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Rush Hour’s RSS series excels in unearthing buried treasure, offering a second chance for artists and releases that have long been overlooked. That’s certainly the case with ‘Witches’, the superb sole single by British 1980s wave trio Zenana.

Originally released on seven-inch by the tiny PRM label in 1986, ‘Witches’ was the product of a sister-brother songwriting team whose music was mostly recorded in the front room of a terraced house in Nanpean, a small industrial village in Cornwall, England’s most south-westerly county. While the single was infectious, impeccably produced and dancefloor-ready, it sold in limited quantities at the time.

Zenana’s story can be traced back to the early 1980s, when singer-songwriter Anita Tedder founded the all-female trio as a vehicle for her musical ambitions. To bring her songs to life, she joined voices with her brother Mike, an early adopter of electronic music who had built a studio – nicknamed MFR, short for ‘Mike’s Front Room’ – in his Cornish home.

Countless Zenana tracks were recorded at ‘mfr’ between 1984 and ’86, with the resultant demo cassette securing the band a management contract, a slew of live bookings, a video shoot and even a television appearance. Buoyed by this underground success, they headed to the remote Sawmills Studio in Cornwall – famously only accessible by boat – to re-record ‘Witches’, a song inspired by local folk tales of witches gathering near Mike’s home.

While this version of ‘Witches’ failed to make an impact at the time, it has become something of a cult classic following its’ rediscovery by crate digger Kiernan Abbott – and subsequent championing by other dusty-fingered DJs including Antal, Skyrager, Trevor Jackson and Luke Una – in early 2023. The buzz inspired Zenana to perform live again for the first time in decades, with the story of their surprise comeback being covered by British media outlets including the BBC and (more surprisingly) the Daily Mail.

Now presented in re-mastered form, ‘Witches’ is a genuinely slept-on gem. Propelled forwards by punchy drum machine beats, a killer synth bassline and fizzing keyboard sounds, the song benefits greatly from strong vocals and an extra-percussive middle eight layered with vocalisations, cosmic spoken word sections and swirling noises.

It comes backed by a brand-new extended ‘spell of love’ courtesy of Bristol duo Bedmo Disco, AKA music journalist Matt Anniss (author of Join The Future: Bleep Techno and the Birth of British Bass Music) and DJ/production partner Gareth Morgan. Anniss is a long-time friend of Mike and Anita Tedder who has fond memories of visiting Mike’s home studio with his family around the time that ‘Witches’ was recorded.

Working from Zenana’s original MFR eight-track recording (tapes of the single version were lost years ago), Anniss and Morgan have turned in the extended ‘dance mix’ the track never had first time around. More atmospheric, clandestine and dancefloor-focused, it offers authentic nods to New York proto-house, mid-80s Shep Pettibone dubs, and the pioneering synth-pop productions and dub mixes of Factory Records regular Martin Rushent.

Continuing the Hyperspace instrumental ambient series are two sides of delicious futuristic ambiance from three artists, renowned for studio work on both coasts. Frank Eaton and Kevin Fullen offer three cinematic sound scapes that range between experimental ambiance and classic New Age music. On the other, more experimental side, is Brian Kehew creating a full side of sonic sculpture performed on a vintage Moog 900 system. Pressed on White vinyl. Frank Eaton and Kevin Fullen have been friends and musical collaborators since founding the famed Noise New York recording studio in 1979 that became a center of the “No Wave” scene and a cradle of musical creativity. In 2020, Frank and Kevin formed Eaton/Fullen with the release of Ready to Install, followed by 2022’s When the Sky Burned and 2023’s She Saw The Ocean. The albums reflect their exploration of lush sonic panoramas through the creation of beautiful ambient music infused with cinematic tension and a touch of psychedelia. Brian Kehew is a former member of the Moog Cookbook and an synthesizer industry expert who has toured with the Who, among others. He is is a producer, engineer, musician, and author, best-known for his Recording The Beatles book, but also makes records, and explores the history of Electronic Music. He was one of the first collectors of older synthesizers, and works with companies like Moog, Casio, Alesis, John Bowen, etc. to create and program new instruments.

Four electrifying bands from different periods of the west coast urban underground together for the first time on Yellow vinyl! Including: Bastidas!, Ultraviolet Catastrophe, Pink Stiletto, and Nervous Gender Reloaded. Representing the Neo New Wave of Seattle, San Francisco, Hollywood, and East LA. Pressed on yellow vinyl. Bastidas! has flourished among L.A.'s underground scene since 2007, creating a new threshold for post-punk, chunked up bass lines, and sonic synthesis. Melding genres of Latin, Post Punk, Punk, Jazz, Latin Jazz, they represent what could be East L.A.'s answer to Sonic Youth. The UltraViolet Catastrophe (aka Uvc) was a mostly synthesizer pop band in Seattle from 1982 to 1984. With the sound of multiple keyboards and female lead singer, their first live gig was at the opening of The Metropolis in Seattle in 1983. Produced by members Einar Ask and Steve Turnidge, industry specialist and author of Digital Mastering. Pink Stiletto is set to reinvigorate New Wave and post-punk. Echoing the eclectic, avant-garde essence of ZE Records, Pink Stiletto merges disco’s allure with punk’s rawness, funk’s rhythm, and new wave’s idiosyncrasy. Their songs stand out with unconventional sound, capturing the vibrant, artistic spirit of downtown New York. It draws inspiration from the likes of Gina X, Tubeway Army, and Cristina. Nervous Gender formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1978 by Gerardo Velazquez, Edward Stapleton, Phranc and Michael Ochoa. In 1979, Don Bolles of the Germs joined as drummer. The following year, Phranc left the band and Paul Roessler of the Screamers joined. Nervous Gender played with bands such as SPK, Factrix, NON, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Psychic TV during the early 1980s. The original LP has been re-released by Dark Entries Records. As of 2017, Edward Stapleton, and Matt Comeione, San Diego mod and Cal Arts trained composer, started Nervous Gender Reloaded.

Dark Entries returns to Mexico with Back Up Dos: Mexican Tecno Pop 1982-1989. Following 2021’s Back Up compilation, Back Up Dos delivers 10 more tracks of synth-pop and New Beat, 7 of which have never before appeared on vinyl. From mutant drum machine beats to irresistible synthesizer hooks, fans of the fringes of the 80s will find songs to stir their cold, dark hearts. But Back Up Dos does more than mine retro kitsch; it documents the development of a rich DIY music scene that is still underexplored. As affordable samplers and digital synths spread throughout the decade, post-punk and new wave gave way to more aggressive EBM and cyberpunk sounds. The scene also developed in opposition to the political climate of the times: the rise of the drug cartels and a reactionary turn in national politics. Using home recording techniques, these bands took cues from the electronic wizardry of the Human League and Wax Trax Records while reflecting the vibrant and chaotic Mexican cultural landscape of the era. On Back Up Dos, impeccable pop anthems from Casino Shanghai and Los Agentes Secretos sit alongside gnarled obscurities from Ford Proco and María Bonita, showcasing a decade of sly deviance and enthusiastic experimentation. This album comes housed in an 80s-inflected neon sleeve designed by Gwenael Rattke and includes a 12-page booklet with photographs, lyrics, and notes. Back Up Dos compiles synthetic music produced in Mexico at the crossroads from Tecno Pop to Post-Industrial, nourished by culture shock and stories of dystopian worlds.

Dark Entries summons Philadelphia synthesizer scribes The Ghostwriters to rouse their ambient masterwork Remote Dreaming. The late Buchla maestro Charles Cohen and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cain joined up in 1971 to craft electroacoustic chaos as Anomali, later renaming themselves The Ghostwriters. Their collaborations with choreographers and visual media artists led to their singular style, straddling improvisation and composition, the oneiric and the immediate. Following their debut album, Objects in Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear, they were approached by ambient outlet Mu-Pysch. Remote Dreaming would take shape in various studios over nine months. Jeff Cain's instruments on this project included electric and acoustic pianos, the Juno 106 synthesizer, and a Mirage sampler, while Charles Cohen used his signature Buchla 200 Series Electronic Musical Instrument. A stark departure from the tightly wound first LP, Remote Dreaming shows the duo unfurling with soothing pianos and psychoacoustic textures, its somnambulant drones just skirting the edges of the uncanny. Although ignored in its time, Remote Dreaming is now heralded as a landmark in 80s experimental ambient music. It is here released for the first time on vinyl, spread across a double LP with five additional tracks, four of which were previously unreleased. Remote Dreaming has been freshly remastered and includes an insert with photos and liner notes. Proceeds will be donated to Sosa (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit that combats online child sex abuse and trafficking.

Dark Entries calls on Philadelphia experimental duo The Ghostwriters to resurrect their 1981 LP of minimalist mayhem, Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear. The late Buchla maestro Charles Cohen and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cain joined up in 1971 to craft electroacoustic chaos as Anomali, later renaming themselves The Ghostwriters. Their collaborations with choreographers and visual media artists led to their singular style, straddling improvisation and composition, the oneiric and the immediate. 1981 saw the release of their debut album, Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear, a whirling, messy, telepathic slipstream cascading across an imaginary landscape. Recorded in Don Buchla’s childhood home, Objects offers 8 cuts of minimalist electronic bliss, equal parts icy and quirky, with standout cuts including the grooving havoc of “Fix it in the Mix” and the otherworldly hymn “Moon Chant.” These angular pearls will be cherished by fans of John Bender, Ceramic Hello, and all strains of outsider 80s electronics. Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear has been freshly remastered and includes an insert with photos and liner notes. Proceeds from the album will be donated to Sosa (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit that combats online child sex abuse and trafficking.

The Invisible Road: Original Recordings, 1985-1990 compiles an unheard, previously unreleased body of recordings by Sussan Deyhim and Richard Horowitz, dissidents from diametric backgrounds who met during the heady days of Downtown New York in the 1980s. This collection reveals the creative and life partners' radical shared vision of avant-garde pop in all of its boundary pushing freedom, combining Deyhim's singular approach to vocalization, Horowitz's invention of new musical languages, and touchstones of traditional music from around the world, creating a new music that ultimately retains a voice entirely its own. Mixed and mastered from the original multitrack reels, and pressed on audiophile quality vinyl, this album also includes a 12 page booklet containing liner notes, photographs, and unseen ephemera.

Grief, sadness, goodbye. With "Shook", Rico Friebe returns to the purest form of acoustic intimacy - just his voice and the guitar after the Requiem introduction. Being in daily grief and torment for almost 500 days, he melodized a funeral procession, burying an agony, being the sole attendant, shining a light in darkest night...

Ovall, the three-piece band consisting of Shingo Suzuki (bass), mabanua (drums), and Shingo Sekiguchi (guitar), all of whom are well-established producers and musicians, has released their highly anticipated 4th album ‘Still Water’ after a five-year hiatus, now available on vinyl.

This album embodies Ovall's signature independent spirit, showcasing their continued evolution while staying true to their roots. Each track reflects the band's growth as producers and musicians, making it a standout release in their discography.

Citirax is excited to introduce the debut LP from the Los Angeles-based duo Op-art, a project born out of the creative isolation of the lockdown era. The band, the brainchild of Andrew Clinco—known for his work with Drab Majesty—was originally named using the acronym "Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times," a nod to the challenging times that inspired its formation.

In Andrew’s own words, the album “represents a sonic analog to the visual art movement of the 1960s,” meaning it is both densely layered and psychedelic, yet aims to capture a sense of minimalism in its tradition, theory, and conceptual approach. Op-art’s sound is heavily influenced by the New Wave genre, drawing inspiration from artists such as John Foxx, Martin Dupont (with whom Andrew has collaborated on a track), Experimental Products, and early OMD.

True to their commitment to authentic analog sound, Op-art eschews digital plug-ins in favor of a wide array of analog synthesizers and outboard rack effects units. The album features a diverse collection of synthesizers including the EML 500, Arp Odyssey, Arp Omni2, Jupiter 6, Sh-02, Sh-101, Moog Rogue, and Roland Promars. Each piece of equipment contributes to the album’s lush, rich soundscapes, creating a tactile and immersive listening experience.

The Final Act, the title of the LP, is a testament to the duo's ability to blend catchy melodies with profound emotional depth. The album offers an introspective journey through themes of time passing, romantic entanglements, and existential reflections on an apocalyptic scale. With its evocative sound and thoughtful lyrics, The Final Act promises to resonate deeply with listeners, making it a compelling and significant debut from Op-art.

Manu Chao reist seit Jahren um die Welt, um seine Fans an ungewöhnlichen Orten, in Dörfern und auf kleinen Festivals zu treffen. Manu veröffentlicht nun sein neues Studioalbum „Viva Tu“, eine Sammlung von Liedern, die über das tägliche Leben mit seinen Kämpfen geschrieben wurden. Seine frische Sicht auf den Zustand der Welt besingt er in sonnigen, universellen Lieder auf Spanisch, Französisch, Englisch und Portugiesisch und zeichnet ein schonungsloses Bild sozialer Ungleichheiten. Der Titelsong „Viva Tu“, eine herzliche Rumba, die den Helden des Alltags gewidmet ist, hat bereits Spuren hinterlassen. Die zweite Single, „São Paulo Motoboy“, ist eine farbenfrohe, sonnige Ode an die zweirädrigen Lieferfahrer, die sich jeden Tag durch die lateinamerikanischen Metropolen wagen. Das Album enthält auch denkwürdige Kollaborationen mit der Country-Legende Willie Nelson und dem aufstrebenden französischen Rapper Laeti.

Manu Chao reist seit Jahren um die Welt, um seine Fans an ungewöhnlichen Orten, in Dörfern und auf kleinen Festivals zu treffen. Manu veröffentlicht nun sein neues Studioalbum „Viva Tu“, eine Sammlung von Liedern, die über das tägliche Leben mit seinen Kämpfen geschrieben wurden. Seine frische Sicht auf den Zustand der Welt besingt er in sonnigen, universellen Lieder auf Spanisch, Französisch, Englisch und Portugiesisch und zeichnet ein schonungsloses Bild sozialer Ungleichheiten. Der Titelsong „Viva Tu“, eine herzliche Rumba, die den Helden des Alltags gewidmet ist, hat bereits Spuren hinterlassen. Die zweite Single, „São Paulo Motoboy“, ist eine farbenfrohe, sonnige Ode an die zweirädrigen Lieferfahrer, die sich jeden Tag durch die lateinamerikanischen Metropolen wagen. Das Album enthält auch denkwürdige Kollaborationen mit der Country-Legende Willie Nelson und dem aufstrebenden französischen Rapper Laeti.

One of the most difficult-to-obtain titles for ani-song/game music records!! Event-only, ultra-rare analog record “Tori No Uta”, a masterpiece so honored that it is even called the “National Anthem”, is finally being reissued! This legendary work, released in 2006 in a limited edition of 500 copies for event sales only, is finally being reissued! The jacket is a faithful reproduction of the original jacket drawn by Itaru Hinoue, which can only be seen on this title. The original version was a picture vinyl without obi, but the reissue version is a black vinyl 180g heavy-weight vinyl with obi! B-side includes remixes!

On Lea Kampmann's new album Seinferð, she invites listeners into a musical space that evokes the sensation of being inside an acoustic guitar. In a harmonious blend of folk and singer/songwriter pop, she conveys the atmospheric mood of the Faroe Islands' stunning nature through the tonal colors of sound. Seinferð, which means 'slow motion' in Faroese, encapsulates an important story about reconnecting with oneself by moving at one's own pace. Danish/Faroese singer Lea Kampmann had previously only released music in English. However, when she lost her grandmother, one of the strongest connections she had to the Faroe Islands was severed. One way she found her way 'home' again was by writing songs in Faroese. The album's eight tracks were co-written with Faroese musician and producer Teitur during a snowstorm in Tórshavn. As the snow whipped against the windows, they found inspiration together for a call to resist the hectic pace, stress, and fast tempo that characterize our society today. 'Seinferð is an inner rebellion against the idea that you have to run as fast as others when it doesn't feel right for you,' says the 27-year-old singer. On the album, Lea not only turns her gaze towards her own roots but also towards the roots of music. The production consists solely of acoustic instruments, apart from the odd synthesizer, which are a conceptual part of her call for slow motion. Instead of relying on technology, machines, screens, and all the quick fixes that the digitalized society offers, she chose to have the music reflect the slow, natural, bodily, and human as an essential prerequisite for keeping pace with the body, the earth, and nature. Thus, it's not just the lyrics that stand in opposition to societal trends of growth, speed, and profit—the musical and production expressions do as well. With Seinferð, Lea Kampmann hopes to spread one of the Nordic minority languages across borders— not with a political speech, but through music and a language that is often overlooked on the Danish music scene, despite the Faroe Islands being part of the Danish realm and thus an integral part of Danish society and culture. Lea Kampmann (voc, g); Aske Frydenlund-Vad (g); Mette Termansen (ob); Daniel Rye (cl, bcl); Lone Meinich (5-string va); Kern Westerberg (vn); Thea Jørgensen (vn); Martyna Kulpinska (vc); Tórleik Mortensen (b); Teitur Lassen (p, synth, lap steel g, perc, various soundtracks). 1. Eitt lag, eg hevoi, gloyst, at eg kenni (A Song I Had Forgotten That I Know)2. Nu ert tu moldin (Now You Are The Soil)3. Pappirstunn (Paper Thin)4. Mitt egna rum (A Room Of My Own)5. Telji upp i hundrad (Counting To One Hundred)6. Vestmanna i kava (Vestmanna In Snow)7. Eg fari niour (Descending)8. Frioarlag (Peace Song)

Four track EP. Soul music. Mother. Emcee. Sound Scientist. Doula. Wordsmith. Griot. Healer.

Nyctinasty is the third studio album by Grout/Grout, originally released in 2019

LBD Issues continue with their quest of reissuing music from Eastern European region previously unavailable on Western markets. The third release is a compilation that showcases the collaboration work of duo Eva Hurychová and Jan Neckář. The two met in 1982 and Eva started performing with Jan's band Bacily. Jan was already established and hugely successful musician and producer, mainly for his brother Václav, who was a real pop superstar in former Czechoslovakia and still remains very popular to this day. Eva was a composer and lyrics writer for other successful artists too. However, the duo soon started recording stuff on their own, experimenting with electronic productions and the sound not at all common for its day in Czechoslovakia. This compilation cherry-picks the tracks from various different singles released between 1984 and 1986.

The first Escapismo output was described by Bleep as “a slow burning synth-pop killer”. Bandcamp’s “New & Notable” section has defined Escapismo as “Marvelously gothy electronic music from Barcelona. A New Wave delight”. And according to Boomkat, “Escapismo brings a touch of ‘80s romance”. This LP includes the first three Escapismo EPs (a short run of 10″s which fastly sold out) plus one additional song. A mixture of post-disco, dark italo, new wave, post-punk and a hint of Belgian new beat. An obscure collection of songs already supported by renowned DJs like Stephen Dewaele from Soulwax / Despacio or Ivan Smagghe and Nathan Gregory Wilkins, who have played Escapismo on their Channeling show on NTS Radio.

A supergroup of sorts - Fat White Family"s Lias Saoudi, Trashmouth Records"Luke and Liam May, and Quinn Whalley of Paranoid London and Warmduscher-Decius have travelled the earth liberating people from banality since the release of Decius Vol. I.Now they offer up DeciusVol. II (Splendour & Obedience). It throbs with an almost impossible sense of potential, and expands on the lexicon of molten desire. The sound has moved into new territories, with tastes of house, disco and techno, all with an underlying base note of acid on tracks such as the slippery night cruise intensity of "Birth of A Smirk", where Colonel Abrams gets his nipples tortured.

A supergroup of sorts - Fat White Family"s Lias Saoudi, Trashmouth Records"Luke and Liam May, and Quinn Whalley of Paranoid London and Warmduscher-Decius have travelled the earth liberating people from banality since the release of Decius Vol. I.Now they offer up DeciusVol. II (Splendour & Obedience). It throbs with an almost impossible sense of potential, and expands on the lexicon of molten desire. The sound has moved into new territories, with tastes of house, disco and techno, all with an underlying base note of acid on tracks such as the slippery night cruise intensity of "Birth of A Smirk", where Colonel Abrams gets his nipples tortured.

After years of reluctance, finally a new album from Dada Pogrom. The Icelandic musician Kenneth Walter Balys has created a masterpiece of elaborated synth passages with wonderful pop melodies. His performances are few and far between, but in March 2024 he had already played some of the new songs in front of a full sold out house at the Kernkrach Festival. The audience was thrilled and demanded encores.

Conan Gray, the critically acclaimed global pop superstar, is back with his third studio album, Found Heaven. The highly anticipated third LP includes singles "Never Ending Song," "Winner," "Killing Me," and "Lonely Dancers." Conan reigns in his magnetic new era and sound as he expresses his undeniable authenticity and originality through his art. "Found Heaven" Transparent Yellow LP with signed poster included. Limited Edition.