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Recent Best Sellers
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BEWITH 200LP
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Gap Mangione's monumentally influential Diana In The Autumn Wind. They said it could never be done. And with good reason. Be With has spent the past 12 years trying to license this legendary 1968 recording from Gap and, after much work, it's finally here. Remarkably, this is the first ever vinyl reissue of Gap Mangione's Diana In The Autumn Wind, produced with the full and extensive participation of Gap. An exceedingly rare album, it's been coveted by funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop sample fiends for decades. It's unarguably the most sought-after album for J Dilla/Madlib sample collectors. It has also been brilliantly sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Large Professor, Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar, and Talib Kweli. But this record is so much more than a sample-spotters curio. It's solid gold throughout. Bursting with killer funky-jazz grooves and tracks adorned with warm electric piano, the release is notable for featuring some extremely significant players at the very outset of their careers; Tony Levin, at 21, whose superb playing on both acoustic and electric bass was the harmonic mainstay of the trio and Steve Gadd, at 23, one of the greatest drummers of his generation. Gap's story is told in his words alongside rare photos across a sumptuously designed two-page insert and, to augment this deluxe edition further, it's all wrapped up in a beautiful, no-expense-spared luxury tip-on sleeve, as per the original hens-teeth release. The tracks are short but complex, with that extraordinary rhythm section backing the beautiful piano, organ and electric piano work of Gap. It's a stunning blend of the vibrant, driving music of the Gap Mangione Trio coupled with the sensitive composition and superb orchestration of Gap's legendary brother, Chuck Mangione, who helmed an amalgam of seemingly disparate elements -- rock, big band jazz, solo improvisation and "classical" music -- into a spectacularly cohesive whole that has aged wonderfully well. As Gap himself notes in the liners, "with this group I was able to explore and add new and exciting elements from rock, Brazilian and then-current pop music." Under the watchful eye -- and extremely attentive ears -- of Gap Mangione himself, the audio for Diana In The Autumn Wind has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, with a few much-needed tweaks here and there, according to the artist's wishes. At the prestigious Abbey Road Studios, Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at the always stellar Record Industry in Holland.
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ZORN 085LP
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First time reissue of Japan/US free jazz rarity. Old-style gatefold LP with rare photographs and liner notes by Ed Hazell. Edition of 1000. The 1970s were Marion Brown's most searching decade, a period during which he sought to move beyond the free jazz of the previous era and find more personal approaches to structuring improvisation and composition. After leaving New York for Europe in 1967, Brown began reshaping his music into what he described as "a more deliberate kind of music that had more structure to it," pacing it so that moods and modes could develop over time. Albums such as In Sommerhausen, Afternoon of a Georgia Faun, Geechee Recollections, and Sweet Earth Flying trace this evolution: rhythmic structures moved to the foreground, harmony receded, and composition became a matter of orchestrating interlocking rhythmic parts as one would polyphonic lines. Released in 1976, Awofofora is an overlooked but crucial entry in that sequence. At the time, its use of funk and reggae beats, electric guitars, and grooves drawn from contemporary Black popular music led some to misread it as a jazz-rock detour. In retrospect, it is entirely consistent with Brown's methodology. As he admired in the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the stimulus comes from within the community. Here Brown filters Afro-Caribbean rhythms and funk through his own sensibility, abstracting their structural qualities rather than adopting surface style. "La Placita," making its first recorded appearance, layers distinct rhythmic phrases in a manner reminiscent of African drum ensembles, over which Brown and trumpeter Ambrose Jackson spin extended improvisations. The standard "Flamingo" is reshaped through diasporic rhythm and lyrical soloing, while "Pepi's Tempo" and "Mangoes" harness crisp funk and reggae grooves to generate what Brown called a "manifestation of community" through collective improvisation. Even the overdubbed solo feature "And Then They Danced" reflects his structural thinking, ingeniously re-voicing a duet composition for two alto saxophones performed by one player. This was the only recording by a short-lived band that briefly polarized audiences during festival appearances in 1976. Yet Brown consistently sought unity across change: different sounds, same principles -- rhythm as structure, melody as architecture, collective improvisation, and above all, the primacy of tone. Awofofora stands not as a departure, but as a vivid synthesis of the elements he had been refining since the late 1960s, its grooves and golden alto lines conveying a sound drawn, in his words, "from life and from the world of experience."
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ABDT 063LP
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Alan Bishop's solo persona appears again from his now 15-year-old home of Cairo where it was recorded in and around many other projects over the past few years. And unlike his more recent singer/songwriter material, Malarial Dream drifts closer to latter day Sun City Girls (Mister Lonely/Funeral Mariachi) amidst a melodic Middle Eastern and beyond psych-warped folk setting. Mostly instrumental and, except for two obscure covers, original compositions that feature a cast of extraordinary players: Adham Zidan, Aya Hemeda, Cherif El Masri, and Morgan Mikkelsen (The Invisible Hands), Maurice Louca and Sam Shalabi (The Dwarfs of East Agouza), Amelie Legrand, Asher Gamedze, Eyvind Kang, Hana Al Bayaty, Huda Asfour, and Sammy Sayed. LP Limited to 500 copies. Produced by Alvarius B. and Adham Zidan.
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SF 132LP
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Recorded live on location, this is a style of music unlike anything you have ever heard before and the first album of the Himba people's music ever released from northwest Namibia. From the album's producer and recordist, Ian Brennan: "The Namib desert is the oldest in the world. Therefore, the driest. Italian-Rwandan photographer, Marilena Umuhoza Delli and I had come to record with possibly the most photographed people on earth, the Himba -- to listen rather than gaze at them as if on display. To share their voices as a counter to their visual objectification, particularly the inappropriate eroticization of the women who customarily go topless throughout daily life. We had to stress multiple times that we did not want the musicians to don touristic tribal costumes -- quite possibly the first music project in history that urged performers to cover-up rather than pleading with artists to expose more flesh. But it was to no avail. When the assigned hour arrived, the men all ditched the baseball caps and soccer jerseys that they routinely wear. And for the women, the reality is that they almost without exception keep their torsos bare, even in winter. We had to acquiesce. Forcing the issue would have only been the flipside of inauthenticity. The featured, traditional instrument is the Cattle Gun. It's rarely found these days and therefore, costly. Made from the lengthy horn of an Oryx and coated in mud, it is blown, resulting in a breathy, rattled tone. Via the use of live looping on three of the album's tracks, psychedelic vocal tapestries were created as if snatched from the ever-shifting skies that enshrined the valley from all sides. But even more esoteric results arose from members cupping hands over mouth to create chorusing and flanging effects sans electricity or gear. Rather than 'primitive' or traditional, the Himba music making is imbued with innovation and timelessness.' Limited edition pressing of 500 vinyl copies with four-page color insert including photos of the musicians and liner notes by Grammy-award winning producer and author, Ian Brennan.
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2LP
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BEC 5772110
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2026 repress. Justice's highly-acclaimed debut album from 2007. French-only vinyl version, in deluxe gatefold sleeve. Retreating to their underground post-nuclear shelter/studio, French duo Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay worked on their first album as if their lives depended on it. The result is a mind-fuck of an album that proves that Justice's unique talent is to be found where least expected. Take for example "Let There Be Light" and its strident, angry electro, driven by a jabbing bassline; "D.A.N.C.E," a pure piece of vicious house sung innocently by a choir of children; "Newjack," a funky parody of the opulent times of the French Touch; "Phantom," taking over where "Waters Of Nazareth" left off to drift towards "Phantom Pt. II" and its head-swirling disco violins; "Valentine," an erotic, melancholic nursery rhyme, like a tribute to Vladimir Cosma and "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy," a pure electro-funk track where the sexy Uffie plays more than ever the cheeky Lolita. Justice have thrown established rules out the window (the notion of good and bad taste, the thin line between underground and pop music, the pigeon hole labeling between rock and electro, etc.) with a fantastic talent for synthesizing and mixing their influences with total candor, be it the cosmic disco of Larry Levan or Vladimir Cosma's panty-wetting romantics, Camel's prog rock or the anxious theme of Goblin for Dario Argento, to the flashy funk of the Brothers Johnson or "ABC" by the Jackson 5. Cross isn't a collection of random dancefloor singles. Cross is for listening at home or in clubs. Cross is a link between pop at its purest and experimental music. Cross brings together hardcore elements and cheese. Cross makes the Goths link arms with the rave kids. A generational manifest, ideally positioned on the side of the dancefloor, Cross, insolent with youth, is a testimony that the French electro scene is healthier than ever.
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PL 195LP
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LP version. Finally back in print! Originally released by EMI's Pathé Marconi imprint in 1969, People in Sorrow -- a 40-minute work by the four-piece lineup of Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Lester Bowie, and Malachi Favors -- has long been unavailable on vinyl and CD, and then only in hard-to-find European and Japanese issues. It is arguably the finest and most ambitious of the 14 studio albums recorded by the Art Ensemble during their 23-month sojourn in France, which launched the American group internationally. People in Sorrow can be viewed as the culminating event in the Art Ensemble's inventive and revolutionary approach to collective improvisation, counterpoising clamorous free-blowing intensity with expanses of hushed conversation on the group's immense arsenal of "little instruments." Fully licensed from Warner Music, and augmented with new liner notes by veteran U.S. music journalist Chris Morris, this release marks the long-awaited return of the record that Chicago-based writer, curator, and label operator John Corbett calls "one of the most luminous albums of creative music ever made." This edition faithfully recreates the first French Pathé-Marconi pressing of People in Sorrow (1969), which originally featured black graphics on a light (white or off-white) background and red Pathé-Marconi labels, rather than the yellow cover seen on later issues. The vinyl LP includes an inlay with detailed liner notes, while the CD Digipak (PL 195CD) comes with a 12-page booklet containing the same material. The album has been newly remastered by Moritz Illner (duophonic), who also handled play Loud!'s acclaimed reissue of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's Les Stances à Sophie.
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WRJ 002LP
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2026 repress. "Regular edition" on 140 gram vinyl. We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records' new sister-label) present the official reissue of criminally overlooked Japanese jazz gem Mellow Dream by Hokkaido pianist wunderkind Ryo Fukui, originally released in 1977. Released in conjunction with the its legendary predecessor 1976's Scenery (WRJ 001CD/LP/LTD-LP). Firmly standing on the foundation he laid down with Scenery, Ryo Fukui continues his exploration of modal, bop, and cool jazz sounds with meticulous grace and absolute mastery. As its title suggests, Mellow Dream ventures into slightly mellower, more soulful, and sometimes more contemplative territories (the Bill Evans-reminiscent "Mellow Dream" and "My Foolish Heart") while still packing the commanding punch Fukui's work is loved for, as heard on the amazingly bombastic "Baron Potato Blues" or the gigantic McCoy Tyner/John Coltrane-influenced "Horizon" which sees each member of the trio -- Satoshi Denpo is on bass and Yoshinori Fukui is on drums -- demonstrating their virtuosity for nine exhilarating minutes. With his sophomore album, Ryo Fukui swings from melancholy to vibrant joy with ease, and reminds you that jazz is best served with a pinch of blues, and displays an immensely rare combination of pure talent, unique personal approach and focused discipline. The man undeniably deserves a spot in the pantheon of all-time great jazz pianists. After releasing the outstanding Scenery and Mellow Dream back-to-back, Ryo Fukui worked on developing his live skills, often performing at Sapporo's Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui), and even releasing two live albums. He sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that all jazz lovers should explore. Sourced from the original masters. Mastered at half speed; 140 gram vinyl; includes sticker.
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ZORN 098LP
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First time reissue of free jazz rarity, pre-Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai group. Old-style gatefold LP with rare photographs and liner notes by Alan Cummings. Limited edition of 500. The single album self-released by the quartet Shūdan Sokai in 1977 is one of the most vital documents of mid-seventies Japanese free jazz, documenting Tokyo's free scene at the precise moment when it began to shift to a handful of tiny venues on the western fringes of the city. In free jazz in Japan, Teruto Soejima identifies the extant venue Aketa no Mise in Nishi-Ogikubo as the pioneer of this decamping from the center: a cramped basement beneath a rice shop, seating just 20 people. Among the most active of the new venues was Alone in Hachiōji, nearly an hour from Shinjuku, in a district shaped by universities, lower rents, and a thriving counterculture. Originally opened in 1973 as a jazu kissa, Alone was unusually spacious and equipped with a stage, grand piano, and drum kit. Around 1974, Junji Mori and Yasuhiro Sakakibara began working there, booking free jazz players on weekends and establishing the venue as a crucial hub. Mori recalls early appearances by figures including Kazutoki Umezu, Toshinori Kondo, and others who would define the scene. In early 1976, Umezu and pianist Yoriyuki Harada -- recently returned from New York's loft jazz environment, where they had played with musicians such as David Murray and William Parker -- formed Shūdan Sokai with Mori and drummer Takashi Kikuchi. The name, meaning "mass evacuation," pointed to their self-chosen exile in Hachiōji. With Alone as their home base, the quartet developed a music characterized by an infectious sense of enjoyment and a willingness to integrate free jazz with elements of song structure. Harada switched between piano and bass; the group experimented with rap-like vocal pieces, jabbering nursery rhymes over bass rhythms. They returned to Alone on December 24 to record Sono zen'ya (Eve), releasing it on their own Des Chonboo Records, partially funded by advertisements from local businesses printed on the rear cover. Alone closed in September 1977, and Shūdan Sokai soon dissolved, later morphing into the expanded Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai Orchestra. What remains is a recording rooted in a specific place and moment: a fiercely independent scene sustained by small rooms, close listening, and collective commitment.
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WWSLP 096LP
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2026 repress; LP version. Wewantsounds presents the release of one of Japan's most coveted albums of the '70s, Mangekyou by singer-songwriter Yoshiko Sai. Produced in 1975 by Master musician Yuji Ohno, the album features Yoshiko Sai's superbly crafted songs and crystal-clear voice over Ohno's lush, funky sound and breezy arrangements. A strong buzz has been growing around the album over the years and original copies now change hands for large sums of money. This is the first time Mangekyou is available outside of Japan, featuring remastered audio, original artwork and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Paul Bowler. Yoshiko Sai holds a unique status in the Japanese music landscape. The Japanese singer songwriter made a strong impression with her blend of ethereal melodies, poetic lyrics and crystalline singing. A private, almost enigmatic artist, Sai only made four highly praised albums during the '70s and all but retired from the music industry in 1979, which adds to the mystic surrounding her persona. Only thanks to the persistence of Japanese guitarist Jojo Hiroshige from the noise group Hijokaidan did she come out of retirement to record new material in the 2000s. She was originally noticed by key record labels and swiftly signed to Black Records/Teichiku. This led to the recording of Mangekyou ("Kaleidoscope"), in the Spring of 1975. While she penned all the material for Mangekyou, the arrangements were assigned to Ace producer Yuji Ohno, one of the top arrangers in Tokyo at the time. Ohno helped craft the album's superb funk sound and also played keyboards. The album displays Sai's unique craftmanship when it comes to songwriting and alternates between mid and up-tempo songs such as "Yoru No Sei" (Night Spirit) and "Fuyu No Chikadou" (Winter Underpass) and more atmospheric ballads such as "Tsubaki Wa Ochita Kaya" (Did The Camellia Fall?) or "Yukionna" (Snow Woman). It's worth noting Ohno blended his rich arrangements with elements of Japanese traditional music, with the use of such instruments as the Shakuhachi (bamboo flute), Tsuzumi (hand drum), and Biwa (wooden lute), giving the music its unique twist. All in all, listening to Mangekyou is a unique experience and it's easy to see why the album and Yoshiko Sai garnered such a cult following over the years.
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CT 115LP
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2026 restock.. Originally issued in 1973, Blackboard Jungle Dub is considered a milestone in the history of dub. Tracks include "African Skank" -- based on Junior Byles' "A Place Called Africa" -- and "Dreamland Skank", "Moving Skank" and "Kaya Skank" which are dub versions of Wailers" "Dreamland", "Keep On Moving" and "Kaya".
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BELA 009-1002LP
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Electrifying heavy sessions recorded in 1997 featuring the classic Mainliner + Musica Transonic lineup of Nanjo Asahito (High Rise), Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mother) and Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins) driving into new divergently fried terrain(s). Here, Nanjo and co. are on a quest to find new directions, and while the sessions were for an abandoned Mainliner album, a good portion of Solid Static hews more closely to the moment-to-moment deconstructions of Musica Transonic. The propulsive ten-minute opening title track is a lost gem in the canon of Japanese psychedelia and rock and roll -- beginning with one of Mainliner's bludgeoning motor-psycho riffs, it veers off into auratic space, Kawabata's snake-charming guitar weaving around Nanjo's buzz-fire bass and Yoshida's multi-limbed drumming. Musica Transonic's improvised and jazz-informed take on psychedelic rock is writ across the distended rhythms and arcing bass and guitar lines that scrawl across "Prosecutor" and "Topsy Turvy," or the slurry of distorted tone that rolls through "Rot Way." Available for the first time on LP or any physical form aside from a clutch of CDR's sold at a few live dates in the late '90s. Housed in a custom die-cut, "Uni-Pak" style gatefold with metallic ink, spot finishes and matching La Musica inner sleeve.
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CD
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WWSCD 121CD
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Hot on the heels of the Tokyo Bliss and Funk Tide sets, Tokyo-based DJ Notoya delivers Tokyo Pulse, a new juicy selection of funk and modern soul recorded in Tokyo in the '70s and '80s. Most tracks here are making their debut outside of Japan and the album, like its predecessors, has been designed by Manuel Sepulveda (Optigram) and is annotated by DJ Notoya. The audio has been newly mastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia Records and remastered for vinyl by Colorsound in Paris. Tokyo Pulse's lush funk selection open with the nocturnal groove of Naomi Chiaki's "Yoru E Isogu Hito," recorded in 1978. The track perfectly sets the mood with its laid-back tempo and late-night atmosphere. From there, Yumi Murata's "Ranhansha" (1979) brings a funkier touch, before the mellower funk of L-E-V-E-L's "Bagdad No Atari Nite" signals the stylistic shift toward the early 1980s. Side one closes with GAM's "Lake In The Forest," an elegant reggae-inflected piece from 1980, played by several musicians from the cult Arakawa Band. Side two opens with a leap into the late 1980s via Nami Shimada's "Mitsumeteirunoni," a superb mid-tempo electro-funk track. This is followed by the earthy folk-soul of Bread & Butter's "Memory," originally released in 1974 on Blow Up Records, and featuring a who's who of Japanese music, including Haruomi Hosono, Ray Ohara, Tatsuo Hayashi, and Shigeru Suzuki. Keyboardist Minoru Koyama's instrumental "After Image" adds a cinematic, fusion-leaning dimension, while Chikara Ueda & The Power Station's "Island Cuckoo," released in 1979 on Denon, injects a cool dose of Brazilian-tinged funk energy. The compilation closes with Higurashi's superb funk-folk track "Anata Wa Doko Ni Irundesuka," a reflective 1974 recording that brings the journey to a quietly emotional conclusion. Taken as a whole, Tokyo Pulse offers a vivid snapshot of Tokyo's evolving groove landscape, embracing a wide diversity of sounds that move fluidly between funk, modern soul, folk, reggae, electro, and jazz-inflected pop. Carefully curated by DJ Notoya, the album captures the subtle shifts in style, production, and mood that defined nearly fifteen years of Japanese music and stands as a new addition to Wewantsounds' ongoing series exploring Japan's rich musical heritage, reaffirming Tokyo's place as a city with a uniquely refined and forward-thinking musical pulse.
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WWSLP 050LP
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2026 repress. Wewantsounds present the first ever vinyl release of Ziad Rahbani's Houdou Nisbi recorded in 1985 and only released on cassette and CD in 1991. One of Rahbani's most praised albums, released on the sought-after Lebanese label Relax-in. Mixing Arabic music with funk, jazz, boogie and a touch of Brazilian music, it is considered a classic among Oriental groove fans, DJs and collectors around the world. Curated by Lebanese DJ and Journalist Ernesto Chahoud. Ziad Rahbani is one of the giants of Arabic music and a cultural icon in the Middle East. The musician, pianist and producer is also a celebrated playwright and a political activist. Coming out of an illustrious artistic dynasty (his father, famous composer and musician Assi Rahbani, was in The Rahbani Brothers and his mother is the legendary Lebanese diva, Fairuz), Ziad Rahbani released a string of key albums in the '70s that have since become cult among DJs and collectors. Heavily influenced by Western music, Rahbani brought these influences to traditional Arabic music early one. 1978 saw the release of two key Rahbani albums, the disco 12" Abu Ali and Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou? (WWSLP 044LP). Serving as musical director to his mother Fairuz, he produced some of her best albums including Maarifti Feek recorded in 1984 at his Beirut studio, By Pass, bringing his blend of modern influences to her traditional sound. At the very same time, Rahbani started recording his own album at By Pass with the cream of Lebanese musicians including saxophonist Tewfic Farroukh, guitarist Paul Dawani, and percussionist Emile Boustani. Bringing funk, boogie, jazz funk fusion and Brazilian music to the mix, Rahbani created a landmark album, Houdou Nisbi now considered one of the best jazz funk albums from the Middle East. Featuring such cult tracks as "Rouh Khabbir", a remake of the Crusaders' "Soul Shadow" sung by Rahbani himself, the modern soul of "Bisaraha" and the Brazilian flavored "For Sure", the album is both effortlessly groovy and steeped in Oriental music. Houdou Nisbi, which means "relatively calm", an expression used by news anchors on Lebanese TV to describe the mood during cease-fire in the civil war that went on between 1975 and 1990. The cassette artwork has faithfully been reproduced for vinyl release. Remastered. New liner notes by Lebanese DJ and curator Ernesto Chahoud in English/French.
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CT 085LP
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2026 repress; reissue of the 1976 historic collaboration between producer instrumentalist Augustus Pablo and dub engineer King Tubby.
"If you had to pick one album that best represents the pinnacle of the art of dub, you'd cull the candidates down pretty quickly to ten or 12, and it would get very difficult after that. Few would fault you for ending up with this one, though, which stands as perhaps the finest collaboration between two of instrumental reggae's leading lights: producer and melodica player Augustus Pablo and legendary dub pioneer King Tubby. Among other gems, this album offers its title track -- a dub version of Jacob Miller's 'Baby I Love You So'-- which is widely regarded as the finest example of dub ever recorded. But the rest of the album is hardly less impressive. 'Each One Dub', another cut on a Jacob Miller rhythm, possesses the same dark and mystical ambience, if not quite the same emotional energy, as 'King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown,' and the version of the epochal 'Satta Massaganna' that closes the album is another solid winner. Pablo's trademark 'Far East' sound (characterized by minor keys and prominent melodica lines) is predominant throughout, and is treated with care and grace by King Tubby, who has rarely sounded more inspired in his studio manipulations than he does here. Absolutely essential." --Rick Anderson, All Music
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2CD
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IMPREC 519CD
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These stunning recordings combine the great strengths of Pauline Oliveros on her Roland V-Accordion, Issui Minegishi, Ichigenkin master and great-great granddaughter of the founder of the Seikyodo Ichigenkin tradition and Miya Masaoka on her 21 string Japanese Koto. Together, these masterful improvisors create a beautiful and fascinating world of instrumental communication. This trio of legendary artists establish a sonic zone so compelling that you'll never want to leave. This double CD preserves the original session edits chronologically in order to preserve the emotional flow of the recordings. Disc one presents the first day of sessions and disc two presents the second day. Hence the title, Two Days In Dreamland. Recorded at Dreamland Studios in Hurley, New York. Mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance. Pauline Oliveros, composer and accordionist, was a central figure in the development of post-war experimental and electronic music. She was a founder of the San Francisco Tape Music Center along with Ramon Sender and Morton Subotnick and she also served as its director. Minegishi Issui is the great-great-granddaughter of Tokuhiro Taimu, founder of the Seikyodo Ichigenkin tradition. She received her earliest training from her great-grandmother, Matsuzaki Issui, who was the third hereditary head of Seikyodo and who was also designated by the Japanese government as official guardian of the Ichigenkin tradition, as one of the country's Intangible Cultural Treasures. Miya Masaoka is an American sonic artist, composer and performer. Her work explores bodily perception of vibration, movement and time, while foregrounding complex timbre relationships. She has created a body of work that encompasses scores for orchestras and ensembles, sculpture works instigating new modes of listening, interactive media. Among her awards are the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright, the American Academy Rome Prize, the Doris Duke Artist Award and the United States Artist Award.
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PL 195CD
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Finally back in print! Originally released by EMI's Pathé Marconi imprint in 1969, People in Sorrow -- a 40-minute work by the four-piece lineup of Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Lester Bowie, and Malachi Favors -- has long been unavailable on vinyl and CD, and then only in hard-to-find European and Japanese issues. It is arguably the finest and most ambitious of the 14 studio albums recorded by the Art Ensemble during their 23-month sojourn in France, which launched the American group internationally. People in Sorrow can be viewed as the culminating event in the Art Ensemble's inventive and revolutionary approach to collective improvisation, counterpoising clamorous free-blowing intensity with expanses of hushed conversation on the group's immense arsenal of "little instruments." Fully licensed from Warner Music, and augmented with new liner notes by veteran U.S. music journalist Chris Morris, this release marks the long-awaited return of the record that Chicago-based writer, curator, and label operator John Corbett calls "one of the most luminous albums of creative music ever made." This edition faithfully recreates the first French Pathé-Marconi pressing of People in Sorrow (1969), which originally featured black graphics on a light (white or off-white) background and red Pathé-Marconi labels, rather than the yellow cover seen on later issues. The vinyl LP (PL 195LP) includes an inlay with detailed liner notes, while the CD Digipak comes with a 12-page booklet containing the same material. The album has been newly remastered by Moritz Illner (duophonic), who also handled play Loud!'s acclaimed reissue of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's Les Stances à Sophie.
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WWSLP 092LP
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2026 repress. LP version. Wewantsounds presents Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic LP Coda, issued in Japan in 1983 as a solo piano version of the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence soundtrack. The album, which has never been released outside of Japan until now, sees Sakamoto on acoustic piano reinterpreting fascinating versions of his famous soundtrack including the classic theme and "Germination," which was later used in the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack. This reissue has been remastered by Seigen Ono's Saidera Mastering studio in Tokyo and boasts the original artwork plus a four-page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta. When the film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence hit the cinema in Summer 1983, it was a worldwide instant success, due in no small parts to its renowned director, Nagisa Oshima, and to its superb cast including David Bowie, Takeshi Kitano, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The latter, fresh from his success with Yellow Magic Orchestra and a thriving nascent solo career, was also enrolled to compose the score of the film. The soundtrack was released at the same time as the film in summer 1983. It became equally successful and made the Japanese composer a global icon as the instrumental theme became an instant classic all around the world and also Sakamoto's signature track from then on. That same year, his Japanese label decided to release an exclusive cassette book as the format was getting popular in Japan. The project, called Avec Piano, featured an audio cassette together with a beautiful 80-page book including illustrations and texts by various designers and writers. As for the music, Sakamoto re-recorded the Merry Christmas soundtrack on solo piano at the Onkyo Haus studio in Tokyo. This version of the theme which Sakamoto would re-record many times, is therefore the first ever recorded solo piano version of the composition. The cassette book's success led to an LP release a few months later under a new title, Coda, and with a different artwork by Japanese designer Tsuguya Inoue. The original orchestrated theme "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" was dropped, replaced by two new tracks, "Japan" and "Coda," recorded a couple of years earlier in 1981 and featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto's blend of ethereal ambient soundscapes and modern electronics. Coda is quintessential Ryuichi Sakamoto and an essential album in the Japanese composer's discography.
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LP
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WRWTFWW 017LP
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2025 repress. We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records present the first ever official vinyl pressing of the soundtrack for Mamoru Oshii's critically acclaimed and all around legendary science fiction anime film Ghost In The Shell (1995), adapted from Masamune Shirow's groundbreaking manga series of the same name. The haunting score is composed by Kenji Kawai, one of Japan's most celebrated soundtrack composers alongside Joe Hisaishi and Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose work includes Hideo Nakata's Ring (1998) and Ring 2 (1999), Death Note (2006), Hong Kong films Seven Swords by Tsui Hark (2005) and Ip Man by Wilson Yip (2008), and countless others. Kawai's compositions see ancient harmonies and percussions uncannily mesh with synthesized sounds of the modern world to convey a sumptuous balance between folklore tradition and futuristic outlook. For its iconic main theme "Making Of Cyborg", Kawai had a choir chant a wedding song in ancient Japanese following Bulgarian folk harmonies, setting the standard for a timeless and unparalleled soundtrack that admirably echoes the film's musings on the nature of humanity in a technologically advanced world. Ghost In The Shell is widely considered one of the best anime films of all time and its influence has been felt in the work of numerous movie directors, including James Cameron's Avatar (2009), the Wachowskis's The Matrix (1999), and Steven Spielberg's AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001). For fans of anime, manga, movie soundtracks, science fiction, ambient, folklore, Japan, Akira (1988), artificial intelligence, Midori Takada. Cut from the original master reels at Emil Berliner Studios (formerly the in-house recording department of renowned classical record label Deutsche Grammophon).
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2LP
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VAMPI 341LP
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Restocked; the historical origins of cumbia are nebulous and imprecise. The mythology surrounding it suggests an ancient past when Amerindian, African and European musical sounds were mixed together. After digging deep into the overwhelming archives of Discos Fuentes, Codiscos and Discos MAG in previous volumes, this fourth instalment in the series Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!! comprises 28 Colombian cumbia bangers for the dance floor from the deep vaults of Discos Tropical, all of them originally released between 1960 and 1984. Discos Tropical was a Barranquilla-based label founded in the mid-1940s by Luis Emilio Fortou Pereira, a visionary who helped define Colombian dancing habits and tastes from the previous century. Until the late '50s, most cumbias were orchestral-based. However, even though formats and styles diversified from the following decade onward, these highly popular big bands spectacularly defined the sound of Discos Tropical and livened up the most cosmopolitan dances in the major coastal cities. After the mid-'60s, the big bands gradually fell into decline, but the popular demand for tropical music did not. Facing this situation, the major record companies created smaller-format groups with one particular feature: they mixed accordion music with brass bands. This new volume of Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!! combines well-known classics and rarities that are difficult to find in their original formats. An invitation to enjoy and be amazed, above and beyond ethnographic and academic concerns. Featuring Carlos Haayen Y Su Combo, Bovea Y Sus Vallenatos, Álvaro Cárdenas Y Su Conjunto, Carlos Román Y Sus Estrellas, Luis Enrique Martínez Y Su Conjunto, Pello Torres Y Sus Diablos Del Ritmo, Banda 20 De Julio De Repelón, Andrés Landero Y Su Conjunto, Cumbia Mochila, Combo Maravilla, A.M. Camacho Y Cano, Eliceo García Y El Conjunto Palma Africana, Wasamaye African Rock, Conjunto Maravilla De Palo Alto, Manuel Villanueva Y Su Orquesta, Manuel Caraballo Y Su Conjunto, Pedro Salcedo Y Su Combo, Los Tiburones, Cumbia Bolivariana, Los Curramberos De Guayabal, Juan Polo Valencia, Lucho Better Y Su Orquesta, Florentino Montero Y Su Conjunto, Joe Montes Y Su Orquesta, Tere García Con Ramón Ropaín Y El Trío Fantasía, Los Indios Selectos Con Alberto Pacheco Y Su Acordeón, Rufo Garrido Y Su Orquesta, and Mincho Anaya Y Su Combo Moderno.
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SV 210LP
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"Generic Flipper, the debut album by Flipper, remains the most absorbing full-length LP to emerge from the early San Francisco punk scene. A constant source of imitation for so-called 'noise rock' bands, it has yet to be surpassed in its nihilistic glee. Recorded between October 1980 and August 1981 and released in 1982 on the indispensable Subterranean Records, this album functions as a chaotic, sticky mass of individual personalities: the magma-like bass eruptions and dual vocals of Will Shatter and Bruce Loose, Ted Falconi's icy guitar scraping and the relentless beat of drummer Steve DePace. At times playful and taciturn, paranoid and absurd, Generic charts a deliberate path that willfully chances destruction. In early '80s punk, when the hardening default was 'faster-shorter-louder,' Generic subverts the nascent hardcore scene with a strictly applied regimen of turgid-slower-heavier. The lyrics are bleak, yet unnervingly beautiful. 'Ever' sets the tone with trademark restraint, while closer 'Sex Bomb' is a churning, 8-minute epic with looping bass, saxophone accompaniment and electronic effects of dropping bombs. Tons of indie bands have attempted to recreate Flipper's mix of acidic guitar, metallic bass sludge and sardonically brilliant lyricism, using the seemingly effortless template they pioneered; however, the effect usually drives listeners right back to Generic. While most of their contemporaries wilt under direct comparison, No Trend, the Butthole Surfers, feedtime and Church Police are a few who can stand the frigid heat."
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2LP
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SF 131LP
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This double LP of instrumental Hindustani, Carnatic and folk 78rpm shellac records from India comes with a full color 12-page insert of gramophone record ephemera, shops, labels, manufacturing details and graphics. The LPs feature over 25 artists recorded between 1904 and 1959 playing a panoply of instruments: jalatarang, dilruba, sarod, clarionet, pakhawaj, violin, been, kazoo, shehnai, tabla, sarangi, sitar, vina and more. Artists include Imdad Khan (the first sitarist ever recorded), Ahmedjan Thirkhawa, Bundu Khan, Amir Hussain, Allauddin Khan (who taught Ravi Shankar), and others both forgotten and revered. The Indian classical instrumental tradition is one of incredible proficiency and expressiveness using instruments and techniques created over generations that seem to perfectly and uniquely compliment Indian culture, landscape and tradition. Sympathetic strings resonate inside sitars and sarangis to manifest shimmering reverberant spiritual spaces; horns, reeds and flutes extend the range, volume and melodic inventiveness of the voice; a mind-boggling array of elaborately turned percussion instruments allow for rhythms as complex or as simple as the flowing Ganges River. Classical music in India was perhaps at its height during the 78rpm period as the raj era was ending and the world was globalizing. 2LP gatefold with 12-page full color booklet insert. Produced by Robert Millis (Climax Golden Twins/Victrola Favorites) and features never reissued recordings and is the long-anticipated follow up to the Indian Talking Machine book/CD (Sublime Frequencies 099), which was also produced by Millis from his collection of 78rpm records and ephemera.
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LP
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CT 114LP
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2026 restock. Originally released in 1981. Landmark dub record from legendary reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, using a combination of established collaborators and new musicians: The Upsetters, Johnny Lover & The Towerchanters, Lee & The Blue Bell, Val Bennett, Brad Osbourne & The Towerchanters, Devion Iron, The Black Arks, and Ricky And Bunny.
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LP
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VL 900051LP
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2025 restock. Although Warhol, who was listed as producer on the album, allegedly gave the Velvets free reign over their sound, it was on his insistence that Nico performed on this album. However, this does not detract from the fact that when this album was made the Red Sea parted, and the Velvet Underground crossed into the Promised Land. Deluxe gatefold jacket with peeling banana and "Chelsea Girls" bonus track on B5
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LP
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DOC 144LP
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2025 repress. Akira Ifukube's mighty score to the legendary monster movie that started it all, Godzilla! Ifukube's visionary music is super dark reflecting the horror of Ishiro Honda's film. This incredible score music alternates between brass and strings as we witness the death and destruction that comes in Godzilla's wake.
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GUESS 287LP
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Part-time farmer/musician Oliver Chaplin is the person behind one of the rarest private pressings from the UK. His cult masterpiece Standing Stone was recorded in early 1974 at a remote farm in Wales, using a portable 4-track Teac reel-to-reel machine. Helped by his brother Chris at the controls (an experienced BBC engineer who had worked on Syd Barrett sessions), surrounded by animals and "smaller winged creatures," Oliver sang and played acoustic and electric guitars filtered through tape echo, distortion and multi-tracking, creating a very unique sound, a kind of DIY mutant-psychedelic-blues (think Captain Beefheart) which sounded years ahead of its time. Despite the lo-fi nature of the recording, the sound quality is amazing and timeless. Only 250 copies of the album were pressed and it even caught the attention of the Virgin label, who were interested in distribution but Oliver finally refused their offer. Musicians like JJ Cale expressed interest in Oliver's music, inviting him to a jam session but in the end, Oliver decided he was not interested in the music business and left Wales to travel around Europe. He remains a kind of a mysterious figure and Guerssen now offers a new, long-awaited reissue of Standing Stone, sanctioned by the artist.
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CD
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IMPREC 518CD
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Triple Point, featuring Pauline Oliveros, Doug Van Nort, and Jonas Braasch, was an improvising trio with a core instrumentation of soprano saxophone, greis/electronics, and V-accordion. The name refers to the point of equilibrium on a phase plot, which acts as a metaphor for the group's improvisational dialogue. Triple Point's musical interaction was centered around an interplay between acoustics, physically-modeled acoustics (v-accordion), and electronics. Van Nort captured the sound of the other players on-the-fly, either transforming them in the moment to create blended textures or new sonic gestures or holding them for return in the near future. Oliveros changes between timbres and "bends" the intended factory sound models through her idiosyncratic use of the virtual instrument, while Braasch explores extended techniques, including long circular-breathing tones and multiphonics. This mode of interaction has resulted in situations where acoustic/electronic sources are indistinguishable without very careful listening, while other times, this becomes wildly apparent. This continual, fluid morphing is a product of Deep Listening and listening in the moment. The tracks were recorded by Jonas Braasch during a week-long residency at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), Troy, NY, August 2012. Mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance.
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VAMPI 343LP
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Jorge Ben is someone who needs no introduction. Since his first hits in the early '60s, this the greatest icons of the greatest icons of Brazilian pop music. His anthems "Mais Que Nada" or "Pais Tropical" are among two of the most ever listened Brazilian songs of all time. Ben's self-titled 1969 album is a true samba-soul masterpiece from one of Brazil's most creative voices. This isn't your typical late-'60s LP: Jorge Ben blends the hypnotic swing of samba with funk, psychedelia, and sun-soaked soul in a way that feels both classic and ahead of its time. Released in November 1969, this was Jorge Ben's sixth studio record, and his first back with the Philips label after a creative hiatus. He recorded it with the tight-knit, percussive groove of Trio Mocotó -- whose rhythms lock in beautifully with Ben's laid-back guitar and vocals. On top of that, the album features lush orchestral arrangements from José Briamonte and Rogério Duprat, adding a soaring, psychedelic dimension to Ben's sound. Standout tracks? You've got the joyous anthem "País Tropical," a perfect celebration of Brazilian life. Then there's "Take It Easy My Brother Charles," a socially conscious number that tells the story of a rebellious sailor -- Ben weaves in themes of race, identity, and resilience. And songs like "Que Pena" bring in that sweet, soulful melancholy, while breezy cuts like "Criola," "Domingas," and "Barbarella" highlight his playful, poetic side. This record is a rare blend of genres -- samba, soul, funk, psychedelia -- and it's got a timeless energy. Whether you're already into Brazilian music or just looking for something fresh and soulful, Jorge Ben's 1969 album is a joyous entry point. Reissue on 180g vinyl.
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LP
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GUESS 286LP
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Already pioneers at home under their earlier name The Churchills, the band relocated to the UK in 1971 under the guidance of a big management, changing their name to Jericho Jones and finally Jericho. Released by A&M in February 1972, the self-titled Jericho album was heavier, longer, and more progressive than anything they had done before. Built around extended compositions, fearless arrangements, and telepathic ensemble playing, it captured a band operating at full creative stretch. The album opens with "Ethiopia," a ferocious multi-section rocker whose volcanic riffing and sudden twists set the tone for everything that follows. "Don't You Let Me Down," later issued as a single, delivers urgent hooks wrapped in the group's distinctive modal flavor. The towering "Featherbed" moves from melodic introspection to a widescreen instrumental workout that became the band's breakthrough moment on British stages. At the heart of the record lies "Justin and Nova," Robb Huxley's sweeping, cinematic psychedelic/ progressive epic. With its emotional narrative, dramatic dynamics, and lush piano and strings, the track has grown into a cult classic, often cited by fans as one of the era's lost masterpieces. The album closes with "Kill Me With Your Love" a hard-edged, proto-metal piece, ending the journey in grand, theatrical fashion. Internal strains and homesickness soon led to lineup changes, and despite tours, new singles, and even interest from heavyweight industry figures, momentum proved difficult to sustain. Within a short time, Jericho was over. Newly remastered sound. Includes original artwork in hard cardboard sleeve and insert with detailed liner notes by Mike Stax (Ugly Things) with input from original member Robb Huxley. Also includes extra insert with lyrics.
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GUESS 274LP
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Born from Israel's groundbreaking psychedelic pioneers The Churchills, Jericho Jones emerged in 1971 with Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys -- an internationally-minded leap into hard rock, proto-prog, and melodic songwriting. Recorded in a single, electrifying 24-hour session at London's Tangerine Studios, the album captures a band in full creative flight. Blending heavy riffs, lush melodies, and subtle Middle Eastern influences, Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys stands today as a lost classic of early '70s rock -- a vital bridge between psychedelia and the heavier sounds that followed. Features original artwork in gatefold sleeve. Newly remastered sound. Includes insert with detailed liner notes by Mike Stax (Ugly Things) with input from original member Robb Huxley as well as extra insert with lyrics.
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CT 102LP
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2026 repress. From the back cover: "... has some of the hardest Roots Rockers Rhythm and mixed with Ghetto Dance Style in mind. The result, incredible sound and fantastic effects and Dubwise Like Dirt." Personnel: Family Man, Bagga, Robbie Shakespeare - bass; Carlton "Santa" Davis, Sly Dunbar - drums; Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Tony Chin - guitar; Ossie Bongo - organ; Augustus Pablo, Bernard "Touter" Harvey - piano.
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AALP 2784LP
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Sugar Minott -- a Jamaican artist who came on the scene in the late '60s who impacted the blueprints for the rise of the dancehall style music worked for Studio One, Exterminator, and many others. An artist who was affiliated with many labels. Here he is, produced by P. Burrell. Fine yardstyle dubs and melodies. Personnel: Dean Fraser - horns; Robbie Shakespeare - bass; Sly Dunbar - drums; D Dennis - keyboard; Stephen "Cat" Collin's - guitar.
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CT 088LP
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2026 restock. Originally released in 1985, this is a compilation of classic Horace Andy, including covers of Tappa Zukie's "Better Collie" and Leroy Sibble's "My Guiding Star."
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LP
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COSMR 032LP
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Repressed. Sought-after compilation exploring the Group Sound movement that swept Japan in the mid-1960s. Under the influence of the Beatles, dozens of Japanese bands devoted themselves to exporting a wide genre that ranged from surf-rock, garage fuzz, psych and wild R&B. Featuring the influential The Mops, the Filipino band (relocated to Hong Kong) D'Swooners, The Golden Cups, The Beavers, The Carnabeats, The Spiders, The Voltage, The Bunnys, and The Spiders.
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LP
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CT 805LP
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2025 restock. Reissue of Ital Dub, originally released in 1975. This is Augustus Pablo's first collaboration with King Tubby.
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WWSLP 120LP
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LP version. Wewantsounds continues its Yoshiko Sai reissue program with the release of Mikkou, the Japanese singer-songwriter's second album released in 1976 on Black Records. The album, produced by ace arranger Isamu Haruna, keeps the same formula as Mangekyou (WWSCD 096CD/ WWSLP 096LP, 2025) with Yoshiko Sai's beautiful songs and dreamy vocals over cool funky arrangements, this time featuring legendary guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. This is the first time Mikkou is widely available outside of Japan, with remastered audio, original artwork and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha who interviewed Yoshiko Sai for this special occasion. Yoshiko Sai holds a singular place in Japanese music history. Since her 1975 debut Mangekyou, the Japanese singer-songwriter has captivated listeners with her ethereal voice, poetic lyrics, and enigmatic presence, earning a devoted cult following that endures decades later. Mikkou represents a bold broadening of her artistic palette, drawing inspiration from the Silk Road and the rich cultural heritage of her native Nara. Sai's compositions on Mikkou explore themes of femininity, freedom, and the passage of generations. Tracks such as "Kaasama no Uta" ("Mother's Song") and "Tenshi no Youni" ("Like an Angel") blend blues, jazz, and folk sensibilities with evocative instrumentation including tabla, sitar, and dulcimer, reflecting the album's Silk Road influences. The title track, "Mikkou" ("Secret Passage"), captures the sense of a hidden journey -- both literal and imaginative -- mirroring the adventurous spirit threaded throughout the record. Sai also created the album's artwork, inspired by her reflections on historical Persian travelers and the interconnected flow of cultures along the Silk Road. As Sai remarked in conversation with Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha about the title track, "That idea of sneaking off somewhere felt exactly right for the mood at the time -- it was like approaching everything in life as if you were stowing away along every path." This Wewantsounds release marks the first time Mikkou is available outside Japan, offering a rare glimpse into the fragile, dreamlike universe of Yoshiko Sai.
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WRWTFWW 019LP
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2026 repress; LP version. Comes in a Stoughton "Tip-On" jacket; Includes printed inner sleeves. Palto Flats and We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records present the highly-anticipated reissue of Japanese percussionist Midori Takada's sought after and timeless ambient/minimal album Through The Looking Glass, originally released in 1983 by RCA Japan. Considered a holy grail of Japanese music by many, Through The Looking Glass is Midori Takada's first solo endeavor, a captivating four-song suite capturing her deep quests into traditional African and Asian percussive language and exploring contemplative ambient sounds with an admirably precise use of marimba. The result is alternatively ethereal and vibrant, always precise and mesmerizing, and makes for an atmospheric masterpiece and an unparalleled sonic and spiritual experience. Midori Takada is a composer, multi-percussionist, and theater artist renowned in Japanese vanguard circles. Midori has released two solo albums: Through The Looking Glass and Tree Of Life (1999) and wrote music for Tadashi Suzuki's theater plays. Her hypnotic, minimalist music is based in the concept of coherence between sound and the human body. She performs solo on marimba and other percussion instruments. She debuted on the scene of Berlin Philharmonic, performing with the RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Berlin just after graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1974. She continued her career with solo concerts in Japan and abroad. In the 1980s, Midori began to explore the traditional music of Asia and Africa. Her fascination resulted in joint projects with Kakraba Lobi from Ghana, Lamine Konte from Senegal, Farafina Band from Burkina Faso, and Korean musicians: zither player Chi Seong-Ja, flute player Won-Il, and saxophone player Kang Tae-Hwan. She also led Mkwaju Ensemble's innovative percussion project and still performs with free-jazz band Ton-Klami with Kang Tae-Hwan and jazz pianist Masahiko Satoh. Takada's compositions have a remarkable way of affecting the imagination. Her minimalist, contemplative music is filled with the concept of infinity and reminds us of a moon voyage, falling stars, a journey into the ocean, or a walk in the garden. The trans melodies, initially simple, begin to loop and splinter, their rhythm breaking and thickening, slowly drawing the listener into another reality. This fully licensed reissue comes with extensive liner notes.
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MR 329LP
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2026 restock. LP version with a 12-page full-color booklet with extensive notes and unseen photos. "With only six singles released between 1965 and 1966, and from an apparently remote place such as Lima, Peru, Los Saicos created a raw, wild and visceral sound, the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of the garage rock that was coming out of the U.S. Northwest at the same time. Theirs is the same DNA shared by The Sonics, The Cramps and Black Lips. This release compiles all their recordings and tells their amazing story. This snarling maelstrom of nihilism was cut in Lima when the rest of the world was wetting itself over The Beatles, direct links to both The Stooges and The Cramps here and several more equally-enthralling combos. The latter spawned several generations of individuals who would dig deep to previously (mostly) unheard seams of music and other forms of culture that have since become part of the mainstream fabric. Another strong case of the same kind of happenstance to my mind is that which preceded the much-vaunted 'punk' explosion of the '70s." --Lindsay Hutton
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2LP
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JIAOLONG 034LP
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Double LP version. Daphni's fourth studio album Butterfly at first picks up where his last album, 2022's Cherry left off. Though a sizeable gap for Daphni releases, between Cherry and Butterfly however of course sits Honey, the latest Caribou album and one that saw the more instantaneous and dancefloor leaning traits of Daphni peaking through the cracks more than ever before. This blurring of the lines leads to an intriguing collaboration in Butterfly's lead single "Waiting So Long" (feat. Caribou). An unlikely duo -- in that both artists are the same man, Dan Snaith -- it is not so much an identity crisis, ego trip, or the result of a chemical spill in the Snaith laboratory. It's simply a track that Snaith felt for the first time belongs to both aliases, and might appeal to fans of both. Daphni music has always been Snaith's way of hitting directly to the core of the dancefloors he spends so much of his time playing to, and those dancefloors have been steadily expanding as his name grows, with the music following suit. This album however also draws from further back with a definite kinship to the very first Daphni album, the invigorating bag of ideas that was Jiaolong. Butterfly is a showcase of the wonderful variety and surprising twists and turns that made that album such an exciting new prospect and that still to this day make Snaith such an intriguing DJ. There are more heavy hitters here, tracks that fill those dancefloors better than anyone, like "Clap Your Hands" which picks up the energy of "Sad Piano House" and flips it, exposing the gritty and intoxicating underbelly of Snaith's hitmaking side, while retaining the playful urgency that runs through all of his work of late. Meanwhile "Hang"'s comic-strip horns are unpinned by gleeful force, unrelenting and thrillingly unshakeable. Elsewhere though comes a clutch of other tunes that might creep out somewhere more off the beaten path, a path Snaith has never stopped seeking in amongst his larger billings. "Lucky" is squirmy and elusively intoxicating, "Invention" skitters down meandering, inviting corridors, "Talk To Me" grumbles and broods in the murk, and "Miles Smiles" could roll on endlessly, so confident in its groove. Right from the inception of the Daphni alias, the thrill of trying stuff out, pushing at the boundaries has always been there and on Butterfly is present in all its twists and turns.
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BEWITH 158LP
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2025 repress. Known principally as a smooth titan of blue-eyed soul, Bobby Caldwell transcended genre tags with consummate ease; he was a musical icon of real class and versatility, cherished the world over. His double platinum self-titled album from 1978 is a timeless masterpiece of sophisticated jazzy soul brilliance and is strictly canonical. Whilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as "Mr California", native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been "Mr AOR" to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted. Bobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of his eponymous album will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans -- and soul music enthusiasts worldwide -- can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest quality at Record Industry in Holland.
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AKENAT 006LP
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Volume 2 of this series focused on the amazing sonic treasures Bollywood music has to offer. This second volume is centered on the incredible instrumental gems that populate Hindi cinema soundtracks. 14 tracks of pure Bollywood instrumental genius to continue the dive into the mind-blowing world of Hindi cinema music. Covering a time span of three decades, this compilation mixes well-known names with lesser-known talents from the endlessly thrilling vaults of Hindi movie soundtracks and throws a couple of delicious covers for a truly unforgettable sonic experience. Includes liner notes. Featuring Charanjit Singh, R.D. Burman, Sapan & Jagmohan, Raghunath Seth, Chic Chocolate, S. D. Burman, Van Shipley, Kalyanji Anandji, O.P. Nayyar, Govind Naresh, Usha Khanna, S. Hazarasingh, Babla & His Orchestra, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
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LP
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DMOO 003X-LP
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A modal masterpiece from 1959, Kind of Blue is a true classic that never gets old, no matter how many times you listen to it. Bill Evans' understated piano is the perfect foil for Miles' melodies, contrasted by the soaring alto sax of Cannonball Adderley; Jimmy Cobb and Paul Chambers keep the rhythm section steady but unobtrusive, allowing Miles and Cannonball to shine. "So What" and "Freddie Freeloader" are seductive, deceptive gems, imparting all the frustration, begrudging and joy as only a great jazz record can; "Blue In Green" and "All Blue" have melancholy hues and "Flamenco Sketches" a precursor to Sketches Of Spain. Every household should have at least one copy of Kind Of Blue, one of the greatest records ever made.
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LP
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VAMPI 344LP
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2026 repress. Released in 1969, Gal Costa is the album that cemented Gal as one of the boldest voices of Brazil's Tropicalia movement -- and it still sounds thrillingly alive today. Coming right after the genre-shaking Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis, this LP captures a moment when Brazilian music was breaking rules, blending psychedelia, rock, samba, and poetic experimentation into something totally new. Gal's voice is the real star here: warm, fearless, and incredibly expressive. She moves effortlessly from soft, intimate moments to explosive, full-throttle performances, always sounding confident and emotionally present. Backed by adventurous arrangements and songs from key Tropicalia figures like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, the album feels both playful and politically charged, even when it's being subtle. Several tracks stand out as absolute classics. "Baby" is a highlight right away -- cool, tender, and deceptively simple, with Gal delivering Caetano Veloso's lyrics in a way that feels both innocent and quietly radical. On the other end of the spectrum, "Divino, Maravilhoso" is pure intensity: urgent, raw, and electrifying, capturing the restless spirit of the era and showcasing Gal's power at full blast. "Não Identificado" leans into dreamy psychedelia, floating between romance and cosmic imagery, while "Que Pena" shows her knack for turning heartbreak into something irresistibly melodic and catchy. What makes this record special is its balance. It's experimental without being alienating, sophisticated without losing its groove. Tracks flow naturally, pulling you into a colorful, slightly rebellious world that reflects the cultural tension and creativity of late-'60s Brazil. If you're curious about Tropicalia or just want a timeless album driven by pure vocal charisma, Gal Costa (1969) is an essential listen.
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2LP
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VLG 012LP
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On a Sunday in the early '70s in South LA one could easily find themselves experiencing the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra doing what they do for the community, performing incredible music. Live at Widney High December 26th, 1971 is a previously unreleased PAPA recording. It finds director Horace Tapscott conducting the band at Widney Career Preparatory and Transition Center, a special-education magnet high school in Los Angeles. The band played shows here between 1970 and '72, often sharing the bill with contemporaries John Carter and Bobby Bradford's group, and at one point the Sun-Ra Arkestra. These weekend shows were free and meant for the surrounding Black community. On this date the PAPA performed a range of compositions from the Ark's expansive songbook, including arrangements of tunes by Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane. The album's first single, Tapscott's arrangement of Coltrane's "Equinox," is one of many Coltrane compositions the Arkestra performed, as the most forward-thinking jazz player of the time was a consistent inspiration for the Ark. It's second single, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" demonstrates Tapscott's simplicity along with the band's fiery pace and feeling. The track list is completed by traditional spiritual "Motherless Child," and a medley of two compositions by Herbert Baker, one of the Arkestra's young pianists who passed in a car accident at age 17; "Little A's Chant," with lyrics written and sang by Linda Hill, and the hypnotic "Flight 17".
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LP
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SE 4617X-LP
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2025 restock. "The album was produced by the band themselves, and issued in two different stereo mixes. The more widely distributed mix is the one done by MGM/Verve staff engineer Val Valentin. The other mix was done by Lou Reed, boosting his vocals and guitar solos, while reducing the level of other instruments. This version was dubbed the 'Closet Mix' by Sterling Morrison, because it sounded to him as if it had been recorded in a closet. The most dramatic difference is that the two versions use entirely different performances of 'Some Kinda Love', both taken from the same recording sessions."
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2LP
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WRWTFWW 085LP
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2026 repress. WRWTFWW Records is announces the first-ever physical release of Louisiana-based composer and producer Jammin' Sam Miller's full HD re-creation/restoration of the beloved Super Metroid video game soundtrack. The limited biovinyl double LP is packed with 27 tracks and features an exclusive artwork by French illustrator Pierre Thyss, as well as an obi strip. Composed by Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano, the soundtrack for 1994 SNES exploration/action-adventure/sci-fi/alien video game Super Metroid has always been a fan-favorite. A true masterclass in music storytelling, it beautifully evokes the epic and eerie adventure of the game's protagonist Samus Aran with superb use of atmospheric sounds, space-operatic arrangements, rumbling bass, oppressive techno-futurist moods, tribal drums, and airy synth themes, admirably balancing the ominous feel of a dark menace and contemplative, even soothing, ambient soundscapes. Jammin' Sam Miller assiduously recreated the soundtrack note by note, by finding the original equipment used to create it, translating the MIDI into a modern studio context, adding in keyboard samples, and re-mixing and re-mastering the whole score. He explains: "This was made possible by locating the original instrument samples from workstation keyboards and drum machines before they were put into the game and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience." Super Metroid is pressed on biovinyl, a sustainable alternative to traditional vinyl. Biovinyl replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases, resulting in 100% CO savings in bio-based S-PVC production. Furthermore, it is 100% recyclable and reusable, embracing the circular economy ideology.
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12"
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WRWTFWW 123EP
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WRWTFWW Records releases The Gentle People The Peel Sessions, available on vinyl for the first time ever, in conjunction with the worldwide expanded reissue of the group's Soundtracks for Living. This is an exclusive four-song EP recorded in 1997 on BBC's Peel Sessions, as The Gentle People were doing the rounds for the release of their legendary debut album. These live versions have never seen the light of day before -- a must have for all the gentle fans!
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CD/BOOK
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RM 4270CD
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A note from Lawrence English: "In late 1975, Annea Lockwood realized her composition World Rhythms. It represents one of the first creative works exploring the potentials of field recordings in a multichannel setting. It is a landmark work and a composition that, on its 50th anniversary, has gently carried forward over the decades, but arguably now is only starting to come into true focus, and be understood for exactly how revolutionary it was. World Rhythms was a work concerned with a practice of sustained listening into the world, and beyond. It expanded outward from many of the compositions and themes Annea Lockwood had been exploring since the 1960s. It sought to take those learnings and apply them to a new set of terrains and circumstances. Moreover, it suggested a sensing of sound that was drawn from profound curiosity, matched only by patience. In 2019, I reached out to Annea and started a conversation about a revisitation of World Rhythms. My initial proposition was a simple one: a re-issue that was remastered and touched up, reflecting Annea's thoughts on the piece in this moment. The conversation quickly spun outward though, and before long Annea had asked if I might be interested to revisit the master tapes with the thought that the work could be revived and prepared for performance presentations going forward into this century. On listening to the materials, during the period of restoring the audio from the original master tapes, I was struck by the profound dynamism of the recordings. Each of the sound-fields held an attentive flux, a rhythmic pulse that was breathing. Each one a story of the pulses of the world, and our universe, that spoke to a possible reading of reality that sits in excess of our everyday capacities. A poetics of pulse if you like. Here then is the result of those conversations and also the presentations of the piece that followed -- several of which Annea has overseen herself. On this newly rendered imagining of World Rhythms, new relations, listening paths and ways of exploring her sound-fields are brought into focus. The core of the piece remains, a prioritized zone of listening, but emerging from deep within it new sonic formations emerge, a reminder of the dynamism of our energetic world and its surroundings." Composition by Annea Lockwood; gong performed by Vanessa Tomlinson and Annea Lockwood; mix realized by Lawrence English. Design by Traianos Pakioufakis; essay by Lawrence English.
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LP
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RMSG 007LP
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A note from Lawrence English: "Akira Kosemura's Polaroid Piano is a record that is very close to my heart. In fact, it is Akira's work that was one of the drivers for Someone Good, one of the Room40 sibling labels, to be founded. Polaroid Piano marks the beginning of what would later become known as felt piano music, an approach to the piano which was picked up by numerous artists across subsequent years. It captures an essential and intimate rendering of the piano at close proximity, but it does more than that, it allows the piano to breathe within the places around it. Structurally, the record is a collection of piano-led vignettes. Each piece is a microcosm of lived in music, which is porous, and opens themselves outward, inviting a sense of time and 'the present' to seep into the music. They feel instantly intimate and evocative, melodies imprinted with the world around them. In some of the recordings a siren calls out from beyond the immediate acoustic space of the studio, whilst in others birds seep in and the rustling of Akira's clothing folds into the music itself. When we first discussed the recording, Akira had invited me to offer some sounds that might act as a leaping off point for the compositions. I collected a series of field recordings which were offered as simple and suggestive prompts, and as a means of imagining 'other' environments which might be simultaneously in orbit of the places Akira was recording in. Some of those field recordings are captured in the record, like a memory being recounted at a distance of time. Polaroid Piano is a unique record for many reasons. One is it manages to manifest an acoustic transcription of that 'momentary' quality of its photographic namesake. The pieces are auditory snapshots and reflect a certain quality of harmonic light and timbral exposure that is unquestionably tethered to the aesthetics of the polaroid format. It is a record that celebrates the body of the instrument as a sound source and invites us to be proximate to the resonation, and the living qualities of sound, that make music so utterly profound, and gratifying."
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LP
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VAMPI 348LP
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Los Felcas were one of the best bands to come out of Peru during the golden years of the cumbia and tropical sounds explosion. In Lima, founding member, guitarist Florentino "Tino" León, quickly joined the Peruvian cumbia tropical movement led by electric guitarists Enrique Delgado (Los Destellos) and Berardo Hernández "Manzanita.". This new style was soon practiced by other groups from Lima, such as Los Ecos, Los Beta 5, Los Diablos Rojos, and, a bit later, by bands from the rest of the country. This movement became a massive phenomenon. Nelson Ferreyra and the multifaceted singer Pablo Villanueva Branda "Melcochita", who had become fans, introduced them to the MAG record label. In mid-1973, they recorded their first 45 RPM singles, with "Sabor a Felcas" being their most popular release. They recorded several albums during the late '70s and '80s, mostly on MAG: "La Blanquiñosa," "Tu bello cuerpo," "La cusqueñita" and "Manzanita coloradita." In the early 1990s, chicha music became popular in Argentina, especially in the north, where "Boquita perfumada" by Los Felcas was a hit. This compilation brings together their finest recordings, taking from albums and obscure 45s, blending a wide range of influences -- from psychedelic vibes to rhythms closer to guaracha and chicha -- and now being reissued for the first time.
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LP
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STUDIOMUL 055LP
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The first-ever reissue on Studio Mule of the debut album by Japanese jazz legend and bassist Yoshio Ikeda. Having performed with such illustrious figures as Sadao Watanabe, Masabumi Kikuchi, and Terumasa Hino, Ikeda's first album as a leader features pianist and vocalist Ichiko Hashimoto -- also known for her involvement with Yellow Magic Orchestra -- Berlin-based jazz pianist Aki Takase, and leading Japanese drummer Motohiko Hino. Avant-garde yet imbued with a distinctly Japanese sense of melancholy, this is a work that resonates profoundly with the present moment. The gem "whispering weeds," highlighted by thrilling piano and Hashimoto's evocative scat vocals, was also included on a compilation by BBE. Remastered from the original master tapes by Kuniyuki, the album has been revived with a richer, more lustrous sound in this definitive reissue.
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