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Since Nika Roza Danilova has been recording music as Zola Jesus she's been on Sacred Bones Records for most of that time, and Okovi marked her reunion with the label. Fittingly, the 11 electronics-driven songs on Okovi share musical DNA with her early work on Sacred Bones. The music was written in pure catharsis, and as a result, the sonics are heavy, dark, and exploratory. With Okovi, Zola Jesus has crafted a profound meditation on loss and reconciliation that stands tall alongside the major works of its genre. The album peaks of tragedy with great wisdom and clarity. Its songs plumb dark depths, but they reflect light as well.

Jeffery is the 4th mixtape by Young Thug and features appearances by Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Gunna, Quavo & Offset and Wyclef Jean. The album charted at #8 on the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim. It was named among the best releases of 2016 by Pitchfork, Fact, Complex, and Rolling Stone.

Classic Black Vinyl, Gloss Laminated Sleeve, Printed inner “Gut” sleeve DL card.

On Gut Buster, Yosa Peit spawns fleshy sonic escapades, a swarm of vigorously processed vocals and soulful bass, set to a backdrop of visceral percussive structures. Full of roguish curiosity, the record is cast with an air of lo-fi experimentation, but with a platinum glint of pop sensibility. Peit’s second album grapples with the destructive force of modern consumption, Gut Buster is an anti-capitalist battle cry that syntheses intimacy and hostility; a surrealist-punk affirmation and a testament to Peit’s singular vision and unique approach.

The free-ranging sound of Yosa Peit recalls the intense arrangements of a cyber-era Prince with the surrealist tones of Arthur Russell and early Björk. At the album’s core, “World Eaters” unleashes scorching guitars in search of humankind’s end, “I was born on a planet, I got hungry and I ate it.”

Even in the face of planetary doom and personal obstacles, Yosa evokes our propensity for mischief, humor and pleasure. “bb moon” processes sound solely from her bass into wicked oblivion. “call ME,” a song about friendship, chews up it’s anthemic melody into a gnarled strut worthy of an A$ap Rocky production, while “had3s” urges us to find balance, nodding to the mystical fuzz of Prince. Yosa’s work has been called “personal, punk, poignant, deep” yet her genre-defying production, as textured as it is catchy, escapes definition.

Gut Buster takes that collective playground for creation to planetary reaches, congregating friends from Berlin, Cologne, and New York’s fuzzy musical underbelly: Employee, Funkycan, Gerry Franke, Glenn Astro, Nauker, Paingel, Tbz, and UCC Harlo. The record was mixed by Brainfeeder affiliate Benjamin Vukelic in Portland and Jan Brauer in Berlin.

“Glitchy yet supple, the broken beats and warped abstractions are wholly unpredictable yet deliciously odd, like an esoteric mashup of Bjork, Aphex and Laurie Anderson” Electronic Sound

In recent years Ace Records has released a successful series of compilations spotlighting 1960s girl-pop recordings from Japan, France, Italy, Sweden and Spain. Here we visit Hungary, a country whose young female singers performed beat music every bit as bold and brazen as their male counterparts.

Spanning the years 1966 to 1971, the collection features feisty freakbeat, folk rock, funky pop and more from 14 of Hungary’s foremost female recording stars, with musical accompaniment provided by some of the nation’s leading beat groups.

Highlights include the freakbeat masterpiece ‘Ez Az Utolsó Randevúnk’ by Éva Nagy with scorching guitar work from the band Liversing, the keyboards and brass-driven ‘Fekete Beat’ by Sarolta Zalatnay with the group Metro, Kati Kovács’ great organ-based dancer ‘Hazudik A Drága’ and the folk rock-flavoured ‘Keresem A Szót’ by Zsuzsa Koncz.

The collection is available as a 24-track CD with bumper 28-page booklet and 14-track 180g transparent red vinyl LP with illustrated inner bag, each featuring a picture-packed 7,000-word note by compilers Mick Patrick and Matt Meek.

New Flava Volume 1 is an audacious project birthed in Austin Aggrey-Odoom's brain in the Spring of 1995. Austin, being a devoted Christian as well as a massive music fan, was a regular at different churches across the London Area during the mid-90's. He then connected with many young aspiring Gospel/Soul/R&B singers and had the idea to produce a Gospel album that could appeal to a younger crowd, mixing US R&B influences, to create a new kind of Christian R&B that could have radio potential, while showcasing U.K.'s underground Soul talents from the Gospel community. His love of God and passion for music would finally merge into this hybrid compilation project called New Flava Volume 1. With the help of producer Paul Cumberbatch, they recorded a selection of the finest voices that Austin could find amongst the Gospel circuit. Inspired by popular US R&B/Hip-Hop artists of that time, they aimed to recreate a heavy and well-polished sound that would resonate with the fans of Mary J. Blige, Joe and SWV amongst others. The result is quite mind-blowing, Cumberbatch's top-notch productions make a strong foundation to let the artists shine throughout the compilation, such as Tyrone Henry on the instant-classic « Time For You And Me » or the label-favorite « Heaven Is In My Home » by Jasmine Kirby. The U.K. has always been a great hunting ground for Soul talents, and this compilation is yet another example of it. Now for the first time on 2LP, New Flava Volume One is a must-have for any 90's R&B collectors !

* Music selected by Kunimondo Takiguchi * Sixth installment from the Universal Music 'city Music Tokyo' series * Album art by Yasuyuki Takagi Universal Music is excited to release this compilation series that highlights hidden City Pop gems selected by Kunimondo Takiguchi. This release is the sixth installment following 'invitation' (released in November 2020), 'junction' (released in April 2022), 'signal' and 'tremolo' (released in January 2023), and 'parallelism' (released in March 2023). It is set to include rare tracks from various labels such as Universal Music, Polydor, Kitty Records, EMI, and more. This collection compiles city music that one can imagine from the themes of 'urban life' and 'music' in Tokyo, and it's something that should be listened to right now. Continuing the series title 'city Music TOKYO,' the subtitle for this installment is 'corner.' In the process of the changes in city pop from the 1970s, this subtitle was chosen to emphasize the 80s and 90s tracks as a 'corner' in the transformation. Additionally, it aims to shine a spotlight on tracks that may have been in the 'corner' of the hit charts and not gained as much attention. The concept-representing imagery was captured by photographer Yasuyuki Takagi. Art direction and graphic design are handled by Kunimondo Takiguchi.

Comprising soaring big beat ballads, the occasional guitar-driven nugget and other feminine pop gems of the stylish Italian variety, this much-anticipated follow-up to “Ciao Bella!” (one of Ace Records’ best sellers of 2015) offers further proof that there is musical life beyond the shores of English-speaking countries.

“Bellissima! More 1960s She-Pop From Italy” comprises an equal mix of superstars and obscure artists, performing songs of both Italian and overseas origin. Living legend Mina sings ‘Cartoline’, one of several numbers custom-composed by maestro Bruno Canfora to show off her fantastic vocal technique, and her arch rival Milva delivers the stomping ‘Tamburino, Ciao…’, another top-tier Italian original, while highlights of the selections by lesser-known vocalists include ‘È Proprio Inutile’ by Meri Marabini and ‘Il Beat... Cos’è?’ by La Ragazza 77, groovy covers of the Hollies’ ‘You Know He Did’ and Sonny & Cher’s ‘The Beat Goes On’ respectively.

The Man Who sounds as fresh today as it did then. One of the most successful British albums of the last 20 years, it spawned the timeless singles, “Writing to Reach You,” “Driftwood,” “Turn,” and possibly the band’s most iconic song, “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” Produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, U2, Pavement), The Man Who spent an astonishing 11 weeks at Number One in the UK, going on to sell 3.5 million copies worldwide.

Critical recognition quickly followed including Ivor Novello Awards for Best Songwriter and Best Contemporary Song for “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” and BRIT Awards for Best British Band and Best British Album.

It was standard practice in the 1960s for British beat groups to pepper their repertoires with American R&B songs. Formed by five music-loving schools from Blackpool, the Missfits were no exception. Although they group released no records during their time together, for two brief years they were the toast of Blackpool clubland. They played at the same veues as local bands such as the Rockin’ Vickers, including some gigs at the famous Oasis Club in Manchester and at the short-lived Blackpool branch of the Twisted Wheel.

In February 1964, they won a recording test in a talent competition and travelled to London that summer to commit some of their favourite songs to tape. The tape reel was soon forgotten and thought lost but Janet had thankfully kept it safe, enabling the appearance of the four tracks on this 60s-style vinyl EP. Drummer Janet Baily provides lead vocals on their version of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Dimples’, and bass player Pauline Moran sang lead on Bo Diddley’s ‘You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover’, Chuck Berry’s ‘I’m Talking About You’ and Ray Charles’ ‘What’d I Say’, with guitarists Andrea Hine, Carola Daish and Liz Hall joining in on backing vocals.

Long awaited re-release of The Mary Onettes second studio Album, Islands. The Swedish Dream-Pop pioneers first released Islands in 2009 on legendary Labrador records. Now a limited edition LP version is coming on Welfare Sounds & Records. This gorgeous transparent vinyl is a must have for the serious record collector.