2022 repress

Tracklist:
01 Moan (Trentemoller Remix)
02 Moan (Radioslave Remix)

Only released in October 2006, Anders Trentemøller‘s stunning debut-album „The Last Resort“ already evolved into one of the most successful independent albums of the year. Raving reviews all over the place, various elections as „album of the year“ and solid playlists at the radios express the huge interest in the fantastic album. While 2006 has been topped of with a tour through Australia, the first Trentemøller highlight in 2007 will be the release of „Moan“, the second single from the album. For the a-side Trentemøller himself created a brilliant remix of the „Moan“-Vocal Version, which has been released on the Bonus-CD of the limited edition album only. Trentemøller managed to keep the mystic melancholic vibe of the track featuring the vocals of danish talent Ane Trolle, but adds punshy drums, screaming synths and some more guitars to guarantee serious dancefloor-action. Radioslave aka Matt Edwards aka Rekid aka Quite Village, on of the most in demand remix artists at the moment (Moby, Booka Shade, Justice, Peace Division, Pet Shop Boys, Joakim etc) contributed a great remix on the flipside. Slowly building over reduced drumpatterns their mix culminates into a manic wall of sound. While Poker Flat 81 features the vocal versions of both Trentemøller‘s and Radioslve‘s remixes, the instrumental and dub versions will be released simultaneously More

Tracklist:
A. Loverboy (Catz 'n Dogz Remix)
B. Loverboy (Acid Pauli Retouch)

An undisputed classic of the electronic music scene, Steve Bug's 'Loverboy' was released on the first Poker Flat release ever ' Double Action' back in 1999.
Over the years it has been reworked only by a few - but the list includes the likes of Josh Wink and Guido Schneider. Now, as part of the 20 years of Poker Flat celebration, more names are added to that remix list with two new superb remixes from Catz 'n Dogz and Acid Pauli.
Catz 'n Dogz are a Polish producer duo making big waves in recent years, and their version of 'Loverboy' brims with their unmistakable energy - chugging, hypnotic groove and tons of effects and melodic twists and turns. Berlin legend Acid Pauli approaches it from a different angle - stripping away elements until a deeply trippy skeletal house track remains.
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vinyl only – colored splattered green & yellow vinyl in clear PVC bag

Tracklist 12":
A. Paperman
B1. Groove Tutorial
B2. Lessons Cost

Dreamteam pairing of Defaultman and Sapurra collaborate on this highly impressive 3 tracker for Poker Flat Wax. The two have collaborated frequently before, and with this vinyl only release, the juices are really flowing. 'Paperman' kicks things off - a slinky mid-tempo groover with an edge. The tight drums keep the rhythm ticking over while dub fx and a thick bassline add the drama and suspense. On the flip comes 'Groove Tutorial' - as fair a name as any when the programming is this good. The beat shuffles and chugs along, always staying fresh and interesting, while a minimal layer of other instrumentation adds depth. 'Lessons Cost' rounds off the EP, a full jazzy-house excursion that showcases the producers’ wide ranging talents and ear for rhythmic excellence.
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12" - EP - vinyl only – splattered colored white & green vinyl in clear PVC bag

Tracklist 12":
A1. Framework
A2. Echelon
B1. Dummy
B2. Automotive

Release Info:
Pavel Iudin is back on Poker Flat Wax with a new the killer four-track EP pressed on green and white splattered vinyl. Inspired by an industrial, technoid vibe reminiscent of Iudin growing up in a city surround by metallurgical industry, the title track 'Framework' is a slinky, crafty burner, built around an irresistible groove. Iudin keeps the extras to a minimum, letting the balance of a few key elements become the track's strength. 'Echelon' works around a tightly woven drum sample before opening up with some beautiful Access Virus synth effects. 'Dummy' is an exercise in restrained deepness - the track has a submerged quality that could work on many dance floors. Last up is 'Automotive' - another groove driven cut that uses a minimum of elements without ever feeling minimal - sign of a producer fully in control of his craft. "Automotive', says Iudin "is in contrast with my other records. I used sounds that are not typical for myself and they led me to something new. Perhaps this is a continuation of my previous track Dubrawa. I was also inspired by the idea of the raw and dubby Wax Only series, using simple patterns and sounds."
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12" - EP - vinyl only - Clear+Dark Purple/Blue ColorVinyl Only Effect - Housed in clear PVC bag

Tracklist 12":
A1. Delight
A2. Breathe
B. Pills

Eva Be has been a key figure on the development of Berlin underground club culture, going back to the 90s and her involvement with the Sonar Kollektiv crew that included the likes of Dixon, Ame and Jazzanova, to name a few. A highly talented producer and DJ, this EP on Poker Flat Wax showcases her skillful mastery of house music.

'Delight' kicks things off on the A side, a low slung groove wirth Chicago-esque percussion that pops out of the speakers. Some of Eva's love for dub and reggae is also present - vocals and chord stabs echo and shimmer across the track.

'Breathe' is a little more floor focussed - a hard knocking kick starts this off and the track develops into one of those deep, emotional and driving tracks that get dancefloors into a serious states of ecstasy.

Flip the wax and 'Pills' is the third offering for this release - precise-yet-wonky drums, breakbeats, deep pads and synth lines that gel together into a perfect, hedonistic whole.

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Tracklist 12":
A1. Merge
A2. Swift Changes
B1. It's Coming
B2. Ride With Me


Poker Flat Recordings drop a new four track EP from Greek Techno / House producer Thanasis Voulgaris. Under his Kindimmer moniker, Voulgaris has been putting out quality dancefloor music since 2010, including a handful of releases already for Steve Bug's iconic Poker Flat label.

'Merge', the title track sets the tone with a killer, propulsive rhythm, adding chopped up organ stabs and shuffling funky percussion. 'Swift Changes' has a similar deft touch, all slinky chords that bring about thoughts of the classic Detroit sound, while adding his own signature take. 'It's Coming' is a little harder, with a booming kick and tricky hats, before opening up into another deep bomb that will keep the more discerning floors in raptures.
'Ride With Me' flexes its funk - the groove jacks a little harder and the vibe is definitely ready to make the basements sweat.
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2018 Reissue, 3LP , Gatefold, Complete Tracklisting 1st Time on Vinyl!
Special vinyl re-issue of Trentemøller's groundbreaking debut album. Includes all of the 13 songs on vinyl for the first time. Triple-vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Tracklist:
A1. Take Me Into Your Skin
A2. Vamp
B1. Evil Dub
B2. Always Something Better
C1. While the Cold Winter Waiting
C2. Nightwalker
D1. Like Two Strangers
D2. The Very Last Resort
E1. Snowflake
E2. Chameleon
F1. Into The Trees (Serenetti Part 3)
F2. Moan
F3. Miss You

Special vinyl re-issue of Trentemøller's groundbreaking debut album. Includes all of the 13 songs on vinyl for the first time. Triple-vinyl in gatefold sleeve.
Trentemøller's debut album remains one of the few genre-defining and groundbreaking
albums in many regards. It's still being praised for its composition and sounddesign alike and sounds as fresh and breathtaking today as it did when it was originally released in 2006.
The Last Resort - a beautifully crafted, astonishing masterpiece, that will leave you breathless. The 13
instrumental tracks together form a wordless musical story, almost like the soundtrack of a movie. It
manages to capture a whole range of emotions in subtle melodic miniatures, dreamy ambiences, dusty beats, deep dub-tracks and driving groove-excursions. An ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours and moods. Although it's an electronic album, it also incorporates live-drums, guitars, bass and other acoustic instruments like celesta, glockenspiel, melodica and even DJ scratching to create a more organic feel. The album received fantastic acclaim from both music fans and journalists around the world and made it into the top-lists of the month, the year, the decade - alongside an array of awards for best production or best album.
Back in 2006, the original pressing only included a selection of songs from the original 13-track album release. It missed out on songs which had been released on singles or didn't "fit" on the so called "vinyl edition". Due to 'public demand' and simply because this album deserves a proper vinyl
release we are happy to finally present, for the first time, the full album on vinyl. It spans of three vinyl discs and is packed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve which also holds a download-code. The recut has been carefully crafted from first generation, orignal masters by Calyx in Berlin. Since the album has been praised for its fantastic sound the primary directive was to cut the lacquers for the re-issue so that they would sound exactly the same as the original release, which has been the CD version of the album. No 'digital remastering' or any other alterations have been applied.
All 13 songs of the classic album on one vinyl release for the first time. Triple-Vinyl edition. Gatefold sleeve. download code. original sound-quality. NO digital remastering.

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Tracklist 12":
A1 - Chord Cluster
B1 - The Teaze
Info:
Poker Flat label boss and genuine dance music legend Steve Bug teams up with Langenberg for this excellent two track EP.
Langenberg has released an unfathomable number of dancefloor fillers under various monikers on labels such as Drumpoet Community, Mule, Ovum or Styrax Leaves - and recently released his debut album "Central Heated House" on Dessous. Langenberg is also one half of the project Ribn.
'Chord Cluster' has summer anthem written all over - deep yet euphoric, spacy yet danceable, and ultimately a deeply emotive piece of house music that will bring smiles to faces all year. The rhythm track is tight yet remains loose and funky, while the pads and synths dip into just the right amount of acid to keep the ravers lost in the moment.
'The Teaze' treads similar ground - arpeggiated pulses lead the arrangement, while a Chicago-influenced groove brings a shuffle to proceedings - the joy in the track is evident - it's clear the guys were having a lot of fun in the studio.
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Tracklist 12":
A. Never Go Back
B1. Never Go Back (Smash TV Remix)
B2. That's The Way
Info:
Vincenzo needs little introduction - the veteran producer and DJ has been a fixture on the scene for years, releasing his distinctive brand of classy deep and techy house on a number of key labels.
Returning to Poker Flat, he teams up with the mega talented Cari Golden for this killer three track EP. Cari hails from LA, an accomplished singer & songwriter and a part of band Narcotourist. She lends her skills to 'Never Go Back' a lush yet edgy deep bomb built around slinky groove shot through with Vincenzo's trademark drama and tension. Cari brings the track to the next level with her vocals - both seductive and cautionary.
Smash TV (Holger Zilske and Kai Preussner) bring a sick remix to the table with their version - heading to deeper territory and seemingly primed for the after hours vibe.
Next up is 'That's The Way' - an instrumental that sees Vincenzo revel in some old school chord progressions and tension / release dynamics to make a sure-fire floor weapon.
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Tracklist 12":
A1. Probe 2 A2. Halo B1. Probe 3 B2. Groundlevel
info:
Pavel ludin returns to Poker Flat Wax with a gripping four-tracker showcasing his myriad of talents. Born and raised in Eastern Siberia, Pavel Iudin found his way to the underground scenes of Moscow and Saint Petersburg where he firmly established his credentials. The Probe EP finds him at the height of his powers, serving up some serious burners. 'Probe 2' is a throbbing, deep roller with shimmering synths and a shuffling, evolving groove - one for keeping the floor on lock whatever the situation.
'Halo' has more classic feel to it, clearly a nod to the Chicago masters of the 90s, but maintaining a tough and fresh feel that is all ludin's own. Half way though, things really open up into thick, swingy vibe via a killer bassline and snappy percussion.
'Probe 3' is more acidic outing - although never resorting to the iconic 303, the track is a lysergic journey into dubbed out tech-house.
Closing out the EP is 'Groundlevel' - a driving, loopy groover that uses ludin's feel for atmosphere and tension to the max. The whole EP exudes a steely-eyed mastery of the studio and the dance floor - making Pavel Iudin one to watch over the next months.
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+ 4 BONUS TRACKS ON MP3 Download!

Tracklist LP:
A1. When The Distance Disappears
A2. Kissing Your Eyes
A3. Eyes Closed feat. Forrest
B1. Solitude
B2. The Myths Of You
B3. Moments Of Truth

Cologne's electronic music community keeps on giving, drawing on a dense plethora of fresh talent ready to shake up our little big grassroots industry. The latest ace up the city's sleeve must be Tim Engelhardt, part of a new breed of incredibly versatile young producers that get their cues from all sorts of genres and listening situations, combining profound musical knowledge with intuitive playfulness and multiple perspectives on sound. In Tim's case, we're dealing with a solid pianist background - which becomes rather obvious in the great care he takes over harmonies and an expanded melodic structure. However, that's just one side of the story, as the organic fluidity and atmospheric dexterity of his music most certainly hark back to an upbringing among the rolling hills and sprawling forests of Germany's Westerwald - one of the country's best known mountain ranges that has already inspired artists such as Dominik Eulberg or Gabriel Ananda.

Having released your first recordings at the tender age of 14 - as Tim did in 2012 - might put you in a "wunderkind" category - a flattering, but ultimately risky proposition, finding many a prodigy overwhelmed with the dubious honour. Not so much our hero, who chose to put his skills to work: in only four years, he grew his portfolio with plenty outings on labels such as Traum Schallplatten, WIR, Babiczstyle, Amuse Gueule, Ostwind Records, Popart Music, Playmusic Productions, Parquet Recordings, Manual Music and more - but his breakthrough release was hands-down the 2015 EP "Everything Is All You Have" on Steve Bug's iconic Poker Flat imprint, followed by "Enigmatism" on the same label. Something definitely clicked, as Poker Flat Recordings now proudly presents Tim's debut album "Moments Of Truth", the first full-length survey of his sonic savvy and a terrific listening experience to boot, which will find its connoisseurs in both the club and at home.

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Tracklist 12":
A1. I Should
A2. Twisted
B1. Fiction
B2. Interconnected
Info:
Mihai Popoviciu has carved out a reputation for being one of the most innovative producers of electronic music active in Europe today. The man from Romania has established himself both as a highly respected producer - releasing on labels such as Highgrade, International Gigolo and Dessous - and as a killer DJ performing all over the world. 'Fiction' is his 4th release on Poker Flat Recordings, and delivers four distinct flavours to sink your teeth into.
'I Should' is a slinky groover, with a slippery, evolving bassline, tight, funky percussion and a sultry female vocal. Working just as effectively early in a set as a peak time moment, it's bound to get rinsed in the coming months.
'Twisted' is a little harder - a straighter beat signals a more heads down approach, and the bassline is sure to trigger some dancefloor scenes wherever it gets played.
Next up is title track 'Fiction' which perhaps makes a reference to Mihai's background, with fragments of Eastern European melodies woven into the beautiful synth work, all tied together over a spacey yet driving rhythm track.
Last but by no means least is 'Interconnected' - a straight up deep bomb with echoes of classic Chicago deep and acidic house in its warm and sensual vibe.
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Tracklist 12":
A1. Kaoz (Dub)
B1. Kaoz (Dario D'Attis Remix)
B2. Kaoz
Info:
Kings of Tomorrow's place in electronic music history is well assured. One of the alias' for New York legend Sandy Rivera, K.O.T. helped define the early 90's New York house sound with a series of key releases that climaxed in 2001 with the global smash 'Finally' - truly one of the house music classics. Happily, Sandy Rivera is still making killer, soulful house music and this latest release on Poker Flat Recordings continues to showcase his immeasurable talent for groove.
'Kaoz' is a bumping, attitude-full jam rich with thick, punchy drums and a driving synth pulse - topped off with a stunning spoken word vocal from Divine Essence. 'Kaoz Dub' does a lot more than strip the track of its main vocal elements - the groove is rebuilt as an edgy, tension-filled underground house banger - breaking down into a devastating bass section.
Dario D'Attis - the Swiss born DJ and producer who's also known as The Funk Ensemble - delivers a fine remix that perhaps draws on some the 90's influence that K.O.T. defined, producing a bumping, building epic track that seems destined for heavy rotation amongst those in the know.


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Vinyl Only Release!

Tracklist 12":
A1. Voices , B1. Point Blank , B2. Area 51

James Dexter has been incredibly prolific over the last few years, with numerous taste-making labels show-casing his ear for refined, dynamic house music.
With his first release on the Poker Flat Wax series, the young Brit drops three new mission statements from the underground, each unified by a slick production sensibility and irresistible feel for groove. Voices is a deep bomb - a shuffling, kinetic rhythm with oceans of space for subtle melodic elements and textures. Spread out over eight and a half minutes, this is one to get lost to.
Point Blank's deep pads and detuned kick drum reference Detroit's classic house sound, the raw drums and vocal snippets adding a truly basement vibe. Area 51 is another atmospheric late night jam, with a bumping rhythm track and subtle pad washes - stripped down and weaponised for the serious dancers.

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Tracklist 12":
A1. Reflection feat. Black Soda
A2. Reflection feat. Black Soda (Dub Tool)
B1. Reflection feat. Black Soda (Hyenah Remix)
B2. Reflection feat. Black Soda (Acid Mix)
Info:
Poker Flat Recordings deliver another killer collaboration, this time between Berlin's youANDme and The Analog Roland Orchestra. The result is Reflection - an EP containing more than its fair share of pure dance-floor moments. The Analog Roland Orchestra is Michal Matlak, the Berliner whose intimate knowledge of dance music's most iconic machines has made him a much-in-demand producer and remixer. Teaming up with party starters youANDme as well as vocalist Black Soda, the title track of this release explores deep vibrations, merging 303 basslines, crisp 909 programming and a highly effective vocal. The Dub Tool reworks the vocals into a more spacey arrangement, adding atmosphere for DJs who like to keep their sets stripped back and trippy. The Hyenah remix flips the script and develops a deep afro-house inspired cut - the man from the Caymen Islands developing an irresistible groove stretched out over seven and a half minutes. The Acid mix gives an opportunity for the guys to get busy working the 303 to its full (un) natural potential, while the Morning Light mix locks into a cosmic vibe - shimmering synths over a smooth, rolling deep house vibe.
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Tracklist 12":
A1. Detuned
A2. I'm Rude
B1. Ran Baran
B2. Worthy
Info:
Fideles is the joint moniker of Italian duo Daniele Aprile and Mario Roberti, who have carved out a niche for their distinctive brand of deep, techy house on noted labels such as Defected, Be As One, and Marco Resmann's Upon You, among others.
Here on their first outing for Poker Flat Recordings, the duo cook up four courses of lean, focussed tech-house for Steve Bug's seminal imprint.
'Detuned' starts the journey - an edgy, tense groove exhibiting the boy's masterful sound design and use of space to create a thick, intoxicated atmosphere.
'I'm Rude' is more direct - a thumping bass drum introduces a low slung bass groove, slowly evolving and mutating into a true party-starter.
'Worthy' uses similar building blocks but delivers a different vibe altogether, revelling in a minimalist production aesthetic and cheeky bass riff.
'Ran Baran', the title track, is another lesson in great production - each element perfectly balanced to create an atmosphere of controlled mayhem - which is exactly the response this entire EP aims to instigate on dancefloors.
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Tracklist 12":
A1. Partitions A2. Darth J B1. In A Pixel World B2. No More
Info:
Poker Flat Recordings offers up another mouthwatering collaboration in the form of this EP by Mennie and Julien Sandre.
Mennie hails from Italy, and had fast been gaining a serious reputation on the underground, both as a resident at Club 999 in his home country and as a talented up and coming producer. Teaming up here with the Frenchman Julien Sandre, this is an international project that will hit home with DJs and house lovers globally.
The Night Riots EP kicks off with 'Partitions', which sees the boys in sparkling form - twisting and teasing a sick groove out of fairly simple sources.
'Darth J' follows a similar path - the devil is in the detail, and Mennie and Sandre get down to some serious beat science, punctuated with some subtle chords and vocal stabs in the process.
'In A Pixel World' reveals the pair's love of classic Chicago vibes distilled though French Touch, bringing in a super funky groove
filtered though various effects and processes, and paying homage to the timeless sounds of early Daft Punk.
'No More' closes out the EP with a yet another weapon - a ray of house sunshine that skips along on a fidgety beat offset by filtered strings and chopped up vocal stabs. It's got summer written all over it.
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Tracklist 12":
A. Echo In My Head
B1. Weird Night
B2. That Organ

Martin Landsky's long association with Poker Flat Recordings continues with yet another exquisitely realized three-tracker. Long since a staple of the underground electronic music scene in Berlin and Europe in general, Landsky's deft ear for dynamics and sense of off kilter dance-floor knowledge continues to do the business for DJs and dancers alike. After the great success of Vol.1 , Landsky now presents 'Ekko Traxx Vol.2'.

'Echo My Head' is the perfect example - driving, focussed and funky, yet with a subtle undercurrent that keeps you slightly out of your comfort zone - and locked in to the groove.

'Weird Night' contains a spooky, discordant synth that raises the tension over and over, before giving way to a hard driving rhythm track that will see the late night heads fully losing themselves - classic Landsky style.

'That Organ' has a similar aesthetic, chunky rhythms and bass pulses for the floor, and synth stabs and melodic hooks that keep the track in constant forward motion.
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2018 Reissue of the Classic, Now in HQ Gatefold Sleeve! Original Cover Art, Carefully remastered 3LP from Original Tapes + Bonus Download

Tracklist
A1. Plays I Play feat. Gry
A2. Pensum
B1. Living Lips
B2. Lostfound feat. Gry
C1. Of the Field
C2. McLeod
D1. Pharoah In the Morning feat. Gry
D2. Whether It Was
E. Picture Us
F1. Close Air
F2. Leland

Francis Harris is one of the most interesting figures on the american electronic music cicruit and beyond. His output has gone from tightly wound tech house cuts as Adultnapper in the early days, sublime deep house as Frank & Tony, intricate and expressive musical journeys as evident in his two solo-albums 'Leland' and 'Minutes Of Sleep', and ambient shoegaze with two Aris Kindt albums, co-produced with Gabe Hedrick. Most recently Harris branched out with a new label - Kingdoms - a home for his love of a more adventurous sound.
Up until now his most notable milestones remain the two solo-albums Leland (2012) and Minutes Of Sleep (2014) who became essential albums of the genre. Both albums have been out of print for a long time and due to public demand we are happy to present new vinyl editions of both albums. Carefully restored from original masters and artwork the albums now appear in gatefold-sleeves while Leland spans over three vinyl discs and Minutes Of Sleep over two, just like the sold out originals.

‚Leland' features Danish vocalist Gry on three tracks including "lostfound," the first single and video which was remixed by Mathew Herbert and debuted on Pitchfork. Also featured throughout are Emil Abramyan, whose poignant performance on cello evokes comparison to Arthur Russell, and Greg Paulus (No Regular Play/Matthew Dear Band), whose improvisational free jazz inspired trumpet accents converse thoughtfully with Harris' own tonal melodies performed on piano and guitar. Determined to produce electronic music with warmth and true dynamic range, Harris recorded and mixed "Leland" with Jordan Lieb on an analog SSL and then enlisted legendary engineer Joe Lambert to master the project.

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2xLP, Gatefold Jacket, Pressed on Canary Yellow Vinyl
Summer's Mine is the third studio album from acclaimed Detroit legend and rapper, Babyface Ray. After an enormous 2022 that saw the release of two full-length studio albums, getting named to 2022's XXL Freshman Class & YouTube Music's Black Voices Fund, and a sold out nationwide headlining tour, Babyface Ray returns to bless the streets with something fun for the summer. The 16 track album showcases a side of Ray that fans have become familiar with, and features appearances from fellow Motor City peers Veeze and Los & Nutty, King Hendrick$, Vory, & Hip-Hop luminary Westside Gunn. Never afraid to make a bold statement, Ray is here to say that in 2023, Summer's Mine.

Key Marketing/Selling:
- An important and influential figure in the Detroit hip-hop scene, often referred to as The Face Of Detroit
- Babyface Ray has over 2.3M monthly listeners on Spotify
- Babyface Ray recently went on his first nationwide headlining tour, in which all dates sold out
- Babyface Ray is a regular fixture at the popular globally touring Hip-Hop festival, Rolling Loud and will be performing at their flagship Miami festival at Hard Rock Stadium in July
- He will also be hosting 2 fan events during Rolling Loud weekend
- Partnered with Rap Caviar and New Music Daily to announce the album release
- The singles, "All Star Team," & "Donda Bag," each received numerous DSP placements (features, playlists, playlist covers) upon release across all major DSPs, including Main Page & Hip Hop features on Apple Music, multiple playlists and covers
- The video for "All Star Team" has over 1M views on YouTube
- His previous album, MOB, has received 26M+ streams to date on Spotify alone
- Merch capsule planned alongside album release
- 2xLP, pressed on Canary Yellow and housed in a Gatefold Jacket

Tracklist:
A1/1. ScarFACE
A2/2. Donda Bag
A3/3. Bosses Linking With Bosses (feat. Veeze)
A4/4. Leaving London
B1/5. All Star Team
B2/6. Luh Tyler Flow (feat. Los & Nutty)
B3/7. I75
B4/8. Jimmy
C1/9. Skateland
C2/10. Life Full Of Lies
C3/11. I Can't Rap Foreva
C4/12. Dancing With The Devil, Pt. 2 (feat. Vory)
D1/13. Big Meech Holiday (feat. King Hendrick$)
D2/14. Jackboys
D3/15. Fly Gods (feat. Westside Gunn)
D4/16. My Thoughts 4
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2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, download code

Tracklist
A1. At First A Wide Space
A2. St. Catherine And The Calm
B1. Song For Aguirre
B2. Trivial Occupations
C1. Dalloway
C2. Recital Of Facts
C3. Parklife
D1. Minor Forms
D2. Beaumont
D3. No Useless Leniency

Release Info
'Trivial Occupations' is the third LP released under the Kingdoms and Scissor and Thread founder’s own name - and continues in the traditions of those landmark records. Having scaled to heights within the club scene and released almost a hundred records under different monikers, Francis Harris embarked on an altogether more personal journey as a composer of intimate, atmospheric pieces removed from the dancefloor.

Here, with 'Trivial Occupations', Harris dives deep into a new sound pallette - bringing the listener on a journey through various states over the almost one hour run time. The album was made over the course of four years in various studios with an array of notable players, bringing a diversity of perspectives and approaches encompassed within Harris stunning artistic studio approach. It was also mixed at Jack White’s Third Man Studios again with the help of long time collaborator and friend, Bill Skibbe.

'At First A Wide Space' opens up the album, setting the tone with a vista of soundscapes, merging synths, live strings by Kingdom’s artist Emil Abramyan. It sets the stage for what is perhaps the album’s (first) opus, 'St Catherine And The Calm'. Spanning over 12 minutes, drifting through ambient textures, shuffling beats and beautifully arpeggiated melodies and found recordings, it gives the listener a widescreen intimacy, not unlike the enveloping sensation of a cinematic experience. 'Song For Aguirre' is a more mournful affair, built around Abramyan’s cello, deep bass tones, pad washes and distant sounding horns from Greg Paulus, adding to the noir-ish 70’s soundtrack feel. 'Trivial Occupations' the album's title track and perhaps the centerpiece in terms of mood and tone, is a dizzying off kilter Jazz trip featuring a cast of remarkable jazz players, including vocalist Genevieve Marentette, Robb Reddy (tenor sax), Darkside member Dave Harrington on guitar and Will Shore (vibes).

Breaking up the album nicely, 'Dalloway', perhaps Harris’ most unique production to date, moves into Dancehall territory with a collaboration with Cameroon born but NY based singer, Kaïssa.

'Recital Of Facts' , one of the only beat driven songs on the LP, harkens back to the sound of Harris' last two albums with a melancholic groove paired with melodic bass fragments and the ever-present pad washes. 'Parklife' follows a similar vibe with the return of Greg Paulus’ mournful horns, but without any rhythmic underpinning, before the previous single 'Minor Forms' appears with its shuffling percussion and the singular sound of Will Shore’s Vibraphone, bringing about a climatic moment listening moment.

The final two tracks - 'Beaumont' and 'No Useless Leniency' both further explore the sense of space with which Harris has become so enamoured - creating textures and backdrops for piano (Beaumont) and horns (Useless Leniency).

It’s an album that is easy to get lost in - a structure suggesting no real beginning or end. Listening to it on loop offers the listener a chance to be fully immersed in the rich, melancholic tonalities of Harris’ sound universe..

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GENRE/S:
Deep House, Organic House, Electronica

TRACKLISTS:
A1. Elea feat. Bob Moses
A2. Holding On feat. Bob Moses
B1. Holy For Her feat. Bob Moses
B2. Marigold feat. Bob Moses

SHORT INFO:
Finally getting a vinyl re-release is Frank & Tony’s seminal work with breakout duo Bob Moses. Back in 2012 Francis Harris and Anthony Collins (Frank & Tony) worked with their fellow New Yorkers before they went on to sign to Domino and blow up globally.
The four track EP kicks off with Elea - a deep and thoughtful collaboration utilizing Frank & Tony’s slick production with understated vocals. Next up on the A side is Holding On, featuring iconically Bob Moses vocals atop of a low-key bumping groove. There’s also washes of brass that add a new dimension to the track. Flipping over to the B side, Holy for Her (which also appeared back in 2012), is a densely wound, hypnotic rhythm, providing the basis for Tom Howie and Jim Vallance to do their special thing. Winding things up, Marigold is another early classic from the same period - a dubbed-out groove with sharp percussion and a killer, signature vocal. An essential release capturing a vital period in both outfits' development.







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