NTS Vinyl, CD & Tape 5 Items

2LP Gatefold release of the celebrated Amapiano Now compilation from NTS. Showcasing some of the most notable South African artists from the centre of the scene, from DBN Gogo to Vigro Deep, Mr JazziQ to Kamo Mphela. Whether lengthy hypnotic instrumentals with jazz indebted key solos or rugged township productions, Amapiano Now is a celebration of this essential sound and a document of the evolution of post-apartheid club sonics. Curated by Shannen SP & Joe Cotch, with NTS.

Unfortunaley the last batch of these arrived with ceased corners and therefor we sell it a bit cheaper. Since this is sold out by now it's gonna be the last chance in while. A wonderful compilation of downcast folk recordings, compiled by NTS, predominantly taken from private press releases from the US and UK between 1968-1980

In the early 1990s, a handful of black metal artists were enticed by the possibility of conjuring new fantastical worlds from the deep isolation of their home setups. Rather than the dense metal sound of their existing projects, this new direction would be centred around intimate synth soundscapes: forlorn organs and otherworldly Midi theatrics.

The music on Ascend is predominantly from self-produced, self-distributed releases, typically manufactured in small numbers. Though some artists producing this style of music, most notably Mortiis and Burzum, gained wider recognition outside underground circles, it is only in recent years that the sound and its influence has really been appreciated. This is particularly the case with the late Matthew Davis and his recently reappraised Secret Stairways project, whose song ‘Lammas Tide’ (from the 1997 Enchantment of the Ring album) appears on Ascend. A simple home recording on a Yamaha Kx-w392 manages to be both elegant and tortured, ambiguously devotional and recalling latter years Popol Vuh.

This battle between dark and light is a constant thread through Ascend, with simple minimal synth lines that can be both delicate and menacing. Compilation opener ‘The Dark Dreamquest’ from Italian black metal group Evol is loaded with occult warning, and Finnish act Kadotus 609’s ‘The Summoning Through Crimson’ is languid, twisted and dark. In spite of the darkness, several pieces of the music on Ascend have formal similarities with the sometimes saccharine new age music that rose to prominence in that era: but to a rougher, darker ends. The closing song from Darkthrone icon (and past NTS radio host) Fenriz, under his Neptune Towers pseudonym, pulls us further out, with ‘To Cold Void Desolation’ — an astral synth project, akin to ’70s kosmische muzik masters Harmonia.

The gentler side can often amplify an uncannily sinister edge, heard in German act Dolch’s ‘Tumulus’, where orc marching horns contrast against delicate rompler harps and softly whispered chanting. It hammers home a deep loneliness and detachment constant throughout Ascend, made possible by these unusual contrasts, both unsettling and otherworldly.

Discover the essential high tempo Singeli Sound that currently echoes throughout Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This accompanying release to the mini-documentary on the scene from NTS, focuses on two of the central studios in the scene and their singular takes on Singeli; with Pamoja, helmed by Duke, and the inimitable DJ Sisso

140g LP, High UV Gloss Gatefold Jacket and 60cm double-sided fold-out poster.. it's a big release! TIP!

Raised across multiple cities, Amaarae’s music reflects a life split between New Jersey, Atlanta and Accra. As indebted to raw Southern rap as it is dancehall, her work also holds echoes of glossy mall rock and bubblegum pop. Embraced and endorsed by the Nigerian Alté scene as it was exploding into action several years ago, THE Angel YOU Don’t Know is an exuberant opening statement from Amaarae, anchoring her sound in her heritage and myriad influences, channelled through female empowerment. Whilst working on the record, Amaarae’s reference points ranged from Paul Wall to Meat Puppets, reflected in the kaleidoscopic vision of the album, effortlessly jumping from the country trap of Fancy to an Afro-house comedown in 3AM. The vinyl release of Taydk is packaged in a UV gloss gatefold sleeve with double- sided poster insert. It features an exclusive remix of Fancy, featuring London rap royalty Bree Runway.

Press: "The future of Afro-pop” New Yorker “An instant classic” The Guardian “One of the most compelling new acts on any continent” Pitchfork