CD 2747 Items

Seattle, Washington's AJ Suede teams up with Televangel (of Blue Sky Black Death) for 'Metatron's Cube,' an album of psychedelic, biting rhymes with smooth flows over brooding, nostalgic beats with a touch of noir that will hit you hard and envelop you in their world.

Multi-faceted artist, rapper, designer, animator, and producer AJ Suede has been praised in & featured on Spin, Kexp, The Seattle Times, and many more outlets for his growing loyal fanbase and distinct rhyming style. "Suede’s low yet forceful tenor and his discursive stream-of-consciousness rhymes...contain everything from socio-political commentary and blunted cinematic allusions to psychedelic visions." - Spin Magazine

•CD Box Set with 9 CDs •Artwork by Echo Barrett (Each disc will have unique art, not like the mockup) •Each show is 3 discs. •Each disc in sleeves, with all sleeves in a clamshell box •Mastered by Angel Marcloid at Angel Hair Audio

The unreleased album "G Till I Die" recorded in 1996, kept confidential for many years, is finally released. The track "Gangsta Life" had received a physical release in Maxi and was to promote the release of the full album. Unfortunately, the hours of existence never allowed the project to see the light of day, and Star D's first album has remained forgotten until now.

Most Wanted Records announces today the official release of this jewel that we thought was lost forever. Comprising fourteen tracks, including "Down" and "Gangsta Life" featured on the Maxi released in 1996, Star D's full album is already a classic for any Gangsta Funk lover. From twirling worms to heavy funky beats, Star D gives us 14 amazing tracks in the purest tradition of albums dropped during this golden era. Don't wait!

Here is the Deluxe Version of 'Voltaic' which includes 2CDs and 2 DVDs of her performing Live in Paris and Reyk_Javik. Also features Live in the Studio and Remix Versions of her tracks

17 track album 'Roma Supreme' by Smellington Piff & Illinformed

Following their 2020 collaboration on "Real Bad Boldy", prolific Detroit rapper Boldy James and LA producer Real Bad Man are back at it with their new album "Killing Nothing". Picking up right where they left off, the two are creating a music score to a gritty, grimy and filthy street tale, bringing on board Crimeapple, Knowledge The Pirate, Rome Streetz and Stove God Cooks as their accomplices.

So when the Pseudos made contact about their amazing 'Only Built for Food and Drinks' LP, the original version of the album had a rough track entitled 'Five Years' on it. The joint blew my head clean off. I was like "You got any more joints on that tip?" and they were like "Well we also have 'The Winter' that we've been playing around with." So I suggested an EP of similar material and what did we get? A full album of adaptations of tracks that all of us grew up on. In fact I got brought on board on an executive production tip and we began to go through a selection of tracks to "adapt". The resulting project is one that I'm proud to have my name on. The last time I exec produced something was Three Sinister Syllables back in 2004 and I believe that this record is a suitable successor to that.



This record does everything I'm interested in, in the way it covers [no pun] multiple intellectual property rights issues with satire, style and a large dollop of hip hop sauce. I've never heard anything like it and over the last year or so it has become one of my fav projects on the label. Check the snippets - this is a special project y'all....

Robert’s full-length debut comes in the form of ‘Orange Is the New Black’, blending Folk,Psychedelic & Prog Rock samples with raw hip-hop to create a unique and uncompromising sound. Lyrically dense, open-hearted, and encompassing true stories. The album was conceived and the lyrics were crafted during a stint at Her Majesty’s Pleasure , whilst The title and art were inspired by the biography of cult leader Osho (The Bagwan) a book Robert cherished during his incarceration . ‘oitnb’ doesn’t just leave it to the lyrics to portray the pain-filled and ruthless journey he has enlisted cult favourites Sleaford Mods, Kool Keith, Rag ‘n’ Bone man & Slug of Atmostphere to help paint the picture of a imprisoned Prophet.

Achtung: Das Cover wurde für den Shop zenisert. Das Original kommt unzensiert.

Aufrichtig, lustig, manchmal ironisch und vielleicht auch ein bisschen zynisch: Psychoanalyse (Volume 2), das erste Soloalbum von Brezel Göring nach Stereo Total liegt auf dem Plattenspieler wie auf dem Sofa des Psychoanalysten; ein in seiner Konsequenz ein folgerichtiges Album nach der letzten gemeinsamen Produktion mit seiner Arbeits-, Lebens- und Liebespartnerin, der viel zu früh verstorbenen Françoise Cactus Zehn intime Lieder, die von den Höhen und Tiefen des Alltags berichten, berührend und so spröde wie das Leben selbst. Songs über soziale Devianz, Drogen, sexuelle Psychopathologie und den "sanften Wahn". Genussvoll und voller Wortspiele, versammelt Brezel Göring eine Galerie mit Bildern komischer Figuren – und im „Spiegelkabinett“ einem Hauch Selbstironie.

Limited edition of 150 copies on CD in jewel case.

"The Produce Aisle" marked the full-length debut of Burnt Batch in 1999 and is one of those nuggets from the flourishing Westcoast underground scene around that time. The trio from Stockton, CA, was formed by Rukus, Pause and Pismo who mostly handled the production as well as the writing & raps. 15 tracks with that special blend of laid-back rhymes and Jazz-infected beats.

Available in a limited run on black vinyl 2LP, CD in digipak as well as jewel case and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Limited edition of 150 copies on CD in jewel case.

Hailing from Elgin, Illinois, the Rec Center is a collective composed of six MC’s with impeccable gifts of gab and a DJ blessed with the art of spinning. From the humbled beginnings of countless basement ciphers in the early 90’s a niche was crafted, a mission was charted and a journey to Reveal Eternal Creation was embarked upon. Originally consisting of nine MC’s, Rec Center released their first full-length album "Lonely People" on CD only in the fall of 1999 which made them a household name in the Chicago underground scene.

Available in a limited run on black vinyl 2LP in gatefold sleeve, CD in digipak as well as jewel case and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Limited edition of 150 copies on CD in jewel case.

Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Massinfluence has always been one of our favorite new school crews and "The Underground Science" is still one of those nuggets to recommend when someone is digging for jazz-infected boombap rap. Originally released in 1999, the trio consisting of Audessey, H2O and Cognito created a conscious classic all the way through that remains timeless. Next to the original 11 tracks the re-release contains 7 bonus tracks.

Available in a limited run on black gatefold 2LP, CD in digipak as well as jewel case and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Following what many would consider a banner year of releases for both artists, Curren$y & The Alchemist reunite for their third collaborative album, Continuance. With a chemistry that is unmatched in this day and age, the album sees Spitta exude effortless confidence over some of Alc's most finely crafted beats, resulting in what many would already consider a timeless piece of work. The 13-track album features a tight, yet impressive roster of guests including Boldy James, Babyface Ray, Styles P, Larry June, Havoc, and old partner in crime, Wiz Khalifa. While their run seems never ending at this point, it is definitely something to be celebrated and not taken for granted.

Second volume to complete the anthology of Wicked Lady recordings, their final tracks recorded in 1972, just before the band split up and guitarist Martin Weaver left for Dark (of "Round the edges" fame). Another batch of excessive, over-the-top doomy psychedelic hard-rock including underground classics like "I'm a freak" and the 21 minute epic "Ship of ghosts".

Double vinyl which offers maximum sound quality, gatefold cover with liner notes by doomy psychedelic guitar God in person, Martin Weaver, telling the real story behind Wicked Lady.

If you are looking for raw, psychedelic hard-rock, look no further! We present the complete recordings (1968-1972) from Wicked Lady, the legendary UK underground power trio leaded by ace guitarist Martin Weaver, later a member of Dark on their "Round the edges" album.

This is a release known mostly by Italian progressive rock lovers, since its sound can be easily associated to the jazz-rock delivered by the way more popular Napoli Centrale and Perigeo - but also to the ‘fundamentals’ Dedalus, Arti & Mestieri, Uno, if not Maad, Nadma or Aktuala, or even the lesser known Bauhaus for instance. But playing this kind of music and trying to release an album in the first half of the ’70s in Italy was also incredibly hard and courageous: Spirale, in fact, was one of the many bands that lived a very short life, before splitting up and disappear forever.
Spirale were an Italian quintet from Rome, consisting of Gaetano Delfini (wind instruments, vocals, percussion), Giancarlo Maurino (saxophone, ute, percussion), Corrado Nofri (piano, marimba, mbira, siren, Jew’s harp), Giuseppe Caporello (contrabass, guitar, percussion) and Giampaolo Ascolese (drums) who released a single eponymous album in 1974.
Spirale was originally released on the International King record label, thanks to Mario Schiano, a free-jazz saxophonist who discovered the band, and producer Toni Cosenza, who included the album in the ‘King Jazz-Line’ series. Consisting of just four tracks, most of which taken by the 13-minute long “Cabral, Anno 1” and the marvellous 17-minute “Peperoncino (Cose vecchie, cose nuove)”, Spirale is an incredibly balanced and owing record that sounds still fresh and inspired even today, and it’s a shame that it has remained hidden and overlooked for such a long time. Moreover, it is characterized by that undescribable and particular Mediterranean avour that only Italian musicians were able to obtain.
This beautiful album is of course immensely rare in its original edition, and is now nally reissued on Dialogo record label in a faithful restored version that will finally satisfy any collectors who have waited for years for this beauty to see the light again!
Italy has proven to be a treasure trove of obscure, archival sounds. For decades, the products of its free-wheeling sonic countercultures - spanning numerous musical genres - remained as overlooked from within as without, until being uncovered by diggers searching for treasures in the shadows of time. Thankfully, those efforts have morphed into countless revelations via the reissue market. Leading the way is the Milan based imprint Dialogo, who have made their name by diving far from the predictable path. Their latest, the first ever vinyl reissued of the lone, self-titled LP produced by the Rome based quintet, Spirale, in 1974, stands among their most exciting offerings to date. A visionary hybrid at the juncture of rock and jazz, it was so ahead of its time that it remained almost entirely overlooked for decades, before ultimately ascending to holy grail status among lovers of Italian prog. Creatively thrilling - filled with emotive highs and lows - it’s a crucial piece in the puzzle of Italy’s wild and wonderful history of radical sound.
Founded in Rome by Gaetano Delfini (wind instruments, vocals, percussion), Giancarlo Maurino (saxophone, flute, percussion), Corrado Nofri (piano, marimba, mbira, siren, Jew’s harp), Giuseppe Caporello (contrabass, guitar, percussion) and Giampaolo Ascolese (drums), Spirale is among the most obscure projects to have emerged from Italy during the first half of the 1970s. Almost as soon as their lone, self-titled LP was issued by International King Record in 1974, the trial goes dark. Members turn up on recordings by Gaetano Liguori Collective Orchestra, Folk Magic Band, and numerous other projects over the years, but in this incarnation the music on Spirale seems to be all we have.
Spirale’s fate seems to have rested with the simple fact that they were too ahead of their time, producing a music that would subsequently come to find broad favour among audiences of popular music only a year or two down the road. Their lone, self-titled LP, carving out uncharted territory between Bitches Brew era Miles Davis and mid-70s Soft Machine, pushed progressive rock into a near undefinable realm; not rock enough to be called rock, not jazz enough to be called jazz.
Across the two sides of Spirale, comprising four works, a band of uncompromising talent stretches out, laying down cycling rhythms and bass lines that channel the modalism of John Coltrane, the funkiness of Donald Byrd, and hypnotic psychedelia, before embarking upon melodic excursions - peppered with Mediterranean sensibilities - into the outer realms.
Joyous, engrossing, and the product of exacting musicianship, how Spirale remained overlooked for all these years is one of the great mysteries of Italian music. An absolute revelation of the highest order brought to us by the capable hands of Dialogo, the first time ever reissue of this 1974, obscure masterstroke is an absolute must for any fan of prog, jazz, or Italian music at large. Beautifully pressed with fully restored and remastered audio and issued in a facsimile gatefold sleeve, reproducing the stunning original design, Spirale is just about as good as reissues get.

Infamous Mobb representative Big Twins, one of the most representatives names from the streets of Queensbridge is back with his brand new album "Hood Stories". Gritty and grimy street rap as his trademark, he delivers 8 new joints featuring productions by Cuns and EL Rojo and guest appearances by Beanz and Blaq Poet.

Source ⧺ WE Move finds Garcia reinventing her Mercury Prize-nominated album, Source, through new collaborations with several artists and producers, including; Dengue Dengue Dengue, Georgia Anne Muldrow, DJ Harrison and Moses Boyd. The reworked tracks retain the inspiring musicianship and blend of jazz and other influences found on the original, whilst also moving in a more beat-driven, electronic direction. The full track list is included below.



Garcia’s critically acclaimed debut album, Source, released in August 2020, is included in this year’s Mercury Music Prize shortlist. Garcia will perform at the awards ceremony, broadcast live on the BBC on 9th September.

Limited edition of 150 copies on CD in digipak.

"Doom" marked the 1997 album debut by Mood, a legendary trio out of Cinicinnati, Ohio, consisting of rappers Main Flow and Donte as well as producer Jahson. The album features early productions by Hi-Tek and guest appearances by Talib Kweli. Next to cuts like "Karma" or "Secrets Of The Sand" our version includes the early classics "Verbal Stampede" plus the remix as well as "Hustle On The Side".

Available in a limited run on black gatefold 3LP, CD in digipak as well as jewel case and cassette plus the bonus tracks digitally on all major platforms.

HHE is proud to announce a collaboration with Munk Wit Da Funk, Illadelph Records and The Militant Mind State. We have a double disc anthology that will include all the classics, unreleased tracks, demos, original remixes, freestyles and rarities recorded between 1994 and 2000.

Following the Grammy Award winning album, King’s Disease, the king returns to his throne with the second coming, King’s Disease II. The star-studded project offers tacit game on life, love, and loss, uplifting through action and lived experience in a way only Nas can. This is a body of work for the fans, for the day 1’s that contributed to the legacy. Alongside the decorated production savant, Hit-Boy, Nas remains rooted in lyrical prophetism while proving that he constantly reinvents the wheel.

The sequel to last year’s King’s Disease features Ms. Lauryn Hill, Eminem, Epmd, Hit-Boy, Charlie Wilson, YG and more.

R.I.P. MF DOOM

Ill Catz Records and HHE are proud to present you the debut EP from GRIMEWAV’s own Hanzo Bladez! Entrepeneur, Producer, MC and Graphic Designer hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y. now finally available on Vinyl, CD and Cassette! CD is limited to 150 copies

Discovered by RZA, this Californian group was the first from the West Coast to be signed by Wu-Tang in 1997. The group later separated into two groups: Black Knights and Northstar who kept working closely together. They made key appearances on the albums “Wu-Tang Killa Beez: the Swarm” (Platinum), “The Sting” (Gold) plus numerous RZA soundtracks such as “Ghostdog”, “Afro Samurai” and all the Bobby Digital projects.

Black Knights consisted of Crisis (The Sharpshooter), Rugged Monk, Doc Doom (R.I.P) and The Holocaust while Northstar is Christ Bearer and Meko The Pharaoh. For the first time in history since they separated ways around 2000, they have reunited to record a collective album as RZA envisioned when he signed them.

The album, called “Northstar on the Blackest Night” features all members including the late Doc Doom and Holocaust who has been on hiatus. It has solid production from Skarekrow and RZA who also features along side Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and Kurupt and definitely proves why they are the founding and fore fathers of the West Coast Wu-Tang Killa Beez movement

Strictly limited edition of 300 copies on CD.

Next up on "90's Tapes" are the demo 4-track recordings of Yusef Afloat's "Foreign Objects" and "Hard Times".

Known as one half of legendary Westcoast group The Nonce (along with Nouka Basstype aka Sach), MC/producer/musician Yusef Afloat produced tracks for Aceyalone, Supherb, and Figures Of Speech. He also appeared on the original 1994 release of Project Blowed. On May 21, 2000, Yusef "Afloat" Muhammad was found dying on the side of Freeway 110 in Los Angeles, he was 28 years old. The cause of his death is still unknown.

"When I listen to Yusef now, I'm reminded of what I felt then and that is he knew his time on Earth was limited. The tone was new, stern authoritative on his views and expressions of Hip Hop. I knew he was talking to me and each one of our peers. The tapes have been safe for 20 years thanks to Dee Skee for maintaining archives at Weightless Audio. The implications that I knew someone who may have said things because their span was going to be cut. I'm thinking he saw clearer than we could. I felt he wanted to be a guide in the discovery of what kind of Man I would live to be and what kind of Man listening to this music would turn out to be? I don't know if I had inclinations of my time being so short what I would have been spending it doing and he spent his saying these weighted lines. I thought it abrasive at first but I understand now why he said what he said and how with style! I miss him everyday and I'm so proud that Yusef's music can finally be showcased to the world in the beautiful way it is deserving. I'm blown back looking at the pictures, so many sat on that couch Yusef sits Ganjah K, Meen Green. What great sessions… no magical sessions. Preparing to play this record we would probably roll something and get comfortable on that couch… well… drop the needle! Push play!"

Sach - January 2021

"Foreign Objects / Hard Times" is available in limited editions on 2LP, MC and CD as well as digitally.

Strictly limited edition of 300 copies!

Next stop Baltimore! We are super excited to present Silouette's underground classic "Chocolate Malibu" (entirely produced by DJ Concrete) on 90's Tapes in a 2LP outfit incl. download card as well as on cassette and CD. On top this gem is available on digital platforms for the very first time.

This is Annexx Clique in full effect!

Strictly limited edition of 300 copies!

Next stop Baltimore! We are super excited to present K-Mack's underground classic "UnLimited" (entirely produced by DJ Concrete) on 90's Tapes in a 2LP outfit incl. download card as well as on cassette and CD. On top this gem is available on digital platforms for the very first time.

This is Annexx Clique in full effect!

Disc 2 contains 13 bonus tracks. Enhanced CD with album commentary by Neil. Digipak case w/ art by Ming Doyle. 8-page lyric booklet. Needlejuice Records is proud to present Lemon Demon’s occult classic on CD, cassette, and 2 colored LP variants. Released digitally in 2016, this is the first time the album has been available on any physical format.

Spirit Phone is a collection of 14 deviously catchy pop songs that lightheartedly explore such macabre topics as haunted mansions, confectionery cannibalism, Lovecraftian romance and 1980s economics. Bringing to mind the playfully ghoulish work of new wave acts like Oingo Boingo, the album presents its dark themes with mischievous relish. Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop included it in his Best of 2016 list with an 8/10 rating, praising its clever lyrics, high energy, and catchy songwriting.

Available now, Spirit Phone has been remastered by experimental sound guru Mark Kramer with new original art by Ming Doyle. Along with the 14 tracks that comprise the album proper, side 4 includes 5 bonus tracks. Download card contains full album, all 13 bonus tracks from the original release, and exclusive album commentary by Neil.

Diggin In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) was born out of a group of artists who began making noise in the late ‘80s and into the next decade and beyond—namely Lord Finesse, Diamond D, and Fat Joe. After well-received albums, an official, wider collective was founded that also included O.C., Big L, Buckwild, and producer-rapper combo, Show & A.G. (originally known as Showbiz & A.G.).

The crew proceeded to drop a run of sublime records, including Show & A.G.’s Soul Clap EP (1992), their full-length debut Runaway Slave (1992), followed by Goodfellas in 1995. Show & A.G.’s next project, Full Scale, arrived in 1998 and featured appearances from O.C., KRS-One, Big Pun, the Ghetto Dwellas and verses from members of D.I.T.C. including Diamond D, Big L and Lord Finesse.

In 2002 a CD version titled Full Scale LP (using the same artwork) was released with 10 additional tracks which had originally been released on various 12" singles and projects in the late 1990s. The project had never been released on vinyl in its entirety – until now.
Production on Full Scale was handled by Showbiz and A.G. except for "Time To Get This Money" which was produced by long-time collaborator Ahmed, and "Hold Mines" and "Hidden Crates" which were produced by DJ Greyboy.

The assortment of guest features doesn’t detract from A.G., a masterful emcee with a no-nonsense style that is simple but impactful. Full Scale follows the tried and true blueprint from Show & AG’s earlier classics cementing its place in hip hop history.

After the release of debut record Gris-Gris, Dr. John found himself in a strange and awkward position. The US was deep into the Vietnam War, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were fresh in the public memory. On top of that, Dr. John was being pursued by various Los Angeles authorities for a handful of criminal offenses. It was, in his own words: "a heavy time for me." Much like Sly & The Family Stone's There's A Riot Goin' On, Dr. John's follow-up album Babylon would be a reflection of the chaotic and tumultuous time that he was living in. He and band dove deeper into the voodoo-inflected psychedelic rock and R&B of Gris-Gris, while touching upon elements of free jazz and Captain Beefheart-style avant garde. As with his debut record, production was handled by the legendary Harold Battiste, and much of the same session personnel who performed on it returned for Babylon, including Plas Johnson on saxophone, Alvin Robinson on guitar, and backing vocals from Jessie Hill, Shirley Goodman, and Tami Lynn. Babylon stands out as one of Dr. John's most overtly political albums, and is a singularly murky and darkly entrancing record in his discography. A psychedelic swamp of apocalyptic lyrical content, drunk, disorienting experimentation, and a fascinating entry into Dr. John's catalogue well-worthy of his expansive legacy. Get On Down is all too eager to reissue this unique record for Record Store Day Black Friday, which has not been repressed on vinyl in over 40 years. In keeping with the album's hallucinogenic sound, it is presented on trippy splattercolored vinyl, and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket.Shuggie Diamonds is my ‘singing’ and ‘more soulful’ alter ego, so the title The Diamond Report is based off that. The nickname was given to me by my brother, the late, great Guru. My music is also a form of me dropping jewels; I have always been a diamond in the rough.” - Big Shug on his new album, The Diamond Report Boston rap stalwart Big Shug blends equal parts raw soul and grimy street rap on The Diamond Report, an album that’s bursting with life and character from an emcee who exudes longevity. With decades in the game, the Gang Starr Foundation co-founder continues to sound hungry and passionate with his art, and it’s led to one of his strongest album showings yet. After delivering smooth vocals on the opening track, Shug hits your ear like a freight train on the bombastic “EMF” that’s produced by longtime collaborator DJ Premier. A lyrical middle-finger to “every motherf*cker” who’s ever doubted or crossed him, the single also received the video treatment from director Myster DL. It puts the focus directly on Shug and his rhymes, and it actually sets the tone for the remainder of The Diamond Report. At 20 tracks deep, the album plays like a highlight reel of all of Shug’s artistic strengths. On “Doing My Sh*t,” he kicks back and oozes confidence as he croons over the Thir(13)teen-produced instrumental. And then on the Lil Fame-produced “Keep It Cool,” he’s back in bruiser mode alongside M-Dot, B.A.M and International Dreez. Shug also embodies the wise hip-hop sage on several cuts, including standouts “Old Man Rapper” and closer “You Ain’t About It.” But it’s on the lyrically charged “Stay The Course” that everything hits hardest. With Elevated Music’s snarling beat as his canvas, Shug takes aim at Trump, big ups Colin Kaepernick, and spits rewind-worthy bars like: “I still hustle, that’s how I was raised/ When I started out they said rap was a phase/ 20 years later, I still get paid/ While some of y’all clowns, still get played.” It’s a powerful reminder of exactly who Shug is, where he comes from, why he’s still here, and why everyone needs to be paying attention. To paraphrase the man himself, it may be 20 years later, but Shug’s pen is as sharp and necessary as ever.

Black Metal was the forecast of what was to come with the introduction of La Coka Nostra. Non Phixion front man ILL BILL had recently joined up with Danny Boy, Slaine and others to start working on a new powerhouse group. With friends from both coasts like Sick Jacken, Q-Unique, Killah Priest, Jeru The Damaja, O.C. and more joining in, this release takes a look at the music BILL was recording after Non Phixion disbanded and as LCN was forming.

Non Phixion’s album “The Future Is Now” is a true classic. Utilizing beats that would do Dr. Octagon-era Dan “The Automator” proud and rhyming schemes that bring to mind early Wu-Tang Clan or mid-’90s Gang Starr, Non Phixion exposes the sound of true underground hip-hop. This is music that reflects the sound and attitude of countless rappers selling their albums out of the back of their cars or in booths on the street, cutting together dirty and disjointed sounds with a confidence and quality that is unique to this particular genre. This would all be for nothing if it wasn’t for the excellent raps from Ill Bill, Goretex, and Sabac Red, a trio of rappers who have a Tribe Called Quest-like chemistry. Their clever lyrics, respectable skills, and rough voices make this an intense and dark landmark in alternative rap.

Only one copy per customer!

Smoke On Records announces the album "Unreleased Siccness" by Brain Sick Mob. The CD version contains the two bonus tracks "Here is the Proof" and "Strugglin".

Just one year after the release of Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds’ compilation, Favorite Recordings presents the 2nd edition of its acclaimed series.

At the control this time is French DJ and producer Charles Maurice, digging again in his collection and travelling to Brazil for the occasion in order to find some local hidden treasures. The result comes as nine additional obscure hits from the Brazilian Funk-Boogie-Disco scene during the years of 1977 to 1984.

At that time musicians and arrangers such as Lincoln Olivetti, Robson Jorge, and Oberdan Magalhães along with Banda Black Rio were responsible for the new music scene. They’d dominated the studios with sophisticated and original arrangements that have forever transformed Brazilian musical. This music, at that point, had gained a new style and great international respect that has remained still.

Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds Vol.2 pays tribute to this great era, coming out in a deluxe vinyl edition with old-school tip-on jacket, including notes and original artworks.

Ain’t only a simple compilation of rare and unreleased tracks, it’s rather a musical documentation of a group that has been staying in its lane creating raw, uncut, and uncompromising Bronx flavor for more than two decades now. So this 20-track strong album includes the rare 12" single only "Freestyle Demolition" from 1994, rare old and unavailable on CD tracks, unreleased joints and instrumentals plus 3 brand new bangers ("For You", "Stereo", "Stereo [Remix]"), produced by The Legion, Buckwild, and Confidence.

Mood is a hip hop group based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, composed of rappers Main Flow, Donte, and record producer Jahson. They first came to prominence with the Hi-Tek produced single "Hustle on the Side" in 1996. Their 1997 album "Doom" (Blunt/TVT) featured production by a young Hi-Tek and a guest appearance by Talib Kweli. In 2000 they appeared on "Mission Control Presents", a compilation which featured acts associated with producer Jahson and his record label Mission Control.

Now in 2011 they return with "Live Again". Donte and Main Flow spit thought provoking conscious lyrics over deep, melodic well-crafted tracks produced by Jahson & co-produced by BBG. This album is soon to be a classic, providing listeners with a positive vibe and hard hitting lyrics, bringing an essential breath back into the now commercially drowned Hip Hop music scene. Features cameos by J.Sands of Lone Catalysts, Holmskillet, Ragga, Ianigma and others.

'Illmatic' is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas, released in April 1994. Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, 'Illmatic' is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Hip-hop fans accustomed to 73-minute opuses sometimes complain about 'Illmatic''s brevity, but even if it leaves you wanting more, it's also one of the few '90s rap albums with absolutely no wasted space. 'Illmatic' reveals a great lyricist in top form meeting great production, and it remains a perennial favorite among serious hip-hop fans.

2CD set incl. 23 b-sides, rarities & remixes from the vaults of Death Row!!!

After his previous albums with The Project Crew and Papa Chuk (both also recovered and remastered by Dust & Dope), DJ Cassanova assembled this Gravediggaz-influenced crew at the Fort Hood military base in Killeen, Texas. The members hailed from all over the country: One Son from Alabama, Dot Nice from Queens and Madd Scripts from Chicago. They came together for Welcome To the Morgue, a one-off 8-song hardcore EP in 1995 that Dust & Dope are proud to present in full for the first time ever on CD, including the D.Rebel produced "Put Up or Shut Up", plus a previously unreleased bonus track "Lyrical Homicide".



Limited edition run of 200 replicated CDs. Booklet features liner notes by Werner von Wallenrod in interview with DJ Cassanova. Mastering by Jee Van Cleef + Adam Boose. Cover art by Spek The Architek.

Waxwork Records is thrilled to present TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES PART III Original Motion Picture Score by composer John Du Prez. Released in 1993, the third film score installment of the original ninja turtles trilogy is finally available on CD for the first time ever and features new artwork by co-creator Kevin Eastman!

Taking place two years after the events of Secrets of the Ooze, our ninja turtle heroes Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael are transported back to feudal Japan by an ancient magical scepter. There they must rescue their friend April O’Neil and defeat the evil Lord Norinaga.

As beloved comic characters and Saturday morning cartoon staples, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have become cultural icons. With this film, the Turtles cap off an action-packed trilogy with the same humor, heart, and martial-arts skills that fans have come to love.

In collaboration with composer John Du Prez and original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, Waxwork Records is proud to present the complete and official score to the 1993 action comedy for the first time ever on CD! Featuring new art by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman himself, this deluxe release is a must have for any turtle fan.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES PART III Original Score Features:

The Complete 1993 Film Score By John Du Prez
New Artwork By TMNT Co-Creator Kevin Eastman

* Music by Various Artists * Manufactured in Czech Republic * Available on 140 gram Desert Yellow Vinyl and CD

When it came to assembling the songs from the film that would ultimately be compiled into the Don’t Worry Darling (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Wilde reached out to two-time Grammy Award-winning music supervisor Randall Poster, whom she calls “one of the all-time greatest.” The director and Poster crossed paths while working on the Martin Scorsese/Mick Jagger executive-produced series “Vinyl.” Wilde supplies, “Randy has an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and I really wanted to place the audience in this era through music. It’s such a great time for music and Randy and I had a lot of fun building the soundtrack, using so many of the songs I’ve been waiting for a long time to put into a movie. And what made it such a fun experience to be in the world of this movie was to dance to this wonderful music.”

This various artists compilation is an incredible mix of 50’s and 60’s classics by artists such as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, The Chords, Mel Tormé and more. These standards are essential for any collector, whether you be a part of the Victory Project, or at home in 2022. This comp also features an original song performed by the film’s leads Alice and Jack. Package design by Mondo’s Creative Director Mo Shafeek.

Stakes is High is the 4th studio album by De La Soul, released on July 2, 1996. Stakes is High was critically lauded for its music, lyricism, and its overall message concerning the artistic decline rap music began to face in the mid-90s. The title track and first single was produced by J Dilla and the album's second single, "Itzsoweezee (HOT)", with only Dave on vocals, was accompanied by a creative music video. The album spawned a third single "4 More", featuring Zhane. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rapper and actor Mos Def, who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat" and Common who is featured on "The Bizness".

•7" vinyl •Lyric insert •Blue and pink swirled 7" •Download card

Sxint Chris delivers his first work of 2021 with this new album, "Roaring 20's". This project serves as a reflection of the chaotic 2020's so far, paying homage to the 1920's Harlem Renaissance Movement. Chris stays true to his lyrical & family roots, giving the audience something to think on - this time over Arkin-produced, jazz-laced beats.



The CD version will be limited to only 120 copies!

* Composed by John Powell * Artwork by Jack Hughes * Manufactured in Czech Republic *

The Don’t Worry Darling (Score from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) showcases all new music from Academy Award- and three-time Grammy Award-nominated composer John Powell (“Happy Feet,” “How To Train Your Dragon,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story”). When it came to composing the score, Powell first viewed the assemblage without any sound, only the dialogue. Director Olivia Wilde remembers, “Then he said to me, ‘This movie is more romantic than you are letting it be. Let the score be something that sweeps our hearts away.’ He said that if we played with something more romantic, and used percussion to feel like a heartbeat… by bringing in the world of the orchestra he made it much more emotionally impactful. This was my first experience being able to be with a composer conducting the orchestra, creating the score. I was overwhelmed with that moment, like a kid in a candy store.”

The perfect counterpoint to the sunny and lovestuck soundtrack album, the score properly presents the reality of the film’s protagonist. Composer John Powell creates some truly disorienting horrifying soundscapes to underscore the psychological terror of Alice (Florence Pugh) and her journey of discovery in the world of the Victory project.

DJ Og-s is back with another killer dope selection of rare hip-hop recordings from the early 90’s! This mixtape is dedicated to all Hip-Hop headz around da world who love the 90’s golden rap era. No less than 25 demo/promo cassettes digitalized and mixed by DJ Og-s with a total playing time of 64 min 46 sec.



Limited to only 100 copies on CD and 75 copies on tape!

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t Feelin’ Bitchy until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ’60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jim i Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album Bitches Brew.

But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapt on as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.

Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual “Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” (later sampled by Ice Cube). Her follow up is full of classic cuts like “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” and the hilarious, hard, deep funk of “He Was A Big Freak.”

In their 25-plus years as a duo, Atmosphere's rapper Slug and producer Ant have built a legacy that is embedded in the fabric of underground hip-hop. Rising in the ranks of Minneapolis, their debut album, Overcast! was released in 1997. Presented as a flurry of vignettes, and paired with an unending touring schedule, the album was a springboard from which the group was able to become a fixture in the midwest music scene. It wasn't long before their songwriting evolved from telling inventive third-person tales to delivering introspective first-person eviscerations, and by the early 2000's Slug would jokingly birth the phrase "emo rap" in an interview before publications began running with the genre tag to describe them and others. In the decades since their debut, Atmosphere has maintained a course of rigorous output, releasing over two dozen studio albums, EP's and collaborative side projects in as many years. The venerated duo have built a legacy out of bringing honesty, humility and vulnerability to the forefront of their music. Slug has proven masterful at storytelling and writing compelling narratives, leaving a trail of his own influence while paying homage to the rappers and songwriters that helped shape him. Meanwhile, Ant has skillfully molded the soundtracks with inspiration from soul, funk, rock, reggae, and the wizardry of hip-hop's pioneering DJ's and producers, creating his own trademark sounds and providing the pulse for songs about life, love, stress and setbacks. At its essence, Atmosphere has been a musical shepherd, guiding generations of listeners through this thing called life. Their newest album, 2023's So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously, captures perhaps some of Atmosphere's most personal work to date. The odyssey opens with a gentler approach than recent works, with the lead-off track "Okay" seemingly focused on comforting and reassuring the listener. As Slug raps over one of the most twinkling productions Ant has ever released, the song lays the groundwork for an album-length exercise in fumbling consciousness. Yet, as gently as the album begins, there's an unmistakable sense of unease from the outset that continues to evolve throughout the project, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe. From the subtle panic at the heart of songs like "Dotted Lines" to the overt anxiety of songs like "In My Head," the unease across tracks is unmistakable. Yet, as the tears might begin to well, they find resolve again through songs like "Still Life," whose hopeful outlook undercuts the tensity of the album. All the while, the rhythms on So Many Other Realities are some of the most inventive of Atmosphere's career. Ant's playful percussion on "In My Head" acts as a nice counterweight to the roiling writing, while the drum patterns on "Holding My Breath" and "Bigger Pictures" allow Slug to play with his flow to emphasize the anxiety driving the record. Where previous records in this most recent act of Atmosphere's career have been focused on emphasizing the parts of life that carry the most meaning_family, brotherhood, purpose_So Many Other Realities is an almost unnerving excavation of paranoia inspired by the general malaise of a pandemic weary society full of civil unrest. The tension in these songs is palpable, but the album's mere presence is a testament to the hope that has to underpin even the most stressed out epiphanies. The greatest risk Atmosphere has continued to take across their career is that of being vulnerable and unafraid. The world has inconceivably changed since Slug and Ant entered into the underground hip-hop scene, but despite the seismic shifts in music and culture, they've held strong to a foundation rooted in sly innovation and truth. The duo's relentless release & touring schedules only tell a piece of the story, but spending time with their records_whether you're a new fan or a longstanding listener_reveals a pair of friends who love to create and live for unabashed self-expression. Their bare reflections on life and the mundane traumas and joys that make living worthwhile are a gift, and that is Atmosphere's legacy in and of itself. If the music stopped tomorrow, the duo would go down as two quiet titans who changed the course of everyman rap forever.

Waxwork Records is proud to present the complete ÆON Flux Original Series Soundtrack box set by Drew Neumann. Officially available for the very first time in any format, the soundtrack to the groundbreaking animated series is now available as a deluxe 6xLP box set, multi-disc CD set, and across all digital streaming services today, February 17th, 2023. In partnership with ÆON Flux creator, artist, and director Peter Chung, composer Drew Neumann, and MTV, Waxwork Records assembled a comprehensive box set experience featuring the complete soundtrack music from all 21 ÆON Flux episodes sourced from the composer’s original masters.

Originally airing from September 1991 through October 1995, ÆON Flux is an avant-garde science fiction animated television series that inspired live action films, video games, and comic books. It premiered on MTV’s Liquid Television experimental animation show as a six-part serial of short films, followed in 1992 by five individual short episodes. In 1995, a season of ten half-hour episodes aired as a stand-alone series.

The original and innovative series featured elements of science fiction, allegory, dystopian and spy fiction, psychological drama, and psychedelic imagery. ÆON Flux is set in a surreal futuristic universe. The setting comprises a bizarre dystopia populated by mutants, clones, and robots, set within the separated border wall cities of Monica and Bregna. The title character is a tall, sexy, dominatrix secret agent from the city of Monica that is skilled in espionage, assassination, and acrobatics. Her mission is to infiltrate and destroy the strongholds of the city of Bregna which is led by her sworn enemy, and sometimes lover, Trevor Goodchild.

About the Composer

The music and sound design of ÆON Flux was created by Drew Neumann. Neumann is an American composer and musician of film and television scores. He studied film, animation, and composition at the California Institute of Arts where he first met and began a longtime friendship with Peter Chung. He has composed music for Disney, E!, Nickelodeon, MTV, Mattel, Paramount Pictures, Cartoon Network, and trailers for feature films. In addition, he has contributed sound design and music composition for a variety of hardware synthesizers, sound libraries, and software and computer products. Neumann works closely with and consults for synthesizer companies such as 1010 Music LLC, Arturia, Studio Electronics, Ensoniq, Oberheim, Sequential, UDO, Waldorf, and Moog.

About the Creator

Peter Chung is a Korean American writer and director of animated films. In addition to creating ÆON Flux, Chung’s directing credits include The Animatrix, and the Cartoon Network feature Firebreather. He served as art director for the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and as designer and director for the Nickelodeon series Rugrats. Chung has also directed commercials for Levi’s, Pepsi, Honda, Jaguar, Sony, and many others. He currently teaches a Master Class at the Division of Animation and Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

ÆON Flux Original Series Soundtrack Box Set Features:

Waxwork Records worked closely with both Drew Neumann and Peter Chung to create the comprehensive ÆON Flux Original Series Soundtrack box set. All artwork elements were provided to Waxwork by Peter Chung from his own personal archive. The deluxe multi-disc set features:

The complete series music by composer Neumann remastered from the original masters 3xCDs The full box set contains original artwork by Peter Chung A 40-page book that includes: Exclusive liner notes by Peter Chung An extensive essay by Drew Neumann Chung’s original, never-seen-before storyboards and sketches, character design drawings, and much more

Mike Lazarev drops his first album on Past Inside the Present and it's one that reminds us why he has such a great reputation as being one of modern ambient and classical's finest composers. After exploring notions of time on previous records, for this one, he embraces the here and now and that lends itself to a record steeped in mindfulness and meditation. As such, Sacred Tonalities is a perfect accompaniment to introspective moments with textural soundscapes placing you at the centre of them. The harmonics range from soft to gritty, the moods occasionally hint at trance and the layers of bass, piano and arps bring subtle and ever-shifting rhythms.

The Aleksi Heinola Quartet presents a new take on vintage hard-bop with their latest record, featuring original compositions and reinterpretations of works by iconic jazz greats. Impeccable musicianship, groovy swing, and a distinct sense of style are on display, with Gábor Bolla on tenor sax, Jukkis Uotila on piano, and Daniel Franck on double bass. This quartet date is not to be missed!

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

Brilliant Live Adventures contains six exclusive and limited edition live albums providing an exciting snapshot of three Bowie tours from the 1990s. 30 years into his professional live career, these albums show how great a performer Bowie still was.

OUVREZ LE CHIEN was recorded live at the Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, 13th October, 1995 during the US leg of the Outside tour and is released on CD here for the very first time as a strictly limited number.

The album was produced by David Bowie & recorded by Steve Guest. *Mixed by David Richards at Mountain Studios, Switzerland, assisted by Sam Curtis. The musicians are David Bowie –vocals and saxophone, Carlos Alomar –rhythm guitar, Reeves Gabrels –lead guitar and vocals, Gail Ann Dorsey –bass and vocals, Zachary Alford –drums, Peter Schwartz -keyboards and synthesisers, George Simms –vocals, Mike Garson –piano and keyboards.

Completely unreleased until now, LOOK AT THE MOON! Is the fourth in the Brilliant Live Adventures series of 90s live albums exclusive to Dig!

Recorded live at The Phoenix Festival, Long Marston, England on 20th July, 1997, LOOK AT THE MOON! features such previously unreleased rarities as a cover of Laurie Anderson’s ‘O Superman’, which the band had also played at their secret show as 'The Tao Jones Index’ show at the festival the previous day.

LOOK AT THE MOON! by David Bowie; David Bowie – vocals, guitar, saxophone, Zachary Alford - drums, Gail Ann Dorsey - bass, vocals, lead vocal on ‘O Superman’, keyboards, Reeves Gabrels – guitars, synthesisers, vocals, musical director, Mike Garson – piano, keyboards, synthesisers.

It might blow up, but it won't go pop!

De La Soul’s third studio release, Buhloone Mindstate, released on September 21, 1993, saw the group evolve into a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. There were several moments on the album which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by Maceo Parker. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr (sdp). The album's first single, "Breakadawn", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr's Guru on "Patti Dooke", and female MC Shortie No Mas who was prominent on many tracks on the album and showcased particularly on "In The Woods". The album ended with an old school Biz Markie collaboration called "Stone Age".

Texan country blues kingpin Lightnin’ Hopkins was rated one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Billboard, and was a notable influence on Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. Recordings for Aladdin and Gold Star cemented his reputation, and after performing at Carnegie Hall with Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, ‘Mojo Hand’ was a breakthrough hit. The superb 1961 LP Lightnin’ (The Blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins) benefits from the understated presence of King Curtis’ drummer, Belton Evans, and jazz bassist Leonard Gaskin, placing Hopkins’ guitar licks and raspy voice at centre stage, playfully relating heartbreak and woe.

Modal Analysis proudly presents Het Zweet - Archives Volume 1: 1982-1988, a compilation of the Dutch outsider legend painstakingly picked from over 100 hours of unheard tape. An early electronic pioneer who deployed an array of homemade instruments alongside synths and a tape recorder to craft his searching sound, Marien Van Oers occupies a lonely branch on the tree of this music's early efforts, sliding between pounding industrial grooves, ambient fragments, and extended, entrancing compositions bridging this divide. Most closely akin to Muslimgauze, Test Dept. or Fad Gadget, who shared his outsider practice while remaining thoroughly entrenched in contemporary sounds, Het Zweet is striking for his diversity and for its meticulous composition, formed of carefully arranged layers of sonic detritus culled from his collection of homemade devices and electronic distortions. Finally rising to greater exposure since his death in 2013, Modal Analysis passionately continues this mission with our first volume of archives dedicated to the memory of this bold innovator gone before his time.

Bay Area Rap from Pittsburg, CA produced by G-Man Stan. Tape only release from 1995 for the first time on CD.

Rubinho E Mauro Assumpção's 'Perfeitamente, Justamente Quando Cheguei' has to be up there as one of the finest Brazilian-psych-folk-MPB records we know. Unfortunately, it's very hard to find in the wild; even on digging trips to Brazil, an original copy rarely shows up, and when it does, it comes with a hefty price tag.

This highly sought-after rarity was released on the Brazilian label Tapecar Records in 1972 and is the one and only album by the sensational pairing of Rubinho and Mauro Assumpção. Effortlessly blending folk, MPB, funky-psych, rock, and relaxed, swaggering samba, this record ought to be heralded as a true Brazilian classic. However, maybe due to its scarcity and the previous reissue predominantly being only available to the Brazilian market, it has not had a chance to fully shine and find the wider audience it deserves. Through our reissue we hope to put things right. Fans of records by Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges are sure to enjoy the same magic and allure in 'Perfeitamente, Justamente Quando Cheguei'.

In addition to being the album’s songwriters, Mauro Assumpção took on the role of producer and Rubinho was co-producer as well as playing piano, organ, acoustic guitar and performing vocals. The record features the drummer Gegê who worked with Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, Nana Caymmi, Dom Um Romão and more. It also features guitarist Rick Ferreira, who played with Erasmo Carlos, Gal Costa and other greats. Rounding off the players on the album are Darcy Da Cruz and Formiga who have graced many a fine recording on horns.

'Perfeitamente, Justamente Quando Cheguei' is a truly stunning work that washes over you with beauty. Delve in and savour.

Heralded by the “Soul Drum” 12” EP (scep507, 2022), Gerardo Frisina’s new double record “Joyful Sound” represents another step forward on his ongoing travel towards new musical paths. Joyful sounds narrate a journey made of wisely distilled notes, bright and sometimes mysterious atmospheres, harmonies that wander through shadows, silences, and lights. A chameleonic Gerardo enchants with every release, mixing jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban sounds, oriental fragrances, electronic beats, tribal percussions, funky variations and, to summarize, elegant symphonic arrangements with refined mastery. “Joyful Sound” once again sees the participation of the late Enzo Frassi (double bass), Fabrizio Bernasconi (piano, Rhodes), Gendrickson Mena (trumpet, piano), Alfonso Deidda (sax, flute) and Ernesto Lopez (drums, percussion), with the addition of Piero Perelli on drums and Giovanni Guerretti on piano, Hammond and Rhodes. This new record, carefully orchestrated and produced by Gerardo, required over a year of intense work, however it is worth every second of its 75 minutes of music. As the great Charles Mingus once said, “Play it in the key of your soul”. Without a doubt, Gerardo always gives his soul in full!

Before Mahjun (of which Souffle Continu reissued, in 2016, the two albums released on Saravah), there was… Maajun. Five musicians (Jean-Pierre Arnoux, Cyril and Jean-Louis Lefebvre, Alain Roux and Roger Scaglia) and three times as many instruments at the service of an electric-poetic guerrilla group moulded from folk and blues. The group’s unique album, “Vivre la Mort du Vieux Monde” evokes an (imaginary) association of Frank Zappa and Jacques Higelin, of Sonny Sharrock and the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Under these conditions, Long Live Death!

“The most French of all the French groups, determined to take Maurice Chevalier’s place in American hearts.” This was how Rock&Folk presented Mahjun in 1977. So be it. But when “Vivre la Mort du Vieux Monde”, was issued, it was 1971, and the name, though the same group, was still spelled Maajun. So, let’s look back at the story. At the end of the sixties, five blues fans decided to form a French group ready to break down the barriers: Jean-Pierre Arnoux (drums, vibraphone, saxophone), Cyril Lefebvre (guitar, organ), Jean-Louis Lefebvre (bass, violin, guitar, vocals), Alain Roux (saxophone, flute, harmonica, vocals) and Roger Scaglia (guitar, vocals). This was Maajun, and Vivre la mort du vieux monde would be their only album, but which would (nevertheless) be followed by those of Mahjun created later by Lefebvre (Jean-Louis) and Arnoux. Recorded for the Vogue label, “Vivre la Mort du Vieux Monde” would disturb a number of people. This is mostly due to the lyrics, many of which were written by Gérald Escot-Bocanegra, who, while summoning the spirit of Lautréamont and Rimbaud, turned the Maajun musicians on to rock and free jazz. Add a bit of politics into the mix, and the release of the album was delayed for several months. But then, wasn’t it worth waiting for? Because “Vivre la Mort du Vieux Monde”, a real concept-album, is an important and iconoclastic statement made directly in the face of (francophone) dreamers of all countries. Over heavy guitar riffs, psychedelic interludes or fantasy-fuelled digressions, Maajun built mazes on the advice of alchemists known only to themselves before heading off on a long march on the “cracking walls”. It was an ambitious project, but Maajun could handle it, going so far as to proclaim: “Tomorrow will be a huge party!” But as we can see “tomorrow”, is now!

A two CD set containing Eliane Radigue's live performance of »Chry-Ptus« (1971), her first work for modular synthesizer, and the world premier of parts one and three of »Triptych« (1978) – Part 2« is also performed. Upon hearing these performances for the first time in many years Radigue declared them to be the best versions she'd ever heard. Radigue's sublime renderings of these major pieces are full of illusory stasis, slow change and dense, slow motion drone that has characterized her pioneering electronic work.