefront, providing the pulse of the album. Driving funky guitar licks, and a brilliant horn section weave their way in and out of the productions. Highlights include the uplifting feel-good ‘Let's Party People’, the early disco swagger of ‘Reality’, and ‘Disco Party (Let's Have A)’ with its wah-wah groove and percussion break, which could easily have found its home on a Blaxploitation film soundtrack of the period.
It’s not just rarity that makes this record so sought after, but rather the fact that it is a superb example of dancefloor-focussed mid ‘70s funk and disco.
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Germany
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1
Curió Curió - Bem Querer
2
Curió Curió - Amor Doente
Floating into our inbox on the East winds came a mysterious bunch of tracks by a mesmerising new act called Curió Curió, which we simply couldn’t ignore. Named after a vibrant Brazilian songbird, Curió Curió consists of singer, lyricist, and actress Luiza Monteiro, based in Austria, and producer and musician Dustin Braun from Germany. Together, the duo brings a fresh voice and a twist on MPB, taking influences from 1970s Brazil and blending them into a modern fusion of psychedelic, MPB, disco, and samba.
Curió Curió’s vocalist, Luiza Monteiro, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and raised listening to the rich sounds of MPB. She started taking classical singing lessons weekly by the age of 14, and later developed a career in acting, skills of which she brings with her into her songwriting. You may be familiar with Dustin’s production through his recent collaborations with the Turkish artist Peki Mome´s on Mocambo Records, or by his earlier incarnations, including a neo-soul release on Sichtexot and projects with Village Live Records and HHV's record label. His music has a tangible analogue warmth and a feeling of a real band performing live.
For this 7-inch release, ‘Bem Querer’ (‘Beloved’ in English) takes the A side. In it, Luiza calls a missed love to come close and dance with her. Even without an understanding of Portuguese, this feeling and energy radiates throughout the production; one of partying together, loving each other, living in ecstasy, feeling pleasure, and freedom. Built on an authentic samba street vibe with a super catchy sing-along chorus, that collective, carnival energy comes in part due to the choir that Dustin and Luiza assembled. A group of Brazilian friends, some of whom Dustin met whilst DJing in Leipzig, joined together in the studio. Half of them were non-professional singers, bringing that organic atmosphere of Rio’s streets to the recording.
The B-side ‘Amor Doente’ has a more bitter-sweet taste; the song speaks playfully about a relationship that goes on without really developing. Both parties cannot fully commit to each other, but they are also unable to end it. The production, however, has a delicious loose funk groove, sun-soaked and sultry. Dustin wrote the instrumental with Lucy Liebe, who joins on bass, guitar, synths, and trumpet, with Max Löbner also featuring on trumpet. A track that is equally adept at warming up a dancefloor as it is closing out a night.
We were genuinely blown away by the vibrancy and joy of this new project when we first heard it, instantly feeling like a familiar friend. In the band's own words, “Curió Curió is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic".
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Curió Curió’s vocalist, Luiza Monteiro, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and raised listening to the rich sounds of MPB. She started taking classical singing lessons weekly by the age of 14, and later developed a career in acting, skills of which she brings with her into her songwriting. You may be familiar with Dustin’s production through his recent collaborations with the Turkish artist Peki Mome´s on Mocambo Records, or by his earlier incarnations, including a neo-soul release on Sichtexot and projects with Village Live Records and HHV's record label. His music has a tangible analogue warmth and a feeling of a real band performing live.
For this 7-inch release, ‘Bem Querer’ (‘Beloved’ in English) takes the A side. In it, Luiza calls a missed love to come close and dance with her. Even without an understanding of Portuguese, this feeling and energy radiates throughout the production; one of partying together, loving each other, living in ecstasy, feeling pleasure, and freedom. Built on an authentic samba street vibe with a super catchy sing-along chorus, that collective, carnival energy comes in part due to the choir that Dustin and Luiza assembled. A group of Brazilian friends, some of whom Dustin met whilst DJing in Leipzig, joined together in the studio. Half of them were non-professional singers, bringing that organic atmosphere of Rio’s streets to the recording.
The B-side ‘Amor Doente’ has a more bitter-sweet taste; the song speaks playfully about a relationship that goes on without really developing. Both parties cannot fully commit to each other, but they are also unable to end it. The production, however, has a delicious loose funk groove, sun-soaked and sultry. Dustin wrote the instrumental with Lucy Liebe, who joins on bass, guitar, synths, and trumpet, with Max Löbner also featuring on trumpet. A track that is equally adept at warming up a dancefloor as it is closing out a night.
We were genuinely blown away by the vibrancy and joy of this new project when we first heard it, instantly feeling like a familiar friend. In the band's own words, “Curió Curió is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic".
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Myrna Summers - So Much to Live For (Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis Edit)
2
The Yancy Family - Lifted Me Higher (Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis Edit)
Delivering the second sermon in their Disco Gospel series, Chicago’s Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis hand-pick and re-edit two more under-the-radar disco/gospel fusion tracks for the modern dancefloor.
Both revered selectors and producers, Marc and Sadar are integral parts of Chicago's underground music scene, sharing the city’s spirit with the world. Through his own label, Black Pegasus, and the Chi Talo series, Marc has become an in-demand DJ known for his raw and eclectic sets. He joins forces with good friend, DJ’s DJ and Soul In The Hole head Sadar Bahar, whose name regularly tops the bill at some of the finest clubs and festivals around the globe.
Digging deep once again, the pair serve up two certified secret weapons from their renowned collections. Finding that sweet spot that drew out the most uplifting, powerful, and danceable elements of both gospel and disco, they shine a light on two beauties from Myrna Summers and also The Yancy Family. Tweaked and re-edited with style and consideration, they re-work the tracks with DJs and dancers in mind.
As Robert M. Marovich of Journal of Gospel Music puts it, “The rise of contemporary gospel music in the 1970s and 1980s changed the style, if not the substance, of Black sacred music. Artists, including the Yancy Family and Myrna Summers, worked within the groovy new sound to attract the attention of a generation growing up on rock, jazz, pop, and soul. Bring them into the church through the music, the maxim goes, and they’ll stay for the sermon. Likewise, these two re-edited album tracks by Sadar Bahar and Marc Davis keep the gospel music heritage alive while encouraging a brand-new generation to dance through the church doors.”
Up first, Myrna Summers ‘So Much to Live For’ channels that straight from the heart passion and collective joy that gospel embodies. Bursting with uplifting lyrics, scintillating organ melodies, and an infectious sing-along spirit, Marc and Sadar give it a club-ready DJ edit, extending it for maximum dancefloor deliverance.
The B side sees the duo work their magic on, ‘Lifted Me Higher’. Written by Kevin Yancy and taken from the Yancy Family’s 1989 album From One Christian Family to Another, it features vocals from siblings Kevin, Judy, and Rev. Darryl Yancy, along with Lois Scott. The all-star team of Chicago musicians includes Sherwin (Butch) Yancy on organ, Michael Wade on piano and synthesizer, and Richard Gibbs (longtime accompanist for Aretha Franklin) on piano and bass. With a soulful boogie flavour, dripping in slap bass and ‘80s synthlines, Marc and Sadar rework the intro so it rides out on a section of delectable instrumental grooves, before letting the glorious vocals hit home.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Both revered selectors and producers, Marc and Sadar are integral parts of Chicago's underground music scene, sharing the city’s spirit with the world. Through his own label, Black Pegasus, and the Chi Talo series, Marc has become an in-demand DJ known for his raw and eclectic sets. He joins forces with good friend, DJ’s DJ and Soul In The Hole head Sadar Bahar, whose name regularly tops the bill at some of the finest clubs and festivals around the globe.
Digging deep once again, the pair serve up two certified secret weapons from their renowned collections. Finding that sweet spot that drew out the most uplifting, powerful, and danceable elements of both gospel and disco, they shine a light on two beauties from Myrna Summers and also The Yancy Family. Tweaked and re-edited with style and consideration, they re-work the tracks with DJs and dancers in mind.
As Robert M. Marovich of Journal of Gospel Music puts it, “The rise of contemporary gospel music in the 1970s and 1980s changed the style, if not the substance, of Black sacred music. Artists, including the Yancy Family and Myrna Summers, worked within the groovy new sound to attract the attention of a generation growing up on rock, jazz, pop, and soul. Bring them into the church through the music, the maxim goes, and they’ll stay for the sermon. Likewise, these two re-edited album tracks by Sadar Bahar and Marc Davis keep the gospel music heritage alive while encouraging a brand-new generation to dance through the church doors.”
Up first, Myrna Summers ‘So Much to Live For’ channels that straight from the heart passion and collective joy that gospel embodies. Bursting with uplifting lyrics, scintillating organ melodies, and an infectious sing-along spirit, Marc and Sadar give it a club-ready DJ edit, extending it for maximum dancefloor deliverance.
The B side sees the duo work their magic on, ‘Lifted Me Higher’. Written by Kevin Yancy and taken from the Yancy Family’s 1989 album From One Christian Family to Another, it features vocals from siblings Kevin, Judy, and Rev. Darryl Yancy, along with Lois Scott. The all-star team of Chicago musicians includes Sherwin (Butch) Yancy on organ, Michael Wade on piano and synthesizer, and Richard Gibbs (longtime accompanist for Aretha Franklin) on piano and bass. With a soulful boogie flavour, dripping in slap bass and ‘80s synthlines, Marc and Sadar rework the intro so it rides out on a section of delectable instrumental grooves, before letting the glorious vocals hit home.
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Germany
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1
Harris & Orr - Spread Love
2
Terry And Deep South - Trying To Get By
3
Toshiyuki Honda - Burnin' Waves
4
Igna Igwebuike - Disco Bomp
5
Janette Renee - What's On Your Mind (Super Club Remix)
6
Grupo Serenata - Sodade, Tem Pena D’Mim
7
Vital Disorders - Zombie
8
Alphonsus Idigo - Flight 505
9
DJ Food - Peace (Harvey's 30 Something Mix)
10
Man Jumping - In The Jungle
11
Stars - Dancin’ People
12
Gaucho - Dance Forever (Club Version)
13
49th Floor - Night Passage (Bongo Mix)
14
Orion Agassi - Desacato
15
Fatdog - Remember (Ft. CJ Raine)
With two deeply cherished compilations already in the bag, Luke Una steps up for the third volume in his É Soul Cultura series on Mr Bongo. A love letter to the dancefloor and its power to unite people from all corners of society amid growing division and extremist politics. Genre-spanning in nature, the 15 tracks travel between cosmic soul, boogie, proto-house, slo-mo technoid grooves, drum machine afro, astral bass-bugging futurism, jazz funk, dance, and disco. Each having the ability to move the body as much as the heart.
From his formative years in Sheffield to co-founding Manchester’s much-fabled Electric Chair with Justin Crawford, through to helming the iconic LGBTQ institutions of Homoelectric / Homobloc, Luke has spent 40 years immersed in dance music. His latest outlet, É Soul Cultura, has grown from a label to a globe-spanning events series with Luke holding residencies and embarking on tours across the world from Japan and Australia to America and Europe.
“For me, the dancefloor was never about a one-dimensional, thudding, 130 BPM beat only. It's a much more dynamic, broader vision than that. I cut my teeth in an era where a 100 BPM record had as much impact, excitement, and energy as a 134 BPM dancefloor jazz funk or techno record”, Luke mentions. É Soul Cultura Volume 3 is the perfect embodiment of that notion: “It’s about four decades in the trenches playing dance music, the late-night afters, the shebeens, the basements, warehouse parties, the eight-hour journeys in East London, through to festival sets at Houghton and We Out Here. It’s music unconstrained by genre or tempo and more about making your body move”.
But this isn’t simply a collection of disparate dance tracks; they carry meaning and soul. “It’s less about escapism, more about reconnection. My experience of post-covid has been the coming together of all the clans in various clubs and gatherings. A reaction to a very toxic world out there, where the aggro rhythms of division have sought to divide us, and people don't meet as often. The coming back together face-to-face in clubs has encouraged a real love in the air, there's a real togetherness and collective spirit”.
Opening up the compilation is a track that channels that very message, the transcendental, soul-rousing Harris & Orr ‘Spread Love’. Joining the dots from there, to the low-slung deep house closer of Fatdog ‘Remember’, you’ll find electronic drum machine Nigerian funk, sitting side by side with dancefloor Cape Verdean brilliance, a post-punk cover of Fela Kuti, rubbing shoulders with cosmic electro, and an Una-championed, 8-minute, kickless DJ Harvey remix. There’s jazz funk in various guises moving from boogie synth to astral travelling, slo-mo acidic raw techno, and a ‘79 soul stepper, alongside swirling percussive Italo disco and tribal-charged house. All infused with an innate ability to bring people together.
As society becomes increasingly fractured, É Soul Cultura Volume 3’s message is more than movement. It’s about dance music’s power to unify people from all walks of life and break down the barriers that divide us.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
From his formative years in Sheffield to co-founding Manchester’s much-fabled Electric Chair with Justin Crawford, through to helming the iconic LGBTQ institutions of Homoelectric / Homobloc, Luke has spent 40 years immersed in dance music. His latest outlet, É Soul Cultura, has grown from a label to a globe-spanning events series with Luke holding residencies and embarking on tours across the world from Japan and Australia to America and Europe.
“For me, the dancefloor was never about a one-dimensional, thudding, 130 BPM beat only. It's a much more dynamic, broader vision than that. I cut my teeth in an era where a 100 BPM record had as much impact, excitement, and energy as a 134 BPM dancefloor jazz funk or techno record”, Luke mentions. É Soul Cultura Volume 3 is the perfect embodiment of that notion: “It’s about four decades in the trenches playing dance music, the late-night afters, the shebeens, the basements, warehouse parties, the eight-hour journeys in East London, through to festival sets at Houghton and We Out Here. It’s music unconstrained by genre or tempo and more about making your body move”.
But this isn’t simply a collection of disparate dance tracks; they carry meaning and soul. “It’s less about escapism, more about reconnection. My experience of post-covid has been the coming together of all the clans in various clubs and gatherings. A reaction to a very toxic world out there, where the aggro rhythms of division have sought to divide us, and people don't meet as often. The coming back together face-to-face in clubs has encouraged a real love in the air, there's a real togetherness and collective spirit”.
Opening up the compilation is a track that channels that very message, the transcendental, soul-rousing Harris & Orr ‘Spread Love’. Joining the dots from there, to the low-slung deep house closer of Fatdog ‘Remember’, you’ll find electronic drum machine Nigerian funk, sitting side by side with dancefloor Cape Verdean brilliance, a post-punk cover of Fela Kuti, rubbing shoulders with cosmic electro, and an Una-championed, 8-minute, kickless DJ Harvey remix. There’s jazz funk in various guises moving from boogie synth to astral travelling, slo-mo acidic raw techno, and a ‘79 soul stepper, alongside swirling percussive Italo disco and tribal-charged house. All infused with an innate ability to bring people together.
As society becomes increasingly fractured, É Soul Cultura Volume 3’s message is more than movement. It’s about dance music’s power to unify people from all walks of life and break down the barriers that divide us.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Expreso Rítmico
2
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Tambo Iya
3
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Yeya Son
4
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Te Quedas
5
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Que La Tristeza Se Fue
6
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Mi Conga Es La Que Es
7
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Mas No Me Falta Fe
8
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - La 132
9
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - Este Tumbao
10
Ricardo Eddy Martínez - De Mis Razones
Next up in our Cuban Classics series, one of the jewels of record label Areito’s extensive and sought-after catalogue. Ricardo Eddy Martinez’s Expreso Ritmico from 1978 is a prized album fusing funk, disco, and orchestrated influences with Afro-Cuban percussion, Latin breaks, and lush vocal harmonies.
Whilst maintaining its distinctive Cuban identity, Expreso Ritmico is one of the more American / Western-influenced Cuban titles of the time drawing inspiration from jazz funk, disco, and library music. The album was directed, written, and orchestrated by keyboardist and drummer Ricardo Eddy Martinez, who was also the mastermind behind the orchestration of the Los Reyes 73 album (that was recently reissued by Mr Bongo). Martinez would later go on to work with international musicians and singers such as Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Chick Corea, and many more, whilst also working as a sound engineer in the US.
Produced by Adolfo Pichardo, who worked on much of Areito’s output, Expreso Ritmico is packed with gold. The opening title track carries a loose, breezy Latin-disco-funk vibe that breaks into a brilliant Afro-Cuban workout. ‘Que La Tristeza Se Fue’ was expertly sampled and looped by Jazzanova on their 2008 song ‘Look What You Are Doing To Me, featuring Phonte from the hip hop group Little Brother. Elsewhere, ‘Tambo Iya’ has an Afro-funk, Soul Makossa-esque groove, while tracks such as ‘Te Quedas’, ‘Mi Conga Es La Que Es’ and ‘La 132’ run with a heavy pulsating Latin-funk sound. Head to the sultry psych funk of ‘Este Tumbao’ for a spacey journey that blends and morphs through genres.
A record that was ahead of its time, Expreso Ritmico is a superb and unique album that merges western influence with Cuban flair. It comes housed in a replica of its original Cuban sleeve design.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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Germany
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Whilst maintaining its distinctive Cuban identity, Expreso Ritmico is one of the more American / Western-influenced Cuban titles of the time drawing inspiration from jazz funk, disco, and library music. The album was directed, written, and orchestrated by keyboardist and drummer Ricardo Eddy Martinez, who was also the mastermind behind the orchestration of the Los Reyes 73 album (that was recently reissued by Mr Bongo). Martinez would later go on to work with international musicians and singers such as Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Chick Corea, and many more, whilst also working as a sound engineer in the US.
Produced by Adolfo Pichardo, who worked on much of Areito’s output, Expreso Ritmico is packed with gold. The opening title track carries a loose, breezy Latin-disco-funk vibe that breaks into a brilliant Afro-Cuban workout. ‘Que La Tristeza Se Fue’ was expertly sampled and looped by Jazzanova on their 2008 song ‘Look What You Are Doing To Me, featuring Phonte from the hip hop group Little Brother. Elsewhere, ‘Tambo Iya’ has an Afro-funk, Soul Makossa-esque groove, while tracks such as ‘Te Quedas’, ‘Mi Conga Es La Que Es’ and ‘La 132’ run with a heavy pulsating Latin-funk sound. Head to the sultry psych funk of ‘Este Tumbao’ for a spacey journey that blends and morphs through genres.
A record that was ahead of its time, Expreso Ritmico is a superb and unique album that merges western influence with Cuban flair. It comes housed in a replica of its original Cuban sleeve design.
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
Jorun Bombay - Wild Style Megamix Part 1
2
Jorun Bombay - Wild Style Megamix Part 2
In celebration of Arrow Films' new 4K restoration of the seminal hip hop film Wild Style, Azorean-Canadian producer and DJ Jorun Bombay steps up with a specially commissioned megamix cut across two sides of a 7”. Featuring recently discovered unreleased material, cut up with sections of the remastered soundtrack, expert turntablism, and added live instrumentation, Jorun shines a new light on this pioneering piece of hip hop history.
Having released music since the mid-‘80s on labels such as Soundweight, Diggers With Gratitude, and JBOR Records, Jorun also produces and scores music for film and television in the USA. He’s been hosting his influential DJ podcast ‘Funkbox Reload’ for over a decade, regularly showcasing his DJ and remixing skills, which have landed him several key production jobs, including for the documentary ‘Mixtape’ directed by Omar Acosta on Paramount Plus.
It's through ‘Funkbox Reload’ that Arrow Films became aware of Jorun’s talents. They reached out and suggested Jorun put together a megamix, giving him access to the masters and unreleased material.
Given the opportunity to remix such an iconic slice of hip hop’s heritage, Jorun has treated the project with the care and respect it warranted. As he states, “Seeing Wild Style in the 1980s was a life changer simply for the fact that it introduced the world to an art form that most people outside of New York didn't know existed or could exist. This culture was called ‘hip hop’, and it was the first time a form of music was made out of everything surrounding it and turned into a collage. Wild Style was the first of its kind, probably in the history of American music.”
The film served as a gateway to hip hop culture and the elements it was made up of, be it rapping, DJing, breakdancing, or graffiti writing, and watching it, whether at the cinema, on rental VHS, or a bootleg copy from a friend, was a truly inspirational moment for many. One of the most important scenes for future DJs, as outlined by Jorun and DJs including the UK’s Mr Thing, is the kitchen scene and DJ routine featuring Grandmaster Flash. As Jorun mentions, “the scene with Grandmaster Flash in the kitchen was the epitome of what the culture stood for and where it was about to go from 1983 onward - home studios. It made the goal achievable thanks to that scene influencing so many kids at the time.”
More than a simple DJ megamix, Jorun hasn’t limited himself to the use of just two turntables. Instead, he has added live instrumentation, such as bass, Rhodes, and conga hits to the ‘basketball rap’, “to give it more of a blaxploitation ‘rumble in the street’ mood”, alongside using the unreleased material to masterful effect. “I don't like to be strictly tied to just turntablism. There are no rules when making music”, he reflects. Using the same ethos of freedom and individual musical expression of the time, Jorun has delivered a respectful, authentic, and inspired homage to the legacy of the film and its soundtrack.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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Germany
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Having released music since the mid-‘80s on labels such as Soundweight, Diggers With Gratitude, and JBOR Records, Jorun also produces and scores music for film and television in the USA. He’s been hosting his influential DJ podcast ‘Funkbox Reload’ for over a decade, regularly showcasing his DJ and remixing skills, which have landed him several key production jobs, including for the documentary ‘Mixtape’ directed by Omar Acosta on Paramount Plus.
It's through ‘Funkbox Reload’ that Arrow Films became aware of Jorun’s talents. They reached out and suggested Jorun put together a megamix, giving him access to the masters and unreleased material.
Given the opportunity to remix such an iconic slice of hip hop’s heritage, Jorun has treated the project with the care and respect it warranted. As he states, “Seeing Wild Style in the 1980s was a life changer simply for the fact that it introduced the world to an art form that most people outside of New York didn't know existed or could exist. This culture was called ‘hip hop’, and it was the first time a form of music was made out of everything surrounding it and turned into a collage. Wild Style was the first of its kind, probably in the history of American music.”
The film served as a gateway to hip hop culture and the elements it was made up of, be it rapping, DJing, breakdancing, or graffiti writing, and watching it, whether at the cinema, on rental VHS, or a bootleg copy from a friend, was a truly inspirational moment for many. One of the most important scenes for future DJs, as outlined by Jorun and DJs including the UK’s Mr Thing, is the kitchen scene and DJ routine featuring Grandmaster Flash. As Jorun mentions, “the scene with Grandmaster Flash in the kitchen was the epitome of what the culture stood for and where it was about to go from 1983 onward - home studios. It made the goal achievable thanks to that scene influencing so many kids at the time.”
More than a simple DJ megamix, Jorun hasn’t limited himself to the use of just two turntables. Instead, he has added live instrumentation, such as bass, Rhodes, and conga hits to the ‘basketball rap’, “to give it more of a blaxploitation ‘rumble in the street’ mood”, alongside using the unreleased material to masterful effect. “I don't like to be strictly tied to just turntablism. There are no rules when making music”, he reflects. Using the same ethos of freedom and individual musical expression of the time, Jorun has delivered a respectful, authentic, and inspired homage to the legacy of the film and its soundtrack.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
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Germany
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1
P.J. City - Straight Forward (Non-Stop) (DJ Nature Re-Edit)
2
Grupo Los Yoyi - Del Copacabana A 34 (DJ Nature Re-Edit)
3
Antoniou - Sound On Sound (DJ Nature Re-Edit)
4
Marxist Love Disco Ensemble - Dust (DJ Nature Re-Edit)
Stepping up next in our Mr Bongo 12” Edits series, we’ve invited another legend of the game, DJ Nature, to craft a special EP of signature edits. Following editions by Dan Tyler and Nick The Record, Luke Una, and Danny Krivit, DJ Nature selects four prime cuts spanning modern soul, psychedelic funk, boogie, and leftfield disco, giving each his trademark tweak for today’s dancefloor.
In 1989, Bristol-born DJ Nature moved to New York, a city where he knew his raw and textured aesthetic would be more appreciated at the time. He immersed himself in the NY scene, frequently attending underground house and disco clubs to hear pioneers such as Larry Levan (The Choice), Louie Vega (Sound Factory Bar), and Tony Humphries (Zanzibar). That same year, being surrounded by a wealth of underground dance music, DJ Nature set up an export company to supply the Japanese market. “I have had a connection with Japan for over 40 years, beginning when I visited as part of Ray Petri’s Buffalo fashion house as a DJ. From there, I linked up with the Major Force crew and others,” he explains.
Having already been a record collector for 20 years, DJ Nature launched his own label, Ruff Disco Records, in 1992, releasing productions under his early moniker, Natureboy. Since then, Nature has gone on to become an underground DJ/producer legend himself, touring the world and releasing records on esteemed labels such as Golf Channel Recordings, Jazzy Sport, Hot Biscuit Recordings, and Futureboogie Recordings.
Reflecting his love of raw, independent disco, jazz fusion, and early house music, DJ Nature has chosen four tracks from the Mr Bongo archive that he felt had club-ready production ripe for an edit. First up, is an extended rework of the ultra-rare Chicago modern soul/disco joint ‘Straight Forward (Non-Stop)’ by P.J. City from 1986. Staying true and respectful to the original, DJ Nature tweaks and extends it so it feels like a longer take lifted from the original recording session. Next is a sublime version of Cuban band Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 track ‘Del Copacabana A 34’. Here, Nature extends and enhances the song, looping the more driving, hypnotic, spacey sections to let the energy brew and bubble to boiling point.
On the B-side, DJ Nature revamps a lesser-known gem from the Elite Records catalogue. Originally produced by Andy Sojka, Antoniou’s pulsating 1982 electronic disco groover ‘Sound On Sound’ is transformed into a peak-time cosmic boogie whirlwind. Rounding off the EP, he turns to the mysterious Marxist Love Disco Ensemble’s 2022 album ‘MLDE’, re-editing the quirky leftfield disco winner ‘Dust’ into a more DJ-friendly club track.
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
In 1989, Bristol-born DJ Nature moved to New York, a city where he knew his raw and textured aesthetic would be more appreciated at the time. He immersed himself in the NY scene, frequently attending underground house and disco clubs to hear pioneers such as Larry Levan (The Choice), Louie Vega (Sound Factory Bar), and Tony Humphries (Zanzibar). That same year, being surrounded by a wealth of underground dance music, DJ Nature set up an export company to supply the Japanese market. “I have had a connection with Japan for over 40 years, beginning when I visited as part of Ray Petri’s Buffalo fashion house as a DJ. From there, I linked up with the Major Force crew and others,” he explains.
Having already been a record collector for 20 years, DJ Nature launched his own label, Ruff Disco Records, in 1992, releasing productions under his early moniker, Natureboy. Since then, Nature has gone on to become an underground DJ/producer legend himself, touring the world and releasing records on esteemed labels such as Golf Channel Recordings, Jazzy Sport, Hot Biscuit Recordings, and Futureboogie Recordings.
Reflecting his love of raw, independent disco, jazz fusion, and early house music, DJ Nature has chosen four tracks from the Mr Bongo archive that he felt had club-ready production ripe for an edit. First up, is an extended rework of the ultra-rare Chicago modern soul/disco joint ‘Straight Forward (Non-Stop)’ by P.J. City from 1986. Staying true and respectful to the original, DJ Nature tweaks and extends it so it feels like a longer take lifted from the original recording session. Next is a sublime version of Cuban band Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 track ‘Del Copacabana A 34’. Here, Nature extends and enhances the song, looping the more driving, hypnotic, spacey sections to let the energy brew and bubble to boiling point.
On the B-side, DJ Nature revamps a lesser-known gem from the Elite Records catalogue. Originally produced by Andy Sojka, Antoniou’s pulsating 1982 electronic disco groover ‘Sound On Sound’ is transformed into a peak-time cosmic boogie whirlwind. Rounding off the EP, he turns to the mysterious Marxist Love Disco Ensemble’s 2022 album ‘MLDE’, re-editing the quirky leftfield disco winner ‘Dust’ into a more DJ-friendly club track.
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
Hollie Cook - Milk And Honey
2
Hollie Cook - That Very Night
3
Hollie Cook - Walking In The Sand
4
Hollie Cook - Cry (Disco Mix) Ft. Horseman
5
Hollie Cook - It's So Different Here
6
Hollie Cook - Sugar Water (Look At My Face) Ft. Horseman
7
Hollie Cook - Shadow Kissing
8
Hollie Cook - Used To be
9
Hollie Cook - Body Beat Ft. Horseman
Mr Bongo present a yellow vinyl repress of Hollie’s sensational, self-titled 2011 debut album. 14 years on, this timeless debut produced by Prince Fatty fuses Hollie's self-coined ‘tropical pop’ sound with her passion for reggae and lovers rock singers such as Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon and classic '60s girl groups.
An album that radiates with highlights, it features what would become one of Hollie’s most popular songs, the super catchy, sun-soaked ‘Milk & Honey’ that has racked up over 46 million streams on Spotify alone. Elsewhere, there are distinctive reggae cover versions of the Shangri-Las ‘(Remember) Walkin’ In The Sand’, transformed from a dark, emotive cut into one filled with a flavour of hope, alongside a signature new spin on Rachel Sweet’s amazing, laidback ‘It's So Different Here’. Take to the bass-heavy ‘Sugar Water (Look At My Face)’ for a dub-leaning workout and look to the singles ‘That Very Night’ and ‘Body Beat’ to further feel the synergy between Hollie and Prince Fatty, showcasing songs that are inspired and influenced by the past but with a definitive foot in the present.
Adding further weight to this iconic debut, there are a talented array of musicians featuring across the record, including Omar, Dennis Bovell, George Decker (The Pioneers), Horseman, Style Scott, Black Steel, Mutant Hi-Fi and more. Along with Prince Fatty at the controls and Hollie on the mic, together they crafted a classic sound that feels as fresh (but also as vintage) as it did fourteen years ago. A modern masterpiece in its genre, and the start of Hollie’s journey to becoming the contemporary queen of the lovers rock sound.
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
An album that radiates with highlights, it features what would become one of Hollie’s most popular songs, the super catchy, sun-soaked ‘Milk & Honey’ that has racked up over 46 million streams on Spotify alone. Elsewhere, there are distinctive reggae cover versions of the Shangri-Las ‘(Remember) Walkin’ In The Sand’, transformed from a dark, emotive cut into one filled with a flavour of hope, alongside a signature new spin on Rachel Sweet’s amazing, laidback ‘It's So Different Here’. Take to the bass-heavy ‘Sugar Water (Look At My Face)’ for a dub-leaning workout and look to the singles ‘That Very Night’ and ‘Body Beat’ to further feel the synergy between Hollie and Prince Fatty, showcasing songs that are inspired and influenced by the past but with a definitive foot in the present.
Adding further weight to this iconic debut, there are a talented array of musicians featuring across the record, including Omar, Dennis Bovell, George Decker (The Pioneers), Horseman, Style Scott, Black Steel, Mutant Hi-Fi and more. Along with Prince Fatty at the controls and Hollie on the mic, together they crafted a classic sound that feels as fresh (but also as vintage) as it did fourteen years ago. A modern masterpiece in its genre, and the start of Hollie’s journey to becoming the contemporary queen of the lovers rock sound.
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
Ana Frango Elétrico - A Sua Diversão
2
Ana Frango Elétrico - Não Tem Nada Não
A year and a half after the release of their Latin Grammy-nominated album, Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua, the award-winning Brazilian trailblazer, Ana Frango Elétrico, returns with two new songs: ‘A Sua Diversão’ and ‘Não Tem Nada Não’. Both tracks are the result of a remarkable collaboration with legendary Brazilian artist Marcos Valle, creating a dialogue between generations. The 7” single will be released in partnership by the labels RISCO, Mr Bongo and Psychic Hotline.
First up, Ana drops the laid-back sultry Brazilian-funk gem 'A Sua Diversão', written alongside Tuca Monteiro and co-produced by Guilherme Lirio. With a breezy ‘80s tinged feel, the sumptuous bassline, funk strutting guitars and cosmic synths are the perfect match to Ana’s instantly recognisable vocal tones. A track with a nostalgic air but a contemporary flair, it includes guest backing vocals by three of Brazil’s finest, Dora Morelenbaum, Marcos Valle, and Patrícia Alví.
Next, a firm favourite from their live show, Ana reinterprets and re-records a 1973 Marcos Valle classic 'Não Tem Nada Não', written collaboratively with Eumir Deodato and João Donato. During Ana’s tour across 11 countries and over 40 sold-out shows, this cover quickly became a fan favourite. As audiences began tagging Valle in Instagram stories, he showed his support by reposting Ana’s performances. This online exchange blossomed into a real-life connection when the two artists met at a benefit concert for Rio Grande do Sul and the idea of a collaboration materialised.
Putting their own distinctive spin on the recording, Ana duets with Valle, who features on vocals and Rhodes. As the track progresses it morphs seamlessly into a reimagination of Crystal Water's anthemic 'Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)' from 1991. This inspired yet unlikely combination blends exquisitely and is a perfect distillation of Ana’s energetic and absorbing live presence.
“Não Tem Nada Não” was part of every show we did from the album tour. I wanted to capture that moment, that snapshot of the show and the band. It’s a record of that time and of the relationships that deepened through sharing it all. We recorded the same arrangement we play live—only now, with the honour of having my idol Marcos Valle join in.
These are definitely songs that don’t point the way, but rather close a cycle. They reflect research based on live performances, on the Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua shows, which will be celebrating their farewell in Brazil this year” Ana explains.
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
First up, Ana drops the laid-back sultry Brazilian-funk gem 'A Sua Diversão', written alongside Tuca Monteiro and co-produced by Guilherme Lirio. With a breezy ‘80s tinged feel, the sumptuous bassline, funk strutting guitars and cosmic synths are the perfect match to Ana’s instantly recognisable vocal tones. A track with a nostalgic air but a contemporary flair, it includes guest backing vocals by three of Brazil’s finest, Dora Morelenbaum, Marcos Valle, and Patrícia Alví.
Next, a firm favourite from their live show, Ana reinterprets and re-records a 1973 Marcos Valle classic 'Não Tem Nada Não', written collaboratively with Eumir Deodato and João Donato. During Ana’s tour across 11 countries and over 40 sold-out shows, this cover quickly became a fan favourite. As audiences began tagging Valle in Instagram stories, he showed his support by reposting Ana’s performances. This online exchange blossomed into a real-life connection when the two artists met at a benefit concert for Rio Grande do Sul and the idea of a collaboration materialised.
Putting their own distinctive spin on the recording, Ana duets with Valle, who features on vocals and Rhodes. As the track progresses it morphs seamlessly into a reimagination of Crystal Water's anthemic 'Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)' from 1991. This inspired yet unlikely combination blends exquisitely and is a perfect distillation of Ana’s energetic and absorbing live presence.
“Não Tem Nada Não” was part of every show we did from the album tour. I wanted to capture that moment, that snapshot of the show and the band. It’s a record of that time and of the relationships that deepened through sharing it all. We recorded the same arrangement we play live—only now, with the honour of having my idol Marcos Valle join in.
These are definitely songs that don’t point the way, but rather close a cycle. They reflect research based on live performances, on the Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua shows, which will be celebrating their farewell in Brazil this year” Ana explains.
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
Customers who bought this also bought this
Label:Tonal Union
Cat-No:TU003LP
Release-Date:10.04.2026
Genre:Alternative/Electronic
Configuration:LP Excl
Label:Tonal Union
Cat-No:TU003LP
Release-Date:10.04.2026
Genre:Alternative/Electronic
Configuration:LP Excl
1
Akusmi - A1: Secant
2
Akusmi - A2: Oblique (Vinyl edition exclusive version)
3
Akusmi - B1: Parallel
4
Akusmi - B2: Tangent
5
Akusmi - B3: Longing for Tomorrow (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix) - (Vinyl exclusive)
LP - Territory: WW Minus UK/Eire,Usa
- Long sold out 2026 Repress - Not been available in Europe for a long time
- Black BioVinyl
- Printed on heavyweight reverse board outer sleeve with hand-numbered edition sticker
- Cover artwork by Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon
- Vinyl comes in black poly-lined protective bag
- Vinyl pressed at Optimal media GmbH
- Printed at Delga in the UK
2. GENRE/S: Jazz / Modern Classical
3. TRACKLISTS:
A1: Secant
A2: Oblique (Vinyl edition exclusive version)
B1: Parallel
B2: Tangent
B3: Longing for Tomorrow (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix) - (Vinyl exclusive)
Total Running time: 27' 63"
4. SHORT INFO:
London based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Akusmi announces 'Lines', an exhilarating new collection of works born from the desire to take where the acclaimed debut album 'Fleeting Future' left off - in search of new forms.
" 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1
'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B. The cover artwork features another collaboration with Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon and design by label founder Adam Heron.
Formed with a sense of urgency and a reductive approach 'Lines' is almost entirely comprised of alto saxophone, clarinet and piano with embellishments of ambience and minimal percussive elements. Recorded in full at his home studio in London, Pascal Bideau speaks about the process:
"I wanted to go a bit more a bit more horizontal and ambient, work with layers of lines, might they be dotted or straight, and leave them to unfold and see where they would take me."
Akusmi uniquely finds the spaces in between experimental jazz, crossover classical and ambient music.
VITAL SALES POINTS:
- " 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1
-
- 'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B
-
- Debut Album 'Fleeting Future' is long sold out and was selected as The Guardian's - Contemporary Album of the Month (Experimental)
-
- Expected support from BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music
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
- Long sold out 2026 Repress - Not been available in Europe for a long time
- Black BioVinyl
- Printed on heavyweight reverse board outer sleeve with hand-numbered edition sticker
- Cover artwork by Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon
- Vinyl comes in black poly-lined protective bag
- Vinyl pressed at Optimal media GmbH
- Printed at Delga in the UK
2. GENRE/S: Jazz / Modern Classical
3. TRACKLISTS:
A1: Secant
A2: Oblique (Vinyl edition exclusive version)
B1: Parallel
B2: Tangent
B3: Longing for Tomorrow (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix) - (Vinyl exclusive)
Total Running time: 27' 63"
4. SHORT INFO:
London based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Akusmi announces 'Lines', an exhilarating new collection of works born from the desire to take where the acclaimed debut album 'Fleeting Future' left off - in search of new forms.
" 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1
'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B. The cover artwork features another collaboration with Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon and design by label founder Adam Heron.
Formed with a sense of urgency and a reductive approach 'Lines' is almost entirely comprised of alto saxophone, clarinet and piano with embellishments of ambience and minimal percussive elements. Recorded in full at his home studio in London, Pascal Bideau speaks about the process:
"I wanted to go a bit more a bit more horizontal and ambient, work with layers of lines, might they be dotted or straight, and leave them to unfold and see where they would take me."
Akusmi uniquely finds the spaces in between experimental jazz, crossover classical and ambient music.
VITAL SALES POINTS:
- " 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1
-
- 'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B
-
- Debut Album 'Fleeting Future' is long sold out and was selected as The Guardian's - Contemporary Album of the Month (Experimental)
-
- Expected support from BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music
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
Daniel Lopatin aka Oneohtrix Point Never, one of the most admired sound architects of recent times has shared another chapter of his highly anticipated new album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never. Following the September album announcement and release of three-song “Drive Time Suite”, the five-song “Midday Suite'' introduces “Cross Talk II”, “I Don’t Love Me Anymore”, “Bow Ecco”, “The Whether Channel” and “No Nightmares”. As on “Long Road Home”, Lopatin’s simultaneously raw and synthesized vocals are once again at the forefront in “I Don’t Love Me Anymore”, a motorik-influenced ear worm with pop punk undertones. Tracks such as “Cross Talk II” and “Bow Ecco” nod to Lopatin’s ability to take organic recordings and seamlessly weave them into compact sensory vignettes. “The Whether Channel” offers an electronic meditation featuring abstracted self-help tape samples that unfurl before reaching an unforgettable coda lead by Nolanberollin’s epically vocoded baritone. “No Nightmares”, featuring vocal collaborations from The Weeknd, presents a gorgeously mutated AOR-style power ballad anchored by Lopatin’s futuristic production and arrangement demonstrating yet another side to the album’s vast sonic narratives. Abel Tesfaye, an ardent collaborator, also shares executive producer credits alongside Lopatin, with additional album contributions from Caroline Polachek, Arca, Nate Boyce and Nolanberollin.
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never is a reflective and self-referential body of work. Here Lopatin has mastered his own autobiography; an ornate musical double entendre from an artist whose prolific and diverse output over the years has led to this career-defining moment. At the end of 2019 Lopatin scored one of the most critically acclaimed soundtracks of recent years, an anxiety-laced joyride driving the Safdie Brothers' noir thriller Uncut Gems. Prior to that, his celebrated 2018 album Age Of foreshadowed a universal feeling of shifting tides that cuts even deeper today in the current state of world affairs. Now turning the dial towards his own inner frequencies the structure of Magic Oneohtrix Point Never loosely summons the broadcasting logic of radio dayparts, switching on in the morning and closing very late at night, while seamlessly latticed together with kaleidoscopic, twitchy transformations of sound between the dials to form a darkly humorous reflection on American music culture.
Earlier this month, OPN shared the first visual from the new album, an animated video for "Long Road Home" co-directed by the cross-Atlantic creative duo of Charlie Fox (UK) and Emily Schubert (US). In homage to Georges Schwizgebel's 1982 short film Le ravissement de Frank N. Stein, which was also featured on the cover of Oneohtrix Point Never's 2013 album R Plus Seven, the perfectly paired visual plays voyeur to seemingly sinister and otherworldly creatures as they become romantically entangled. The courtship dances wildly between basic human emotion and erotic dark humor, making fantasy and reality one and the same.
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never is the fourth full length album release from OPN on Warp and will be out worldwide this Friday, October 30th.
- Specs: 2LP in printed inners in gatefold sleeve with spot UV varnish, 12” insert
Tracklisting
A1. Cross Talk I
A2. Auto & Allo
A3. Long Road Home
A4. Cross Talk II
B1. I Don’t Love Me Anymore
B2. Bow Ecco
B3. The Whether Channel
B4. No Nightmares
C1. Cross Talk III
C2. Tales From The Trash Stratum
C3. Answering Machine
C4. Imago
C5. Cross Talk IV / Radio Lonelys
D1. Lost But Never Alone
D2. Shifting
D3. Wave Idea
D4. Nothing’s Special
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
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never is a reflective and self-referential body of work. Here Lopatin has mastered his own autobiography; an ornate musical double entendre from an artist whose prolific and diverse output over the years has led to this career-defining moment. At the end of 2019 Lopatin scored one of the most critically acclaimed soundtracks of recent years, an anxiety-laced joyride driving the Safdie Brothers' noir thriller Uncut Gems. Prior to that, his celebrated 2018 album Age Of foreshadowed a universal feeling of shifting tides that cuts even deeper today in the current state of world affairs. Now turning the dial towards his own inner frequencies the structure of Magic Oneohtrix Point Never loosely summons the broadcasting logic of radio dayparts, switching on in the morning and closing very late at night, while seamlessly latticed together with kaleidoscopic, twitchy transformations of sound between the dials to form a darkly humorous reflection on American music culture.
Earlier this month, OPN shared the first visual from the new album, an animated video for "Long Road Home" co-directed by the cross-Atlantic creative duo of Charlie Fox (UK) and Emily Schubert (US). In homage to Georges Schwizgebel's 1982 short film Le ravissement de Frank N. Stein, which was also featured on the cover of Oneohtrix Point Never's 2013 album R Plus Seven, the perfectly paired visual plays voyeur to seemingly sinister and otherworldly creatures as they become romantically entangled. The courtship dances wildly between basic human emotion and erotic dark humor, making fantasy and reality one and the same.
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never is the fourth full length album release from OPN on Warp and will be out worldwide this Friday, October 30th.
- Specs: 2LP in printed inners in gatefold sleeve with spot UV varnish, 12” insert
Tracklisting
A1. Cross Talk I
A2. Auto & Allo
A3. Long Road Home
A4. Cross Talk II
B1. I Don’t Love Me Anymore
B2. Bow Ecco
B3. The Whether Channel
B4. No Nightmares
C1. Cross Talk III
C2. Tales From The Trash Stratum
C3. Answering Machine
C4. Imago
C5. Cross Talk IV / Radio Lonelys
D1. Lost But Never Alone
D2. Shifting
D3. Wave Idea
D4. Nothing’s Special
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
Hatchback - And The Walls Became The World All Around
2
Hatchback - Phaser For The Ocean, Chorus For The Moon
3
Hatchback - Other Desert Cities
4
Hatchback - Friendship Fountain
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes: First time vinyl issue of Hatchback's deeply ambient magnum-opus; deluxe gatefold 140g double vinyl, remastered audio, specially cut at Abbey Road Studios with stunning artwork including holographic-foil layer moon. 500 copies for the world only!
Track List:
A And The Walls Became The World All Around (18:52 min)
B Phaser For The Ocean, Chorus For The Moon (21:48 min)
C Other Desert Cities (20:19 min)
D Friendship Fountain (18:33 min)
The most beautiful thing we’ve ever released?
It is virtually impossible to describe with mere words how emotionally powerful this work of art is. Just listen. Listen, listen, listen...
A blissed-out 80-minute epic, Hatchback's Phaser For The Ocean, Chorus For The Moon is his magnum opus, a sprawling masterwork that encompasses ambient, new age and environmental music to wondrous effect. Moving, hypnotic and deeply meditative, it's FFO Mike Brooks, Deuter, Klaus Weiss, Innovative Communication, Harmonia, Cluster, Ashra's New Age of Earth, Stomu Yamashta, Haruka Nakamura, Yoshimura, Hosono, the works.
A record truly deserving of the deluxe Be With treatment, the vinyl was specially cut at Abbey Road Studios whilst the original stunning artwork has been pleasingly expanded. Now, an eye-catching holographic-foil layer moon is set against the original tones, wrapped up in a sumptuous double-gatefold jacket.
Soaked in Californian consciousness and limited to a run of just 500 copies for the world, this release is a treasured balm like no other for these troubled times.
Hatchback is the atmospheric, melodious ambient alias of California-based artist Samuel Milton Grawe. Sam creates music that sings of the Cosmos, full of deep resonant tones, glistening arpeggios, lush pads and harmonic motifs.
"When I first was getting into the creative side of music making in my teens, I was heavily influenced by concept albums like Quadrophenia and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, as well as epic pieces that took up an entire side of a record: Pink Floyd’s Echoes, Yes’ Close To The Edge, Klaus Schulze’s Nowhere Now Here, Miles Davis' Shhh/Peaceful and He Loved Him Madly. In the extreme, these ideas coalesced in double albums where each side of each record is occupied by a single title - Yes’ Tales From Topographic Oceans and Tangerine Dream’s Zeit being primary examples. When I returned to making music after moving back to Northern California in 2020, the first piece I recorded landed around the 20-minute mark, and the idea of creating three other long pieces to realize a full album felt like a natural - if indulgent - goal. From there, each new piece followed sequentially. Four songs. My fourth album." - Sam Grawe
Phaser For The Ocean Chorus For The Moon is a pure expression, informed by a lifetime of deep listening unbound by algorithms or AI. These are songs for the sunrise and the sunset - and every colour in between.
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
Format Notes: First time vinyl issue of Hatchback's deeply ambient magnum-opus; deluxe gatefold 140g double vinyl, remastered audio, specially cut at Abbey Road Studios with stunning artwork including holographic-foil layer moon. 500 copies for the world only!
Track List:
A And The Walls Became The World All Around (18:52 min)
B Phaser For The Ocean, Chorus For The Moon (21:48 min)
C Other Desert Cities (20:19 min)
D Friendship Fountain (18:33 min)
The most beautiful thing we’ve ever released?
It is virtually impossible to describe with mere words how emotionally powerful this work of art is. Just listen. Listen, listen, listen...
A blissed-out 80-minute epic, Hatchback's Phaser For The Ocean, Chorus For The Moon is his magnum opus, a sprawling masterwork that encompasses ambient, new age and environmental music to wondrous effect. Moving, hypnotic and deeply meditative, it's FFO Mike Brooks, Deuter, Klaus Weiss, Innovative Communication, Harmonia, Cluster, Ashra's New Age of Earth, Stomu Yamashta, Haruka Nakamura, Yoshimura, Hosono, the works.
A record truly deserving of the deluxe Be With treatment, the vinyl was specially cut at Abbey Road Studios whilst the original stunning artwork has been pleasingly expanded. Now, an eye-catching holographic-foil layer moon is set against the original tones, wrapped up in a sumptuous double-gatefold jacket.
Soaked in Californian consciousness and limited to a run of just 500 copies for the world, this release is a treasured balm like no other for these troubled times.
Hatchback is the atmospheric, melodious ambient alias of California-based artist Samuel Milton Grawe. Sam creates music that sings of the Cosmos, full of deep resonant tones, glistening arpeggios, lush pads and harmonic motifs.
"When I first was getting into the creative side of music making in my teens, I was heavily influenced by concept albums like Quadrophenia and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, as well as epic pieces that took up an entire side of a record: Pink Floyd’s Echoes, Yes’ Close To The Edge, Klaus Schulze’s Nowhere Now Here, Miles Davis' Shhh/Peaceful and He Loved Him Madly. In the extreme, these ideas coalesced in double albums where each side of each record is occupied by a single title - Yes’ Tales From Topographic Oceans and Tangerine Dream’s Zeit being primary examples. When I returned to making music after moving back to Northern California in 2020, the first piece I recorded landed around the 20-minute mark, and the idea of creating three other long pieces to realize a full album felt like a natural - if indulgent - goal. From there, each new piece followed sequentially. Four songs. My fourth album." - Sam Grawe
Phaser For The Ocean Chorus For The Moon is a pure expression, informed by a lifetime of deep listening unbound by algorithms or AI. These are songs for the sunrise and the sunset - and every colour in between.
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
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp09
Release-Date:23.10.2026
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:2LP Excl
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp09
Release-Date:23.10.2026
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:2LP Excl
1
julius steinhoff - Cheetah Nights
2
julius steinhoff - Under A Waterfal
3
julius steinhoff - Treehouse
4
julius steinhoff - All The Things You Are
5
julius steinhoff - Flocking Behaviour
6
julius steinhoff - Sun And Stars
7
julius steinhoff - Hey You
8
julius steinhoff - Where Days Begin
2026 repress / full cover
DOUBLE LP WITH GATEFOLD COVER
Tracklisting 2x12":
A1 Cheetah Nights
A2 Under A Waterfall
B1 Treehouse
B2 All The Things You Are
C1 Flocking Behaviour
C2 Sun And Stars
D1 Hey You
D2 Where Days Begin
In the ever-expanding universe of deep house, Julius Steinhoff is far from being a stranger. Half of the dynamic duo Smallpeople, founder and one of the steersmen behind Hamburg's Smallville empire (record store/ label/ party curator around the globe) as well as a producer and DJ in his own right, Steinhoff is closely associated with a group of like-minded people that unite fresh ideas and individualism with a certain consciousness of tradition. That "Flocking Behaviour" is well embodied in Steinhoff's debut album by the same name. After a string of 12-inches for the likes of Live at Robert Johnson, Geography or his own-brand Smallville and the very well-received Smallpeople long-player "Salty Days", Julius Steinhoff makes a submission that is all his. Rooted in the elegiac variety of the big three (New York, Chicago & Detroit) and a romantic concept of house music that is at times utopian, the album gathers eight tracks that evoke late nights, hazy mornings and walks on thin air.
But "Flocking Behaviour" is by no means anachronistic: Tracks like "Under A Waterfall" could be made in just the same manner by a puerile Baby Ford in 1989 as they represent a swaying dance floor in 2014. "Treehouse" or the title track "Flocking Behaviour" are experiences that make you feel like meeting new people who instantly greet you like old friends. With someone that works and lives in the here and now, Steinhoff seemingly has no interest in revisionism, complains or antagonism, his approach is welcoming and caring, embracing and mesmerizing. Along the way, his musical apparatus never makes use of cheap tricks or antique clichés. Instead, he strips back a sometimes fat body to its emotional bones, resulting in a self-confident oeuvre that is as timeless as it is beautiful.
"Flocking Behaviour" is one man's love letter to his musical passion.
Gerd Janson, May 2014
All tracks w&p by Julius Steinhoff
Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Mastered by Helmut Erler/ Dubplates & Mastering
Distributed by Wordandsound
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
DOUBLE LP WITH GATEFOLD COVER
Tracklisting 2x12":
A1 Cheetah Nights
A2 Under A Waterfall
B1 Treehouse
B2 All The Things You Are
C1 Flocking Behaviour
C2 Sun And Stars
D1 Hey You
D2 Where Days Begin
In the ever-expanding universe of deep house, Julius Steinhoff is far from being a stranger. Half of the dynamic duo Smallpeople, founder and one of the steersmen behind Hamburg's Smallville empire (record store/ label/ party curator around the globe) as well as a producer and DJ in his own right, Steinhoff is closely associated with a group of like-minded people that unite fresh ideas and individualism with a certain consciousness of tradition. That "Flocking Behaviour" is well embodied in Steinhoff's debut album by the same name. After a string of 12-inches for the likes of Live at Robert Johnson, Geography or his own-brand Smallville and the very well-received Smallpeople long-player "Salty Days", Julius Steinhoff makes a submission that is all his. Rooted in the elegiac variety of the big three (New York, Chicago & Detroit) and a romantic concept of house music that is at times utopian, the album gathers eight tracks that evoke late nights, hazy mornings and walks on thin air.
But "Flocking Behaviour" is by no means anachronistic: Tracks like "Under A Waterfall" could be made in just the same manner by a puerile Baby Ford in 1989 as they represent a swaying dance floor in 2014. "Treehouse" or the title track "Flocking Behaviour" are experiences that make you feel like meeting new people who instantly greet you like old friends. With someone that works and lives in the here and now, Steinhoff seemingly has no interest in revisionism, complains or antagonism, his approach is welcoming and caring, embracing and mesmerizing. Along the way, his musical apparatus never makes use of cheap tricks or antique clichés. Instead, he strips back a sometimes fat body to its emotional bones, resulting in a self-confident oeuvre that is as timeless as it is beautiful.
"Flocking Behaviour" is one man's love letter to his musical passion.
Gerd Janson, May 2014
All tracks w&p by Julius Steinhoff
Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Mastered by Helmut Erler/ Dubplates & Mastering
Distributed by Wordandsound
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
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp11
Release-Date:10.07.2026
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:2LP Excl
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp11
Release-Date:10.07.2026
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:2LP Excl
1
moomin - 123
2
moomin - alone
3
moomin - a minor thought
4
moomin - time to reflect
5
moomin - woman to woman
6
moomin - morning groove
7
moomin - chemistry
8
moomin - unshape
2026 repress
Vinyl Tracklisting:
A1 123
A2 Alone
B1 A Minor Thought
B2 Time To Reflect
C1 Woman To Woman
C2 Morning Groove
D1 Chemistry
D2 Unshaped
Info:
The ocean- the infinity, the beauty, the colour, the sound: a truly seductive place.
With the sound of ocean waves Smallville's beloved artist Moomin invites us to enter his second full length album "A Minor Thought". A selection of wonderful tracks initiate some exciting house music moments at our favorite clubs, improved at Panorama Bar, Robert Johnson and of course the Golden Pudel among many others..
Engaged with a fantastic collection of analogue synths and drum machines, Moomin is always on a hunt of the most delicate samples. After his big first album "The Story About You" and a number of beautiful works on his own imprint "Closer", he was already back on Smallville's new little baby "Fuck Reality" to deliver a 12" for the 2015 summertime. Of course Moomin was also part of the Smallville 10 years Compilation "Smallville Ways" and delivered again for Smallville 46. Now he appears with another string of beauty- A Minor Thought.
Fullcover artwork by Stefan Marx.
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
Vinyl Tracklisting:
A1 123
A2 Alone
B1 A Minor Thought
B2 Time To Reflect
C1 Woman To Woman
C2 Morning Groove
D1 Chemistry
D2 Unshaped
Info:
The ocean- the infinity, the beauty, the colour, the sound: a truly seductive place.
With the sound of ocean waves Smallville's beloved artist Moomin invites us to enter his second full length album "A Minor Thought". A selection of wonderful tracks initiate some exciting house music moments at our favorite clubs, improved at Panorama Bar, Robert Johnson and of course the Golden Pudel among many others..
Engaged with a fantastic collection of analogue synths and drum machines, Moomin is always on a hunt of the most delicate samples. After his big first album "The Story About You" and a number of beautiful works on his own imprint "Closer", he was already back on Smallville's new little baby "Fuck Reality" to deliver a 12" for the 2015 summertime. Of course Moomin was also part of the Smallville 10 years Compilation "Smallville Ways" and delivered again for Smallville 46. Now he appears with another string of beauty- A Minor Thought.
Fullcover artwork by Stefan Marx.
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
SECOND REISSUE ON THIS HEAT's OWN NEW IMPRINT FOLLOWING 'THIS HEAT' (TH01LP) WHICH WAS UNCUT 'REISSUE OF THE MONTH' RECENTLY WITH 9/10 REVIEW + 4-PAGE FEATURE WITH Q+A.
*24 bit/96 kHz re-master from original analog tapes.
*Heavyweight 180gm vinyl and heavyweight sleeve with pantone printing to match original 1979 release.
Simon Reynolds on Health and Efficiency:
"For some fans, Health and Efficiency is This Heat's peak achievement - their most concentrated blast of visceral intensity and wayward experimentalism….Lead track "Health & Efficiency" combines fierce angular rock that fully lives up to Cunningham's belief that This Heat could become a postpunk King Crimson, with a multi-part babble of vocals, clattering percussive timbres, and found sounds.''
Flipside "Graphic/Varispeed" is more subdued and hypnotic: a wavering tonescape whose duration depends on whether you play it at 45 rpm or 33 rpm. This reissue reproduces the original release's striking cover image of a human figure painted in blue by Pete Cobb, along with the cryptic flipside of text in many different languages.
Although widely considered to be Post-Punk's finest, This Heat actually began performing and recording their music in 1976, the early days of London's punk era. Within their two albums and an EP they perfected a strange and volatile new strain of avant-garde rock that time has proved to be massively influential, a blueprint for much that would follow: post-rock, math rock, homemade musique concrète, experimental electronica. Numerous critics have recognised the band's influence on the music of Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, Steven Wilson, Public Image Ltd., Radiohead, Swans, Shellac, Young Knives, Black Dice, Lightning Bolt and numerous other experimental and post-rock bands.
Disbanding in 1982 they have left an undeniable legacy that has only continued to grow in stature and relevance.Having recently passed the 50 year anniversary of their first gig, and the recording of material that appears on their debut album, the group's surviving members Charles Bullen and Charles Hayward, true to their DIY roots, have set up an imprint to release their recordings for their growing fan base that is increasingly recognising their influential place in music history. ?
'They went beyond punk before punk had properly started…the entire album is a controlled explosion of ideas. Nearly fifty years on, This Heat's debut is something the world has still not completely caught up with.' - Simon Reynolds
'Over the years, there have been bands to play as aggressively, or even as strangely, but very few have been able to rise from their collective influences and histories to create music so singularly distinctive and inspiring.' - Pitchfork 9/10
'This Heat sounded like the future then ... and still do now.' - Dan Snaith (Caribou)
'This Heat had a certain kind of force the post-punk bands were unable to adequately control without falling foul of rawk excess, and which the punk bands-albeit blitzing and rowdy-were too basic in form to build.' - John Calvert , The Quietus?
Track List:
1. Health and Efficiency
2. Graphic / Varispeed
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
*24 bit/96 kHz re-master from original analog tapes.
*Heavyweight 180gm vinyl and heavyweight sleeve with pantone printing to match original 1979 release.
Simon Reynolds on Health and Efficiency:
"For some fans, Health and Efficiency is This Heat's peak achievement - their most concentrated blast of visceral intensity and wayward experimentalism….Lead track "Health & Efficiency" combines fierce angular rock that fully lives up to Cunningham's belief that This Heat could become a postpunk King Crimson, with a multi-part babble of vocals, clattering percussive timbres, and found sounds.''
Flipside "Graphic/Varispeed" is more subdued and hypnotic: a wavering tonescape whose duration depends on whether you play it at 45 rpm or 33 rpm. This reissue reproduces the original release's striking cover image of a human figure painted in blue by Pete Cobb, along with the cryptic flipside of text in many different languages.
Although widely considered to be Post-Punk's finest, This Heat actually began performing and recording their music in 1976, the early days of London's punk era. Within their two albums and an EP they perfected a strange and volatile new strain of avant-garde rock that time has proved to be massively influential, a blueprint for much that would follow: post-rock, math rock, homemade musique concrète, experimental electronica. Numerous critics have recognised the band's influence on the music of Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, Steven Wilson, Public Image Ltd., Radiohead, Swans, Shellac, Young Knives, Black Dice, Lightning Bolt and numerous other experimental and post-rock bands.
Disbanding in 1982 they have left an undeniable legacy that has only continued to grow in stature and relevance.Having recently passed the 50 year anniversary of their first gig, and the recording of material that appears on their debut album, the group's surviving members Charles Bullen and Charles Hayward, true to their DIY roots, have set up an imprint to release their recordings for their growing fan base that is increasingly recognising their influential place in music history. ?
'They went beyond punk before punk had properly started…the entire album is a controlled explosion of ideas. Nearly fifty years on, This Heat's debut is something the world has still not completely caught up with.' - Simon Reynolds
'Over the years, there have been bands to play as aggressively, or even as strangely, but very few have been able to rise from their collective influences and histories to create music so singularly distinctive and inspiring.' - Pitchfork 9/10
'This Heat sounded like the future then ... and still do now.' - Dan Snaith (Caribou)
'This Heat had a certain kind of force the post-punk bands were unable to adequately control without falling foul of rawk excess, and which the punk bands-albeit blitzing and rowdy-were too basic in form to build.' - John Calvert , The Quietus?
Track List:
1. Health and Efficiency
2. Graphic / Varispeed
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
Akusmi - A Waking Dream
2
Akusmi - Anima
3
Akusmi - Club Subterrane
4
Akusmi - Drongo's Flute
5
Akusmi - Rain Dance
6
Akusmi - Dawning Dusk
- Additional Pressing required, due to popular demand! - New Date 04.09.2026 (for the repress)!
Territories: WORLD MINUS US,CA,UK
LP
- First pressing (500 copies worldwide)
- Black BioVinyl Vinyl
- Printed on heavyweight board outer sleeve
- Vinyl comes in black poly-lined protective bag
- Hype front sticker
- Vinyl pressed at Optimal media GmbH
2. GENRE/S: Jazz / Nu Jazz /Jazz Electronic
3. FOR MUSIC FANS OF: Sven Wunder, Shabaka Hutchings, SML, Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders, Nubiyan Twist
4. TRACKLIST
A
1. A Waking Dream
2. Anima
3. Club Subterranea
B
4. Drongo's Flute
5. Rain Dance
6. Dawning Dusk
5. SHORT INFO:
Featuring Sarathy Korwar, Dudú Kouate, Marysia Osu and more
French-born, London-based composer and musician Pascal Bideau aka Akusmi announces his second full-length Terra Incognita, an album of intrepid sonic exploration that delights in the sensation of being somewhere you've never been before. The listener is invited to experience seven faraway sonic imaginariums, as global and spiritual jazz are fused with modern electronics and life affirming minimalism into a hypnotic, polyrhythmic odyssey.
The album's rich multilayered sound world features contributions from tabla virtuoso Sarathy Korwar, Senegalese musician Dudú Kouate adds an array of percussions, ngoni and flutes and Levitation Orchesta's Marysia Osu brings harp and flutes. Following Akusmi's widely acclaimed debut album Fleeting Future (2022) which was supported by The Guardian, The Quietus, MOJO , Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs etc, this time, the sound palette for Terra Incognita is more vibrant, earthy and abundant, drawing inspiration from the radiating optimism and high-energy sources heard in Afrobeat, Highlife and Electronic Afro-pop music, sounding looser, free and primarily interested in raw sensations.
Full Press Release here: Click here
--
Selected press
"Minimalism meets rave pentatonics"
4 Stars_- The Guardian, Album of the Month
"Meditation level music" - Benji B (BBC Radio 1)
"A fiercely focused electro-acoustic masterclass, full of life-affirming zeal."
4 Stars _- MOJO
"Akusmi crafts a forward-thinking sound from a vocabulary of past futures"
- The Quietus
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
Territories: WORLD MINUS US,CA,UK
LP
- First pressing (500 copies worldwide)
- Black BioVinyl Vinyl
- Printed on heavyweight board outer sleeve
- Vinyl comes in black poly-lined protective bag
- Hype front sticker
- Vinyl pressed at Optimal media GmbH
2. GENRE/S: Jazz / Nu Jazz /Jazz Electronic
3. FOR MUSIC FANS OF: Sven Wunder, Shabaka Hutchings, SML, Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders, Nubiyan Twist
4. TRACKLIST
A
1. A Waking Dream
2. Anima
3. Club Subterranea
B
4. Drongo's Flute
5. Rain Dance
6. Dawning Dusk
5. SHORT INFO:
Featuring Sarathy Korwar, Dudú Kouate, Marysia Osu and more
French-born, London-based composer and musician Pascal Bideau aka Akusmi announces his second full-length Terra Incognita, an album of intrepid sonic exploration that delights in the sensation of being somewhere you've never been before. The listener is invited to experience seven faraway sonic imaginariums, as global and spiritual jazz are fused with modern electronics and life affirming minimalism into a hypnotic, polyrhythmic odyssey.
The album's rich multilayered sound world features contributions from tabla virtuoso Sarathy Korwar, Senegalese musician Dudú Kouate adds an array of percussions, ngoni and flutes and Levitation Orchesta's Marysia Osu brings harp and flutes. Following Akusmi's widely acclaimed debut album Fleeting Future (2022) which was supported by The Guardian, The Quietus, MOJO , Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs etc, this time, the sound palette for Terra Incognita is more vibrant, earthy and abundant, drawing inspiration from the radiating optimism and high-energy sources heard in Afrobeat, Highlife and Electronic Afro-pop music, sounding looser, free and primarily interested in raw sensations.
Full Press Release here: Click here
--
Selected press
"Minimalism meets rave pentatonics"
4 Stars_- The Guardian, Album of the Month
"Meditation level music" - Benji B (BBC Radio 1)
"A fiercely focused electro-acoustic masterclass, full of life-affirming zeal."
4 Stars _- MOJO
"Akusmi crafts a forward-thinking sound from a vocabulary of past futures"
- The Quietus
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
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - A1 Kaoru Inoue ‘Em Paz’
2
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - A2 Gabby and Lopez ‘Drive From Miracles ‘ (Kaoru Inoue remix)
3
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - A3 Inner Science ‘Alight’
4
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - B1 Aquarium ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya (...deepspace slow down mix)
5
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - B2 Naohito Uchiyama ‘Shugetsu’
6
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - B3 Keta Ra ‘Equals’
7
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - C1 Yuu Udagawa ‘Infinite Possibility’
8
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - C2 Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious lot ‘
9
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - C3 Sauce81 ‘Sign Of Secret Love’
10
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - D1 Waltz ‘Folkesta’
11
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - D2 Kuniyuki ‘ Free’
12
Various Artists (Inner Science, Kaoru In - D3 Ken Ishii presents Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas
Territory: WW -FR
A1 Kaoru Inoue ‘Em Paz’
A2 Gabby and Lopez ‘Drive From Miracles ‘ (Kaoru Inoue remix)
A3 Inner Science ‘Alight’
B1 Aquarium ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya (???deepspace slow down mix)
B2 Naohito Uchiyama ‘Shugetsu’
B3 Keta Ra ‘Equals’
C1 Yuu Udagawa ‘Infinite Possibility’
C2 Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious lot ‘
Written & Produced by Noah, taken from the album ‘Noire’
C3 Sauce81 ‘Sign Of Secret Love’
C4 Keita Sano ‘Tai + Dai’
D1 Waltz ‘Folkesta’
D2 Kuniyuki ‘ Free’
D3 Ken Ishii presents Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas
Can You Feel It (feat. Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas and Naruyoshi Kikuchi)
Written by Larry Heard. Produced by Ken Ishii. Saxophones by Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Mixed by Ken Ishii at Far East Lab and Skywalker Studios. Published by Truelove Music/TAP.
Still on and about after years of the most intense crate digging, gem mining, desperate head-scratching and avid schooling, thirsty as ever for the next musical thrill to wrap our ears and brains around, here comes the fruit of our life-long love story with Japanese electronics, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 1 and Vol.2. From the soul-fulfilling first crush felt upon hearing the iconic soundtrack of ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’ by Ryuichi Sakamoto onto our release of Inner Science ‘Cosmo Tracks’, through the life-affirming sets of Laurent Garnier at Dijon’s seminal club, l’An-fer, which have at all times nurtured and expanded our taste for Easternmost delicacies, the influence of Japanese music on our vision and endeavours was paramount to the development of our catalogue, whether directly or indirectly.
This first volume gets the ball rolling with a fine assortment of mostly ambient, electronica and deep house-focussed joints. Draped in organic membranes and ASMR-like synth tapestries, K. Inoue’s nu-agey opener ‘Em Paz’ takes us on a ride across the most serene dreamscapes. Jazzing up these lush and oneiric coastal vibes, Gabby & Lopez ‘Drive form the Miracle’ merges a sense of Californian psychedelia with a straight out hard-bop swing. No stranger to our catalogue, Inner Science returns to serve up a crystalline slice of laid-back house on a mystique-imbued tip he holds the secret to. Flip it over and here comes Aquarium with the splendidly immersive ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya’, which very much feels like wandering amidst its neon-upholstered streets and swarming hallways in a bubble of your own.
Naohito Uchiyama treats us to a synth-drenched nocturnal ballad with the ‘80s-inflected vibes of ’Shugetsu’, whereas Keta Ra cuts a path of ethereal sublimation via the mischievously fun and bouncy balearic lounge of ‘equals’. Masterly crafted by Yuu Udagawa, ‘Infinite Possibility’ eases us in a realm where weightless pop and low-slung abstract hip-hop combine to further exhilarating effect. All in harp-driven brittleness and velveteen sub-bass stealth, Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious Lot’ has us drifting to a lavishly orchestrated headspace, laying down an impressive work on textures and arrangements. All in on the sedated drip-tease flex, Sauce81 ’Sign of Secret Love’ is a blast of freaky hedonism, just as ready to cast its hypnotic spell down the sweatbox as it was upon its original release ten years ago.
Languid jacking house tune ’Tai+Dai’ from Keita Sano blows the winds of discoid luvin’ across the room with its impeccable balance of sharp, glimmering synthwork and driving bass onslaughts from the depths. An odd slice of reshuffled folk music, Waltz ‘Folkesta’ makes for some eerie invitation of sorts, enchanting and spookily haunting in equal measure. Back to a fevered, hip-swaying mindset, Kuniyuki hi-NRG jazz number ‘Free’ is an absolute wonder of piano and drums-driven boogie, cut from the same cloth as some of Blue Note’s finest Cuban jazz classics. Rounding off the package, Japanese legend Ken Ishii’s version of Larry Heard’s house Hall-of-Famer ‘Can You Feel It’ is pure bliss in a can, tailored to turn any crowd into a shapeless cloud of balmy euphoria and universal love, whatever the place or time.
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
A1 Kaoru Inoue ‘Em Paz’
A2 Gabby and Lopez ‘Drive From Miracles ‘ (Kaoru Inoue remix)
A3 Inner Science ‘Alight’
B1 Aquarium ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya (???deepspace slow down mix)
B2 Naohito Uchiyama ‘Shugetsu’
B3 Keta Ra ‘Equals’
C1 Yuu Udagawa ‘Infinite Possibility’
C2 Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious lot ‘
Written & Produced by Noah, taken from the album ‘Noire’
C3 Sauce81 ‘Sign Of Secret Love’
C4 Keita Sano ‘Tai + Dai’
D1 Waltz ‘Folkesta’
D2 Kuniyuki ‘ Free’
D3 Ken Ishii presents Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas
Can You Feel It (feat. Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas and Naruyoshi Kikuchi)
Written by Larry Heard. Produced by Ken Ishii. Saxophones by Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Mixed by Ken Ishii at Far East Lab and Skywalker Studios. Published by Truelove Music/TAP.
Still on and about after years of the most intense crate digging, gem mining, desperate head-scratching and avid schooling, thirsty as ever for the next musical thrill to wrap our ears and brains around, here comes the fruit of our life-long love story with Japanese electronics, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 1 and Vol.2. From the soul-fulfilling first crush felt upon hearing the iconic soundtrack of ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’ by Ryuichi Sakamoto onto our release of Inner Science ‘Cosmo Tracks’, through the life-affirming sets of Laurent Garnier at Dijon’s seminal club, l’An-fer, which have at all times nurtured and expanded our taste for Easternmost delicacies, the influence of Japanese music on our vision and endeavours was paramount to the development of our catalogue, whether directly or indirectly.
This first volume gets the ball rolling with a fine assortment of mostly ambient, electronica and deep house-focussed joints. Draped in organic membranes and ASMR-like synth tapestries, K. Inoue’s nu-agey opener ‘Em Paz’ takes us on a ride across the most serene dreamscapes. Jazzing up these lush and oneiric coastal vibes, Gabby & Lopez ‘Drive form the Miracle’ merges a sense of Californian psychedelia with a straight out hard-bop swing. No stranger to our catalogue, Inner Science returns to serve up a crystalline slice of laid-back house on a mystique-imbued tip he holds the secret to. Flip it over and here comes Aquarium with the splendidly immersive ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya’, which very much feels like wandering amidst its neon-upholstered streets and swarming hallways in a bubble of your own.
Naohito Uchiyama treats us to a synth-drenched nocturnal ballad with the ‘80s-inflected vibes of ’Shugetsu’, whereas Keta Ra cuts a path of ethereal sublimation via the mischievously fun and bouncy balearic lounge of ‘equals’. Masterly crafted by Yuu Udagawa, ‘Infinite Possibility’ eases us in a realm where weightless pop and low-slung abstract hip-hop combine to further exhilarating effect. All in harp-driven brittleness and velveteen sub-bass stealth, Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious Lot’ has us drifting to a lavishly orchestrated headspace, laying down an impressive work on textures and arrangements. All in on the sedated drip-tease flex, Sauce81 ’Sign of Secret Love’ is a blast of freaky hedonism, just as ready to cast its hypnotic spell down the sweatbox as it was upon its original release ten years ago.
Languid jacking house tune ’Tai+Dai’ from Keita Sano blows the winds of discoid luvin’ across the room with its impeccable balance of sharp, glimmering synthwork and driving bass onslaughts from the depths. An odd slice of reshuffled folk music, Waltz ‘Folkesta’ makes for some eerie invitation of sorts, enchanting and spookily haunting in equal measure. Back to a fevered, hip-swaying mindset, Kuniyuki hi-NRG jazz number ‘Free’ is an absolute wonder of piano and drums-driven boogie, cut from the same cloth as some of Blue Note’s finest Cuban jazz classics. Rounding off the package, Japanese legend Ken Ishii’s version of Larry Heard’s house Hall-of-Famer ‘Can You Feel It’ is pure bliss in a can, tailored to turn any crowd into a shapeless cloud of balmy euphoria and universal love, whatever the place or time.
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
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Hercules & Love Affair ft. Hips & Lips - Crossed Lines (Mr. Fingers Acid Mix)
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Hercules & Love Affair ft. Hips & Lips - Crossed Lines (Mr.Fingers Deep Mix)
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Hercules & Love Affair ft. Hips & Lips - Crossed Lines (Mr.Fingers Ambient Mix)
Following Andy Butler’s Hercules & Love Affair return, closing out 2025 with a new tour and the acclaimed four-track Someone Else Is Calling EP (Pitchfork, RA, Stereogum), he’s back again, now with a set of remixes that include deep house originator Larry Heard (aka Mr. Fingers), alongside underground heroes Ciel, Luke Solomon & CPEN, and Mystery Affair. Someone Else Is Calling Remixes will be unveiled on April 24 with the release of “Crossed Lines (Mr. Fingers Acid Mix), ahead of the full package on May 1. “Larry Heard was a direct inspiration for the original EP,” says Butler. “So having him on this remix package particularly moved my heart.” This is not the first time one of house music’s most important pioneers has remixed Butler’s work. The late great Frankie Knuckles famously put his rendition on Butler’s breakout single “Blind” in 2008. “Like when I first heard Frankie Knuckles’ remix, and thought how he truly listened to and felt the music, I had that same experience with Larry’s. I can’t express how grateful I am to have him participate.” Andy Butler is a pivotal figure in modern queer dance culture. His work as Hercules & Love Affair has shaped club culture since the iconic 2008 track “Blind” with ANOHNI — a landmark moment that bridged underground house, pop, and queer expression.
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
Soft - Art Farmer (Kaoru Inoue Remix)
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XTAL - Heavenly Overtone
3
Slow Didi - Follow Me (Hidaway Mix Instrumental)
4
Tokyo Black Star - Fantastique Voyage
5
Manabu Nagayama & Soichi Terada - Low Tension (Satoshi Fumi & Yoshi Horino Instrumental Remix)
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Hiroshi Watanabe - The Orionids (2025 Revised)
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Kaoru Inoue - Ground Rhythm (The Backwoods Remix)
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Bitowa And YAMADAtheGIANT - Forest (Mixtacy Exclusive Version)
Following the success of Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in 2023, Cosmocities returns in 2026 with two new chapters in its acclaimed compilation series dedicated to the rich heritage and continuing evolution of Japanese electronic music.
Compiled by label owner Matt Soulie, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 further explores the depth, sophistication and diversity that have long made Japan's electronic underground one of the world's most inspiring musical landscapes.
Since its inception, the Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku project has celebrated the artists and sounds that have profoundly influenced the Cosmocities vision. Across four volumes, the series has journeyed through ambient soundscapes, deep house, boogie, jazz-infused electronics and forward-thinking club music. Volume 4 shifts the focus firmly towards the deeper end of the dancefloor, bringing together timeless classics, rare gems and sought-after reinterpretations from some of Japan's most respected producers.
Opening proceedings is Kaoru Inoue's remix of Soft's "Art Farmer", a rolling percussive Afro-house excursion rich in hypnotic groove and organic rhythm. XTAL's "Heavenly Overtone" follows with a beautifully cosmic house journey, combining shimmering keys and celestial atmospheres that perfectly capture the compilation's expansive spirit.
On the B-side, Slow Didi's "Follow Me (Hidaway Mix Instrumental)" delivers a deep and hypnotic groove before Tokyo Black Star's "Fantastique Voyage" channels the soulful, sophisticated energy of classic 1990s deep house. The journey continues with Manabu Nagayama and Soichi Terada's "Low Tension", presented here in a sublime instrumental remix by Satoshi Fumi and Yoshi Horino, where warm piano melodies and elegant synth work create a timeless late-night mood.
The final stretch moves into more driving territory. Hiroshi Watanabe's "The Orionids (2025 Revised)" subtly raises the tempo, blending deep house sensibilities with sleek tech-inflected textures. Kaoru Inoue's "Ground Rhythm", reworked by The Backwoods, plunges deeper into hypnotic territory with a heads-down groove designed for intimate basement spaces and low-lit dancefloors.
Closing the compilation is Bitowa and YAMADAtheGIANT's "Forest (Mixtacy Exclusive Version)", a trippy, immersive finale that leaves listeners suspended in a dreamlike state between nature, rhythm and imagination.
A carefully curated collection of deep, cosmic and forward-thinking sounds, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 once again showcases the enduring creativity, innovation and global influence of Japanese electronic music.
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
Compiled by label owner Matt Soulie, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 further explores the depth, sophistication and diversity that have long made Japan's electronic underground one of the world's most inspiring musical landscapes.
Since its inception, the Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku project has celebrated the artists and sounds that have profoundly influenced the Cosmocities vision. Across four volumes, the series has journeyed through ambient soundscapes, deep house, boogie, jazz-infused electronics and forward-thinking club music. Volume 4 shifts the focus firmly towards the deeper end of the dancefloor, bringing together timeless classics, rare gems and sought-after reinterpretations from some of Japan's most respected producers.
Opening proceedings is Kaoru Inoue's remix of Soft's "Art Farmer", a rolling percussive Afro-house excursion rich in hypnotic groove and organic rhythm. XTAL's "Heavenly Overtone" follows with a beautifully cosmic house journey, combining shimmering keys and celestial atmospheres that perfectly capture the compilation's expansive spirit.
On the B-side, Slow Didi's "Follow Me (Hidaway Mix Instrumental)" delivers a deep and hypnotic groove before Tokyo Black Star's "Fantastique Voyage" channels the soulful, sophisticated energy of classic 1990s deep house. The journey continues with Manabu Nagayama and Soichi Terada's "Low Tension", presented here in a sublime instrumental remix by Satoshi Fumi and Yoshi Horino, where warm piano melodies and elegant synth work create a timeless late-night mood.
The final stretch moves into more driving territory. Hiroshi Watanabe's "The Orionids (2025 Revised)" subtly raises the tempo, blending deep house sensibilities with sleek tech-inflected textures. Kaoru Inoue's "Ground Rhythm", reworked by The Backwoods, plunges deeper into hypnotic territory with a heads-down groove designed for intimate basement spaces and low-lit dancefloors.
Closing the compilation is Bitowa and YAMADAtheGIANT's "Forest (Mixtacy Exclusive Version)", a trippy, immersive finale that leaves listeners suspended in a dreamlike state between nature, rhythm and imagination.
A carefully curated collection of deep, cosmic and forward-thinking sounds, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 once again showcases the enduring creativity, innovation and global influence of Japanese electronic music.
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
Sasse - Doppelgänger Groove
2
Sasse - Dub My Life
3
Sasse - Piano Man
4
Sasse - Piimäpirtti
Vinyl Only!
Tenampa kicks off 2026 with a release from one of the most respected minds in electronic music, equally renowned for his work as an audio engineer and producer. Known under several aliases including Freestyle Man or Sasse, Klas Lindblad uses the latter for this special outing on the Mexican imprint.
Under his Sasse moniker, Lindblad delivers a refined selection of dubby house cuts, infused with warm, spring/summer energy.Effortlessly groovy with a subtle, hypnotic flow, this is music designed for the dancefloor yet built to stand the test of time, showcasing the depth and sonic excellence that define his work.
This release is strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide and available exclusively on vinyl, reinforcing its status as a true collector's item.
The artwork comes once again from the always outstanding Manuel Cetina, aka El_Stitch, whose visual approach adds an extra layer of character and value to this timeless release, earning it a well-deserved place in any serious record collection.
Art-work by renowned Mexican artist: Manuel Cetina aka el_stitch's.
A1. Sasse - Doppelgänger Groove
A2. Sasse - Dub My Life
B1. Sasse - Piano Man
B2. Sasse - Piimäpirtti
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
Tenampa kicks off 2026 with a release from one of the most respected minds in electronic music, equally renowned for his work as an audio engineer and producer. Known under several aliases including Freestyle Man or Sasse, Klas Lindblad uses the latter for this special outing on the Mexican imprint.
Under his Sasse moniker, Lindblad delivers a refined selection of dubby house cuts, infused with warm, spring/summer energy.Effortlessly groovy with a subtle, hypnotic flow, this is music designed for the dancefloor yet built to stand the test of time, showcasing the depth and sonic excellence that define his work.
This release is strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide and available exclusively on vinyl, reinforcing its status as a true collector's item.
The artwork comes once again from the always outstanding Manuel Cetina, aka El_Stitch, whose visual approach adds an extra layer of character and value to this timeless release, earning it a well-deserved place in any serious record collection.
Art-work by renowned Mexican artist: Manuel Cetina aka el_stitch's.
A1. Sasse - Doppelgänger Groove
A2. Sasse - Dub My Life
B1. Sasse - Piano Man
B2. Sasse - Piimäpirtti
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