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Juno Recommends Downtempo
Juno Recommends Balearic/Downtempo: 2024
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1
Cat: TPR 002. Rel: 22 Jul 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: 'E2-E4' is of course a legendary bit of music written by a legendary composer. Here, Alex Kassian serves up his own extension version of it and takes us on a 12-minute electronic trip that will be perfect for the more adventurous DJs and dancers out there - not least in Ibiza this summer. Next to the escapist original is a flipside remix from the one and Mad Professor. He heads out on his own with plenty of mind-melting effects, dubby undercurrents and mesmeric leads that encourage minds to wander. A real pearler for the hotter months and beyond.
in stock $18.24
2
Cat: 556893 1. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: There are some live albums which become as important to a band's legacy as their studio efforts and Roseland NYC Live is just that for Portishead. Given the Bristol group's considered catalogue, there's less competition for this 1998 release to stand out, but it also renders the stark brilliance of all the key players and the extended ensemble in sparkling clarity, not least thanks to the addition of a full-blown orchestra. Recorded in the wake of their second album and now reissued as an expanded edition to commemorate 25 years, it captures the band's early phase at its smoky, cinematic, head-nodding best. From every string swell to dusty backbeat, Rhodes lick to wobbly scratch, all fronted by Beth Gibbons' angelic voice, this is the live album done properly.
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out of stock $41.17
3
VARIOUS
Cat: MFSP 006. Rel: 11 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Music for Swimming Pools has put together their first-ever compilation here and it's a self-titled series that launches with Volume One. It's an assembly of their friends and label family members in with newly discovered gems. Some cuts are exclusive and some of them hint at projects to come, while some are making vinyl debuts. Pete Herbert kicks off with a seductive downbeat jam, Max Essa's 'Sacaton Skylines' is a new age delight and Gafas Du Soul lays down deep sunset house vibes on the gorgeous 'Embers' amongst many other highlights. A fine first collection for sure.
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out of stock $20.45
4
Review: Downtempo maestro Mudd is back with a new album In The Garden Of Mindfulness on the faultless Claremont 56 label. Coming after years of him working with Benjamin Smith, amongst others, it's his first solo album since 2006. His magical touch has not left him here as he explores dubbed out disco, Balearic, cosmic chill out and layers of alluring instrumentation, some of which is provided by Michele Chiavarini. These are widescreen sounds to get fully immersed in as you gaze on at sun soaked jazz guitars, low-lit synths, gently cascading synths hints of psychedelia, funk and soul. Another timeless and sparkling work from the great producer.
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in stock $32.61
5
out of stock $40.07
6
Review: Vibe is back with more versions of Portishead classics from the mysterious Portishedd moniker. This latest 7" is a green slab with 'Glory' and 'Roads'. The A-side, like the B-side, is a remix from Kero Uno and it brings a swaying Latin feel and broken beats to the classic original vocal which rings out with a pained soul next to the eerie synths. 'Roads' is then a more late night and deep sound with the uneasy vocal whispers unfurling over lurching beats and swooning string sounds. It's a fine rework that is brilliantly atmospheric.
in stock $22.66
7
Review: Beth Gibbons releases her debut solo album Lives Outgrown. Notably containing ten songs that were in total written over the course of ten years, the overarching mood is one of saying farewell and musing on the bittersweetness of loss. The English singer and notable Portishead member's solo efforts often operate with this affect, but Gibbons' latest is of special import, given the length of time over which these songs were crafted and occasionally performed over the years. As demonstrated by lead track 'Floating On A Moment', the palette is soft and reflective, hitting only the softest dynamic notes, as Gibbons sings of unique lifetime journeys and a dealt-with sense of friends suffering being left behind.
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out of stock $25.71
8
Review: The by-now seminal Is It Balearic label welcomes long-time Balearic boss Max Essa for another superbly horizontal offering that will take you to the beach no matter where you are. He is a regular on this label who has been serving up top tunes and compiling superb collections like 2016's 10-Year Anniversary comp for ages, and the quality levels never dip. This fresh four-tracker traverses gently breaking synth waves, undulating dubby undercurrents and gloriously sun-kissed synth work all in a soothing and meditative style.
in stock $14.10
9
VARIOUS
Cat: SOS 002. Rel: 16 Sep 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: This new one on Secrets of Sound has a rather grandiose title but the music is suitably accomplished to live up to it. Johnny Jewel gets things underway with a lavish and jazzy ambient scape turned gentle broken beat bliss-out. Elsewhere RAMZi's singular grasp of rhythms shines through with the rickety drums and cosmic moods of 'Existenz' and synth magician Legowelt cooks up a curious and whimsical sound on the escapist 'Nebia Vera Pelliccia'. Elsewhere, Lord Of The Isles slows things right down to late-night contemplation with 'Meet Me At The Portal.' A tasteful collection indeed.
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in stock $24.31
10
Cat: BSBF 1205MMW. Rel: 07 May 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Be Strong Be Free debuts a new series here, Mellow Magic Worldwide, which will offer up a series of DJ weapons that have been produced by "worldwide studio buds." The first one opens with some superb tackle from Gold Suite whose brilliant 'Crush' is a slow-burning 80s jam and emotive rollercoaster that has made a real impact during road testing experiments. On the flipside is the mysterious Mancunian Visions Of Eden who debuts on vinyl with a lush deep house jam 'When It Has Past that has a subtle Balearic charm. Lastly comes Murrin who heads up the Puca Sounds label and co-runs Berlin party Fandango. His 'Maybe Tonight' is a late-night cosmic delight.
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in stock $13.54
11
Review: Blissful Balearic brimmers from the artist known only as Basso, whose longstanding efforts as a record collector, label head, storyteller and all-round obsessive all pay off with this latest record via International Feel. Keeping the curation short and sweet, Sitting In Trees is an eight-track rendezvous to the Island; it follows, in a well-timed fashion, on the hot heels of his very own label Growing Bin, whose releasing of music in this vein knows few bounds and is by now probably more than overflowing. Sifting through the reams of dusty but still golden trance tapes, private presses and smooth jazz obscurios to find the cuts - by Peak Of Normal, Patrick Jahn, Erobique et al - to make up this short but sweet LP's worth.
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out of stock $37.86
12
Review: Since launching in 2020, Claremont 56's Claremont Editions series of compilations has delivered a trio of must-check collections featuring a mixture of unheard gems from the label vaults and brand-new, previously unreleased tracks. The now fourth-in-total addition to the series hears a string of downtempo ditties and Balearic bass-drivers, all of which register as totally fresh productions. In true Balearic fashion, the V/A spans both originals and danceable edits, with Mudd's 'Massimo's Steps' and Fureby, Moscoso & Faber's 'Halcyon' standing out as the flute-laden highlights of the former camp and the Blank & Jones version of Bel's 'Ready To Die' sticking out in the latter. Sensitive, flute-laden and impeccably crisp, Claremont Editions do a fantastic job here of welcoming both new artists to the family as well as the talents of loyal roster members.
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out of stock $32.61
13
Review: After a 10-year hiatus, Balearic Mike and Kelvin Andrews return to continue the journey of the Balearic Beat with another edition of their distinguished Down To The Sea And Back compilation series, presenting a formidable new set of rare and obscure records. Once more sifting from the formidable crock of late 80s to intra-90s Balearic music, this eight-track LP begins on a serene note with the expertly layered guitars from Dagobert Bohm on their re-arrangement of Josete Ordonez, before moving into increasingly complex but still no less sunny waters from the likes of Vidderna, Lee Ryda, and Pressure Drop. A veritable three years' worth of digging, finally condensed into a single selection.
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in stock $12.44
14
Review: Group Du Jour was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1983 and have had a storied career spanning the decades since. They have always brought together live, ethnic, and electronic sounds with folk and modern pop, later getting ever more experimental. Early albums Forgotten Colors in 1986 and Wonderful Vision in 1988 are groundbreaking affairs, the latter of which gave rise to 'Motion Of Waves', which is something of a cult favourite for deep diggers. It is a rich instrumental groove that layers up synthesiser, flute, guitar and haunting vocals sitting over a brilliantly electric beat. The whole thing was a live one-take recording and is perfectly suited to both sunset and sunup moments of dancing pleasure.
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in stock $15.76
15
Cat: IIB 071. Rel: 18 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Marius Circus is well known and loved for a signature analogue sound and once again that is laid out for us all to enjoy here on a new EP that comes with a remix from men of the moment Jazxing. First up is the deep, unhurried and dubbed out 'Lost On A Path To Nowhere,' a subtle late-night sound with wispy synths and a muted bassline that grows ever more prominent. The Jazxing Pathfinder remix is more tropical and steamy, and on the flip 'No Way Home' douses you in more blissed-out chords before the downbeat boogie of 'Space Crumbs Trail'. This is yet more essential summer goodness from Is It Balearic.
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in stock $8.57
16
Cat: IIB 072. Rel: 13 May 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: French producer Jerome Barresi as Robert's Diary delivers a superb EP on Is It Balearic? Something a little different. Dinky Bird is delicate pianos and an atmospheric vocal sample subtle beats and melodies reminiscent of Eple and classic Moby. Legendary Norse God Bjorn Torske keeps the atmosphere and adds creates a more percussive 4/4 shuffler. Six O Six has the trademark vocal sample and piano but a more dance floor feel. KXP which sounds like it could a long lost Gene Love Jezebel B -side rounds things off.
in stock $8.57
17
Review: Is It Balearic? presents the second EP from the Wrekin Crew, continuing where the first left off and delivering two original tracks, 'Vapour Trail' and 'Broken Wings'. 'Vapour Trails' has the trademark nod to the Italo Disco & emotional pop bombs that are a staple of their DJ sets. Goldsuite remixes Vapour Trails and create a softly mesmerising balearic pop twilight shuffler. 'Broken Wings' keeps the same feel, poignant vocals over slightly more late night beats and Woolfy brings a cosmic arpy feel and dubs it up for a more electronic groove.
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in stock $14.37
18
Review: NT is Nail aka Neil Holliday, one half of Bent and a master of UK tech house. But here he shows a different side across six majestically Balearic groovers. That draw on everything he has done before to send you out to sea on gentle waves of shining synth goodness, downtempo bliss and dreamy, chubby, soft focus drums. 'Beside Boa Linn' is a soothing summer sound to kick off then 'Going Out To Feel It' is a spiritual house cut for sundown, and 'Don't Hide Away' is slow motion disco brilliance. The trip continues with the star-gazing 'Evening Fixture', Eddie C style guitar licks of 'Walk In Romance' and romantic lullaby 'Dreams On Hold.'
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in stock $24.31
19
Review: 3 Men Gone Mad were an independent group formed in Blackburn and Darwen in the UK. They fused electronic sounds with rock and were prolific in the 1990s when they became cult favourites amongst those who know. You Try is a much sought-after collection that has been restored by Utopia Records many years after it made its way onto John Peel's 1991 Festive 50. He heard in it a mix of The Clash, Joy Division and Talking Heads and that still rings true. The main mix has a raw energy that captures the angst of Britain at the time - and still today, frankly. A spaced-out dub brings a fresh feeling of euphoria and an extended B-side mix draws out this record's undeniable pleasures.
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in stock $9.13
20
Rainer Truby Trio - "Donaueschingen" (Peter Kruder's Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitanskajutenremix)
Review: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The K&D Sessions, Kruder & Dorfmeister present a stunning limited-edition box set, available on 6xLP. Mastered by renowned engineer Bernie Grundman, this edition promises an audiophile listening experience. The set includes a newly added 6th LP featuring previously unreleased material, including remixes of Madonna, Roni Size, Lewis Taylor and Count Basic. The lavish packaging boasts gloss finishes, metallic gold Pantone details, and clear UV varnishing on the sleeves. Additionally, it includes a 40-page booklet filled with rare, unseen photos from the original era and extensive liner notes by Max Dax, Robert Menasse, and Werner Geier. A hi-res A2 poster is also part of the package. The standout tracks on the sixth LP include Kruder's 11-minute remix of Madonna's 'Nothing Really Matters', along with K&D's interpretation of Roni Size's 'Heroes' and U.F.O.'s 'L.O.V.E.'. Lewis Taylor's 'Lucky' appears in two remixed forms, one dubbed out and the other vocal-driven. This deluxe release elevates the original The K&D Sessions, which became the soundtrack for countless late 90s afterparties and lounge sessions, to new heights with a beautifully crafted presentation fitting for its enduring legacy.
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in stock $109.99
21
Cat: BSBF 706. Rel: 10 Jun 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Belgian DJ and producer Gratts have joined forces with London-based vocalist Mr. Beale to follow up on to success of their well-received 'Sun Circles' release last year. Here, on the sublime 'Submerge Me', they are in fine form once more with a brooding sound that features the uniquely mesmerising mantras of Beale and plenty of raw, compelling and percussive grooves that full lock you in and get you going. Versatile Records' own Gilb'r then steps up on the flip and manages to take things even deeper with some fine liquid dub excursions to complete a top 7"
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in stock $13.82
22
Cat: DVK 701. Rel: 27 May 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Originally part of a 1975 charity compilation LP raising money for environmental charities in California - which later became a collectors artifact changing hands for silly money (which didn't fit well with the Deja Vu Kid team) - so this Balearic nugget, the crown jewel of the album, was released on 7". More in keeping with its original spirit, not to mention its exquisite sound, there's no better way to share it again than on it's own 45 release at a fair price. 'Metropolis' and its B-side, 'Before I'm Gone', are pristine, hi-fi wilderness folk ditties, both of which evince an incredible mood of streamside Americana.
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in stock $17.14
23
Review: The Sound of Love International #006, selected by Jay Donaldson (aka Palms Trax), is a vibrant compilation reflecting the eclecticism of his DJ sets and radio show Cooking With Palms Trax. This collection celebrates obscure gems, many self-released or privately pressed, uncovering hidden talent from different eras and regions. Opening with Linda Waterfall's 'Clarity', a 1970s spiritual jazz-tinged folk piece, the album features tracks like 'Follow My Heart' by Sebastian, a soulful, sax-filled soft rock tune, and Frank E. Jeffries Jr.'s gospel-infused 'Did It Have To Be Me'. Highlights include 90s South African bubblegum tracks like El Pedro's 'La Luna' and 'Novidade's Masingita'. Belgian prog-rocker Zardoz's 'Brasilia Drums' and Danish virtuoso Gert Thrue's synth-driven 'I Play The Body Electronic' add cosmic textures, while Flayer's Balearic anthem 'Wanna Get Back Your Love' and Jeancky's 'Variations Sur Protestation' provide a serene close. Palms Trax has crafted a collection of rare finds, mixing genres and decades into a cohesive whole, reviving forgotten artists and creating a joyful, floor-filling experience sure to capture the ears of music lovers everywhere.
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in stock $40.63
24
Review: Contemporary dark disco-dance collective Leng have their fingers in many pies, one of them being the San Francisco Bay Area. Said connection comes to the fore once more on the imprint's latest release, which hears Odin join forces with fellow San Francisco resident Marshall Watson, a long-serving producer, engineer and live performer known globally for his Balearic-minded productions. 'Voyager' is a stultifying and forward-driven track, one whose whirling plucks and funky basses leave the listener with no other choice but to strap in and give in to an imminent whisking-away. The extended Guitar mix on the B-side amps up the splashy tom-tom fills and proffers an extensible bass guitar focus, madding the mix further. Then, to round off the EP, Odin & Watson pay tribute to underground new wave titan Patrick Cowley with a smattering of sequenced beats and trance motifs.
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out of stock $16.57
25
Cat: 275585 8967. Rel: 25 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
out of stock $30.12
26
Review: Matt Edwards and Joel Martin have done many fantastic remixes as Quiet Village, but little tops their 2007 'deep space' version of Mudd's 'Spielplatz'. Originally released on a relatively limited 12" by U.S label Rong Music, it reimagined the track as an epic slow-motion chugger that combined cosmic, spaced-out, turn-of-the-90s deep house synth sounds and metronomic dub disco bass with locked-in beats, echo-laden (sampled) spoken word vocals and all manner of intergalactic effects. This essential (and once again highly limited) reissue boasts the duo's famous - and deliciously epic - original 'Deep Space Dub' on side B, with the pair's vocal free (and previously unreleased) 'instrumental mix' on side A. A super-slow, ultra-deep house classic!
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out of stock $17.96
27
Review: First released way back in 1991, minus a title (that appeared when it was reissued the following year), Mr Monday's 'Daybreak' has long been considered a Balearic classic by those of a certain vintage. Genuinely sunset and sunrise-ready, the original mix is a warming, tactile and pitched down treat full of slow-motion acid house bass, kaleidoscopic chords, spacey synth sounds and sparkling piano motifs - all rising above a languid beat that's perfect for wearing early morning shuffling and seated early evening head-nodding. This Thank You reissues also boasts two previously unheard versions: a deliciously dubbed-out, delay and reverb-laden 'Bonus Beat' take, and a near 10-minute 'bonus dub prayer', full of whispered female vocals, stretched-out grooves and dub-flecked percussion breaks. A genuine must-have!
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out of stock $19.34
28
Review: From P60 is an alias of Zoltan Nagy who this year marks the significant milestone of a quarter of a century in the music game and he celebrates by launching his new label Midnight Fashion Chill with his 'Fallin' EP. Over the years, Nagy has done it all from deep house to Balearic to lounge and downtempo and here brings that touch of class to six superbly soothing sounds that fuse all that and more. The opener is pure horizontal bliss, 'The Times We Spent Together' is a slow-motion daydream, 'Fallin' (with Jaidene Veda) is pure soul-soothing magic and 'When' is a gently lilting ambient soundscape crafted to perfection.
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in stock $11.05
29
Cat: IIB 080. Rel: 07 Oct 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Coyote team up with Quinn Luke Lamont for a one off collaboration. Quinns vocals add a distinctly yachty feel to Coyote's chuggy early evening acid groove. Project Sandro tighten up the percussion and strip the vocals back and create a dreamy more contemplative warm weather shuffler.
in stock $14.37
30
Review: Out of many recent stirrings of hype (a sold-out Cafe OTO live show, numerous reissues of their Warp-era material, etc) Seefeel return with a renewed sense of solidity, delivering their first project since 2011. As ever with the pioneering electronica crossover band, Everything Squared combines the sonofantasmic dissociations of shoegaze and dream pop with the flashier and more sublime ends of Warp-era electronica and ambient dub. Mainly composed and performed by the core duo of Mark Clifford and Sarah Peacock, with bass on two tracks from Shigeru Ishihara, the record is a finely hewn intonarumori, working in original, but heavily pitch-bent vocals around light, but still scapular sound beds. An implied throwback to the chillout rooms of yore, the distinctively hoary hum of 90s analogue ambient still rings as truly as ever here.
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in stock $25.15
31
Review: Total Blue is a Los Angeles-based trio consisting of Nicky Benedek, Alex Talan, and Anthony Calonico who are new to the Music From Memory label. While the three have collaborated for over a decade, this self-titled album marks a new chapter in their artistic journey as a trio. Fuelled by a sense of play and exploration, it embodies their quest to "touch the beyond" and capture an elusive vibe they've long pursued. They see the work as a complete vision where reality and imagination merge-not through escapism, but by expanding perspectives as they blend digital synths, Akai EVI wind synthesiser, fretless bass, and guitars to create a lush soundscape that's as vast as it is expansive.
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out of stock $27.63
32
Review: Archeo Recordings home back in on the quintessentially Balearic stylings of Tony Esposito, whose stunningly original works simultaneously flaunt an unmistakable 'Balearism' whilst also escaping pure conformity with the Balearic style. It's only apt that we should consider his music as such; the Neapolitan drummer and bandleader was active largely when Balearic was first termed as a a category, and his idiosyncratic instrumental experiments and geneses - notable among which is the Tamborder, a little known invention of his own making resembling a tambourine - are what set him apart. 'Pagaia' was first released as a B-side to the 7" 1983 record 'Je -Na/Pagaia', and is now a staple of 'Afro-cosmic' Italian music, bringing an otherwise zany disco lilt to the then nascent sound; these are all too fleshed out by the new takes by Archeo staple Feel Fly here. Made in 1983 after a trip to Jamaica, and composed with Pino Daniele; 'Pagaia' is said to reflect the influence of Bob Marley and his group, with whom Esposito once worked both in Italy and Kingston.
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in stock $27.09
33
Review: A fresh collaborative dance effort from the fine folks over at Leng, centring on reworks of the brilliant debut album Waving by producer Lex (Alex Andrikopolous). Released in 2022, we're now two years ahead, and come met with this fine array. Kicking things off with a glorious Faze Action remix of 'Punta Allen', on which guitars, steel pans and clap-slaps abound, we're soon further into the mid-rave movements of 'Libre De Amor', a new one with Locke, followed by the acidic additives of Ruf Dug's version of 'Prezend'. Finally, another original, 'Super Awake', surfaces as the cascading coda to an all-out suite of neo-Balearic delights.
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in stock $15.20
34
Review: If the aim of most albums is to take you on a sonic journey of boundless exploration, then this new record Exploring Together from Saphileaum on Mule Musiq is about as good as it gets. It's a work pop escapist beauty with ethereal synths invoking a sense of wonder and discovery over pulsating rhythms which build layers of intrigue. Ambient textures are melted into hypnotic beats, lush soundscapes invite introspection and movement alike and exotic percussion, sound effects and sun kissed sounds all bring each track to life as you get lost in this most beautiful odyssey into uncharted downtempo and Balearic waters.
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out of stock $24.59
35
Review: The homonym "bender" is a revealing one. When we embark on an all-night bender, what do we bend, exactly? Rules? Gender? Truth? Whatever the case, the latest U-Bend release will, as the name suggests, insist that you bend, but not break, your sonic ossifications, your obstinacies, your set-in-your-wayses. On their third vinyl release, described as a crock of "certified benders" (we didn't know there existed an awarding body), we're urged to chug rather than gyrate, with both tracks, '50Peter20' and 'Bending You Bending Me', clocking in at 100BPM and 90BPM respectively. Both effortfully reconstructed 80s-ish new wave and pop tracks, the former chugs against a familiar, sample-riffic night-flight romp with the strength of a heavyweight imbiber; the latter peppers things out somewhat, with its piecemeal mallet ricochets and freqqy builds, coiling round a central five-note, sampled melody, again, whose origin is unknown. A thoroughly rewarding bender; we feel stretched, not torn.
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out of stock $11.61
36
Yesterdays New Quintet - "Sunrays"
Quasimoto - "Real Eyes"
Roots Manuva - "Witness (1 Hope)" (Walworth Road Rockers dub)
Slum Village - "Jealousy"
Joy Zipper - "Christine Bonilla"
The Cinematic Orchestra - "Channel 1 Suite"
Jim O'Rourke - "Ghost Ship In A Storm"
Souls Of Mischief - "'93 'Til Infinity"
Da Lata - "Pra Manha"
Don Blackman - "Holding You, Loving You"
Leroy Hutson - "Cool Out"
Zero 7 - "Truth & Rights"
The Stylistics - "People Make The World Go Round"
Review: Zero 7's LateNightTales debut, Another Late Night, was first released in 2002, shortly after the electronica duo had been nominated for a Mercury Prize in light of their debut record Simple Things. The inevitable vaunting of their music reached its peak when one well-known pundit described their music as "the Sistine Chapels of music in a sea of affordable accommodation." Unlike their expertly crafted originals in the vein of trip-hop, downtempo and acid jazz, their LateNightTales album is of course a selectors' DJ compilation, which to this day incites its invitees (usually musicians as well as DJs) to select and remix tunes only as though they were sleepwalking through the dream fantasies made up by their own musical influences. Here, Zero 7 share various musical traumata, manifest and latent interpretations of songs, by the likes of The Cinematic Orchestra, Quasimoto, Jim O'Rourke, Serge Gainsbourg, Don Blackman, The Stylistics, Joy Zipper, Slum Village and Da Lata, all of which, as we can patently hear, fed into their relatively unpeggable, interwoven chillout sound.
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out of stock $28.73
37
VARIOUS
Cat: ERS 055. Rel: 02 Sep 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: You can never really pin down what the excellent Emotional Repose label does and that is exactly the sinking behind the title of its superb All Trades show on NTS. The sheer eclecticism of that show is now reflected in this new two-part compilation, also called All Trades, which offers up little morsels of what they do, something like a sonic tasting menu at a fancy restaurant. There is chugging electronic dub from Apiento & Tepper, industrial clatter from Black Bones, cosmic ambient breakbeat from Paperclip Minimiser and blissed out dub from Yamila & SoFa Elsewhere amongst many more highlights.
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in stock $28.73
38
Cat: TF 012. Rel: 19 Aug 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Terrestrial Funk reissues a lost gem with the 'Summertime' EP by System Exclusive, a UK white label classic from the late eighties and early nineties. This four-track EP, featuring Jacqueline Foster aka Jacquoda's stunning vocals, includes the downtempo hit 'Summertime,' the dubbed-out 'Jennifer,' and two versions of 'Let's Climb.' The 'Come To Me Mix' and 'Glad You Made It Dub' are perfect for festival nights, showcasing hypnotic and powerful grooves. Simon Akers and Jason Brown's production, now brought to light by Terrestrial Funk, highlights their unique blend of downtempo and electronic bangers, making this perfect for crate diggers and new listeners.
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in stock $17.14
39
Review: Daniel Klein aka SIRS impressed us recently with his fine work on Robert Johnson and is now back on his own Sirsounds Records label with a seriously seductive collection of tunes. His The East Is Near EP brings melodies from that faraway land to Balearic beats. The Berlin based talent kicks off with the winky and intricate rhythms of 'Zappelnder Hindu' before 'Treibsand' layers up what sounds like a didgeridoo with loose-limbed drums. The marvelous 'Ocean Dreams' brings upbeat sounds and smart arrangements that are run through with exotic melodies and last of all is a blissed-out instrumental mix of 'Zappelnder Hindu.'
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out of stock $17.14
40
Cat: MOV 12083. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $36.76
41
in stock $17.68
42
Review: Costantino Luca Rolando Kiriakos, an influential figure in Athens' electronic scene since the 80s, showcased his diverse talents as a composer, sound engineer, and installation artist under his Coti K. alias on this EP from back in 1994. The five tracks he offered up all explore Balearic-ambient bliss-scapes and now get reissued on Dark Entries complete with their smooth breaks, cosmic pads, and lush pianos. Reflecting his Hellenic roots, track titles like 'Argonauts' and 'Theros' bring global ambient vibes and spoken word by Konstantinos Bhta and cello by Nikos Veliotis all help add their magic to this nostalgic journey with a Mediterranean twist.
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in stock $21.83
43
Review: Manchester character Ruf Dug has never shied away from poking fun at the sone and its all too often safe sounds. He really backs that up with his own music here as this Asking For Trouble EP is a brilliantly weird and wonderful concoction. 'Buttoned Down' has gun shots, curious melodies, ambient pads and hulking great kicks that are hella fun. 'Pomegranate Dub' is red hot island music for blissed out afternoons blazing in the sun and 'Open Air' brings sleazy rock riffs and chubby disco dub to the party. The flipside explores digi-dancehall-dub vibes on 'Watching', carnival house on 'Pipes' gorgeously melodic deep house shuffles on 'Night Blossom'. What an EP.
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in stock $19.08
44
Review: Basic Spirit is a new label out of Germany from the esteemed pair of Tornado Wallace and Jamie Tille. The label makes its bow with a mid-tempo cosmic workout from the pair under the HearT Sphere guise and makes big use of a siren sample from the cult TV show ER. It's layered carefully over post-rave downtempo bliss, with Balearic chords, dreamlike pads and big beats all feature across the three mixes. The Piano mix is the most fun and old school and the Children Mix is to get you in a trance, with added hints of Robert Miles. Bring on the summer.
out of stock $21.28
45
Cat: ZZZV 24006. Rel: 17 Jun 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Perhaps a universal language is something we can never achieve, or at least, stories such as the Tower of Babel suggest. But temporary simulacra of such fancies may be aspired to, not to mention sick Balearic records calling for them. Here Ibiza mainstays DJ Pippi and Willie Graff team up for a swell full-length record, displaying an ingenious shared ear for the combo of live instrumentation, sampling and club-ready mixing. Some 12 tracks escort us through the duo's manifold styles, honed over the course of 17 years and modulated with subtle layers of eloquent instrumentation and effervescent synths.
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out of stock $42.83
46
Cat: IIB 077. Rel: 04 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Max Essa is a bonafide Balearic boss man and one of the regulars of the Is It Balearic? label. It is there that he returns now with 'I'm Homeward Bound' which is a textbook sound from the producer, with a hint of Tears For Fears. The pads are delightfully gooey and subtly uplifting over gently percussive and stuttering beats and the whole thing is rich in lazy poolside energy. Nathan Dawidowicz remixes into a percolating bit of deep and tribal disco, Secret Soul Society brings out the early evening house grooves ready for sunset sessions and the closing cut 'Chasing Horses' is a super sweet late night groove with heartfelt chords
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out of stock $13.82
47
Cat: BSBF 1214MMW. Rel: 18 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: We're promised Mellow Magic and that's precisely what we get, across four tracks emerging from disparate corners of the globe but united in a common mission to provide beats that work on the more relaxed end of the dancefloor. Belgian duo Charlotte & Reinhard of Rheinzand fame kick things off with a slow motion Balearic version of a well known 80s MOR classic. Ollie Loudon's 'L.M.T.' finally makes it to vinyl after long being a secret weapon in Gratts' DJ sets, where handclaps and languid strumming meet a gentle but infectious groove. Flip it over for the more tracky affairs, as Japan's Lily Ko makes an impressive debut with 'Pure Rubber', an original mix of disco foundations and always snazzy but never showy 80s synth play. Melbourne's Biancolato finishes things off with understated deep house shuffling that adds just a touch jazzy keys and dreamy, wispy pads.
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in stock $13.25
48
Review: The cultured Apersonal Music invites you to get Lost In Paradise here as Jona Jefferies turns up with some ambient laced deep house day dreams that encourage lovely mental escapism. 'Es Camp' opens with shimmering chords and widescreen painterly smears over subtle rhythms, then a Max Essa Romantic Break remix gets a bit more Balearic. 'California Sunrise Do You Remember?' is another one for suspending yourself up amongst celestial synth twinkles and wispy clouds, while 'Lost In Paradise' brings a percussive, jungle to some loose-limbed rhythms topped with tropical charm. Eddie C remixes with his trademark sense of elongated and hypnotic groove.
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out of stock $15.47
49
Review: Archeo Recordings present the best works of Ettika, who way back when laid down an interesting fusion of Italo, new beat, Arabic funk and Balearic hip-hop for a synthetic, sample-heavy chanters. Really, it's quite difficult to nail this one in words. Resurfacing after it was found in an online mix known as the 'Balearic nightmare', original copies of the record soon found itself being snapped up again; now it hears a thorough reissuing, owing to a demand that hasn't tapered since. With versions in French and Arabic respectively, it's clear that this plodding Balearic emoter more than deserves its place as a hidden classic.
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out of stock $25.71
50
Review: Seefeel's new album Everything Squared marks their first release since 2011, on which the "first ever shoegaze-electronica band" flex a positively retroactive take on the sound they sired. From the opening 'Sky Hooks' - a track which weaves an oxbow shape through small bankside groves of nymphlike-vocals in the peaks, and determined plods through ambient dub subterrains in the troughs - to the penultimate 'Hooked Paw', a similarly dubby but comparatively gnosis - a sophistic dream-blear for vocals and detuned atmoss at 140bpm, recalling the surreal ambient fort-das of HTRK or Clouds - this is not a record to be listened to lightly, despite its comeback status.
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in stock $13.25
51
Cat: HVNLP 6SE. Rel: 22 Jan 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: So Tough was Saint Etienne's second album, and it properly broke the band into the wider public consciousness thanks to their canny blend of house music, Balearic and melancholic indie. To date it remains the highest charting of their albums, helped no doubt by Sarah Cracknell becoming a permanent member of the band, the free-spirited nature of independent music in the early 90s and the success of the single 'Youre In A Bad Way'. Some 30 years on from its original release, So Tough is getting the luxury reissue treatment in the form of a triple-vinyl pressing, a 7" and a 28-page booklet - surely essential for any of the band's devoted fanbase.
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in stock $118.27
52
Review: It could have all been so different when Death In Vegas first formed. Richard Fearless and Steve Hellier spawned the project in 1994 and got signed under the name Dead Elvis, but legal wrangling got in the way and they used the name for their debut album instead. Now Music On Vinyl have repressed the 1997 classic so we can revel in the grizzled take on big beat and trip hop the pair cooked up. It's very much of its time, but there's a snarl to the production which sets Death In Vegas apart from their peers at the time, opting for the dive bar ambience over the festival main stage you'd hear when playing The Chemical Brothers or Leftfield. For that reason Dead Elvis has aged very well indeed.
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in stock $46.98
53
Review: London duo Toni Rossano and Neil Simons coexist as Calabra, delivering a fresh quintet of Balearic jams to our ears. Lifelong friends, the pair mutually uprooted their Midlands origins for the big smoke, whereupon they set about many a sprawling musical project in the UK capital. Having known each other since day, it was only until recently, during a fuzzy after-hours party on the pebbles of Brighton beach, that they eureka'd the idea of fastening a cross-channel sonic colloquy between the British isles and those of the Mediterranean. Fusing every motif of the latter Balearic genre - from analogue synth subduings to cascading guitar swirls - with every motif of the former UK rock-dance continuum - new age, post-punk and 70s art rock references - 'Mazzara Return' is the ideal accompaniment to your next transnational estival foray.
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in stock $15.76
54
Review: Stockport's very own J Walk delivers 'Broken Beauty', a wise musical meditation on the crucial need for beautiful things - people, works of art, you name it - to incorporate some element of ugliness or brokenness. With all tracks in tow produced by Walk aka. Martin Fisher, who controls a massive foundry of instruments and gear - the entire list of over 20 machines has been published online, curios among them being the Boss SYB-5 bass synth pedal, Pocket Operator PO-32 drum machine and even a stylophone for good measure - the resultant Broken Beauty is a fractious but infectious class of tunage; its ten tracks adhere to essential golden means of downbeat chug and cold-waved Balearics, and yet allow such natural beauty to shine without much fuss over polish. If titles like 'Janky Waltz' and 'Botox Fomo' are anything to go by, we may deduce that the attitude going into this one must've been one of gleeful ludicrousness, a key trait to channel if you want to let phaseout guitar pedals flow and freak filtrations wail.
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out of stock $20.73
55
Review: A classic track on many Cafe Del Mar compilations in the early 90s, The Hypnotist by Sisterlove finally gets a proper reissue. Thank you to Sound Migration for keeping all four original versions complete on this homage to the 1993 release. For those who enjoy the chill-out sound of the 90s where ambient, electronic and house music took on a spiritual and psychedelic overview, you will fall in love with this one. We can't say enough great things about what sound this track represents. Old skool heads and new fans of the sound, snap this up quickly!
in stock $20.45
56
Review: Malcolm McLaren, probaly best known for managing the New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols, left a significant mark on pop culture as a writer, musician, and fashion designer. His 1994 album Paris, produced by Robin Millar (Sade, The Style Council, Everything But The Girl) on the French Vogue label, is now available on vinyl for the first time. The reissue coincides with the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, where the lead track 'Paris Paris' featuring Catherine Deneuve has been officially adopted and is expected to gain widespread attention. The album also includes collaborations with Francoise Hardy and Amina, making it a notable showcase of McLaren's eclectic artistry.
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in stock $28.73
57
Review: With 'Mirage', French cosmic dance vendors Intervision provide producer Saphilaeum a stellar welcome. The Georgian producer flexes his texturised, rainforested muscles on this new six-tracker, bringing a pellucid, bleary-eyed, temperate, coastal sonic vision to limited aquablue vinyl here. Riffing off the humidities of an imagined jungle found in the middle of pelagic nowhere, the likes of 'Guecko & Koala' and 'Ooga Booga' find a sense of joy and humour in the many effervescings of acoustic ritual dances and amplified synthetic sound; their fantastically primal aura let us seep into the surrounding thicket, as mind and body unrecognisably blur. By the closing off of 'Natural High', we sound to have emerged, rejuvenated, from a full, voracious, aloe vera-soaked vamp-dance.
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out of stock $16.86
58
Review: Beth Gibbons has never saturated the market with her distinctive approach to singing and songwriting, choosing to leave the power of her contributions to Portishead and solo hanging in the air. That makes Lives Outgrown a truly exciting proposition, some 20 years after her last solo outing and simultaneously unique but naturally leading on from the magical Out of Season. The sonic content is layered differently, less folky and more like art rock embellished with electronics, but the melancholic, wistful melodic makeup feels absolutely rooted in Gibbon's approach throughout the years. This is the CD edition of a very welcome return from a truly unique treasure in British alternative music.
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in stock $8.01
59
Cat: ESL 164. Rel: 26 Aug 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: It Takes a Thief, released in 2010, is Thievery Corporation's first "Best of" compilation, curated by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. This album is an excellent entry point for newcomers and a treat for longtime fans. Featuring standout tracks like 'Lebanese Blonde, from the Grammy-winning Garden State soundtrack, and 'Sound the Alarm,' a funk-infused live show staple, the compilation captures the essence of the duo's eclectic sound. The album spans their rich career, blending dub, trip hop and world music influences.
in stock $35.36
60
Review: Brighton's Balearic Jukebox share their two latest blissouts, an original and alt version of 'We Love Spacemen'. It's as though a simple breakbeat hardcore tune made of vestigial Britpop sample-memories had been slowed to a festive amble, and yet still worked in the 'theque. Decisive bassline resolves and laid-back djembe meld with hollering loom-calls on this lei-donning saunterer. The Pianopella Mix is the highlight, amping up the ultra-echo'd piano to ecstatic effect, and pairing it with fervent "let's go" samples and power chords of the ichorous variety.
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out of stock $17.14
61
in stock $19.88
62
Review: We are once more graced by the inimitable ambient experimental stylings of Pub, a longstanding titan of the weirder and serener ends of the braindance circuit. Emerging from the mists with his very own smog bottling, Process The Wise is Pub's first record in over a decade, charting dewdrop synths arranged in melodious but unpredictable fashion, amid progressive cutoff-filterings and crystalline washouts in the wider mix. Its pared-back moments are just as gemlike, with the curious interregnum that is 'Waves Across' nailing a certain mood of egress and the closer that is 'Joyus' getting at a muted form of joy that perhaps only the more reflective among us can appreciate.
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out of stock $25.15
63
Cat: 556892 9. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Portishead have been patient with their release rate over the years, and that's partly why Roseland NYC Live is able to stand out so much amongst their considers but accomplished catalogue. Arriving hot on the heels of their self-titled second album, it captures the band in the prime of their early career with a full orchestra, rendering their smouldering, noirish sound in stunning clarity while still feeling like a proper live session. There's no need to sell you on the tracks contained within - every single one is a classic, but the sessions is sounding better than ever thanks to this 25th anniversary commemorative freshen up.
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out of stock $15.20
64
Review: Hell Yeah Records sets a super tone for 2024 with a captivating new album from Australian producer Dawn Again. Every Dog's Hotel presents a dreamy, breaks-infused journey into what Dawn Again calls "pubwave." Drawing from his decade-long experience and releases on labels like Houseworx and Enjoyment Division, Melbourne-based Nick Verwey crafts a sunlit, sunset-ready sound perfect for grown-up crowds. Inspired during lockdown by nostalgic downtempo vibes from the 90s and 00s, Verwey aimed to recreate the communal drinking atmosphere of his favorite pubs. The result is a lush, Balearic "pubwave" album, complemented by a charming cover painting by artist Holly Hunt, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in lavish, escapist downtempo sounds.
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out of stock $21.28
65
Cat: RIOT 015. Rel: 16 Sep 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Midnight Riot help the listener carve out their own personal Balearic headspaces with their new compilation Balearic Headspace, likening the "experience" of Balearic not just to a sound, but an affect, one that cannot be experienced without specific records or specific times and places. Do we believe it to be true? We may or may not, but that doesn't distract from the whopping curation job here, with most tunes on offer consisting of both total newness and reworks/revisions by the Midnight Riot crew; this 12" is a four-track selection of a wider 19-track digital comp. Our highlight has to be the ultra-smeary Tom Moulton mix of 'This Is Caribbean Disco' by Fsq, which floats atop a serious floe of stretched-out axe bubble and echoing crosstick, as its lyrics deal in word-painted themes of being held underwater. As mindfully, cognitively Balearic as it gets!
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in stock $17.14
66
Review: Eric Hilton's most recent full length album Sound Vagabond, has been making some waves in the downtempo and chill out circles. Known for his smooth urban beats, catchy grooves and unique melodies as part of Thievery Corporation, he's a celebrated name in the downtempo scene, as well as being supportive of the vinyl DJ scene too. 'Midnight Milan' was taken from the album and sees a beautiful melody riding along perfectly to the easy-going rhythm. Simple but oh, so perfect - and that's before we mention the fact it's pressed on mint green colored vinyl.
in stock $10.23
67
Cat: NUNSWB 001V. Rel: 04 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: With over 50 years of experience dating way back to the early 70s with the progressive outfit Zebra, Joan has left quite a discography that is still being discovered and enjoyed. This EP - Joan Bibloni's second appearance on the label in total - features three versions of 'Badia Onirica', two of them being language versions and then the instrumental. Overall, the song is a track fitting for the Cafe Del Mar sound - a mix of folk, electronica, house with a Latin and folk influence and versions in Spanish and Catalan. An EP for watching the sunsets, dreaming on the beach and remembering life's great time with friends and family. NuNorthernSoul continues to honor the chill out legacy.
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in stock $20.73
68
Review: Nunorthern Soul always says it is not a soul music label, but a label for music with soul, and this new and dreamy offering from George Solar very much embodies that. It's a smooth fusion of cosmic, ambient, romance and Balearic bliss across six sublime sounds. 'Media Luna' opens up with slow-motion drums awash with gentle shakers and splashy hi-hats, 'Moonbeams' brings more liquid rhythms and worldly drum sounds and 'Countermoon' shuts down the a-side with a late night, star-gazing feel. A trio of lush, pillowy, immersive sounds and magical flutes close out the
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in stock $25.42
69
Review: Into The Cosmos kick off their label with a promising start, demonstrating rather than describing their stated sonic mission with a rivetingly unusual fusion of footwork and fourth world; nu-house in a new age. Drum Dance's 'Zani!' is zany enough, sparring subtle sonic mysticisms contra hard-driving synth and drumwork, with the titular opener recalling the subtleties in the work of Machinedrum, albeit excepting the latter artist's technical itches for a calmer sonic drapery of tropical, topical balms and salves. 'Body Heat' goes housier, fusing the chromatic electric piano chords common to the voguish, incantatory ends of UK funky with the whispering yet determined hollers of a female vocal dance-guide. The B-side moves much more Balearic, preferring detuned, overtonic tremolos and slow ataraxic fruitions, ending on the calmly carpet-squatting jazz suspension that is 'Adan On Dot Soley'.
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out of stock $14.92
70
Review: Hull's finest downtempo and Balearic master Steve Cobby (who is best known for being part of Fila Brazillia) is back with a brilliantly titled record that once again finds him impressing on all fronts. He is the producer but also the man who plays all the keyboards, bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, plus drums both live and programmed. Across seven captivating tunes, he explores snaking rhythms with sunny melodies, dusty broken beat smoking soundtracks, late-night lovestruck lullabies and heart-aching moments of inward reflection. Yet another vital work from this ever-underrated talent that instantly becomes a favourite for years to come.
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out of stock $29.83
71
Review: Lol Hammond is a former member of Spiral Tribe and early live techno act The Drum Club who now makes music on his own as Wah Wah Planet. Back in 1990 is when he penned this fantastic five track Balearic house EP alongside Russell Crone and with female vocal contributions from Lucy Sian. It very much lay out an early blueprint for UK street soul and the opener on the A-side 'Jewel' explores a romantic theme with hooky pop lyrics. Things get more left of centre on the 'Love FXU' with three trips into a smoother sound world perfect for sun kissed island dancing and with influences ranging from early breakbeat and trip hop to elements of dancehall music.
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in stock $22.94
72
Review: Eric Hilton (one half of Thievery Corporation) has just released a three-part 7" series, each featuring a track from his most current full length album Sound Vagabond. The album's title track of this record, Closer, is a dreamy mix of ambient and downtempo track perfect for relaxing by the pool on a sunny day to, blending Balearic and chill out music with an urban touch. Whether you're a hip-hop, scratch DJ, downtempo or house music lover, check these gems out.
in stock $11.61
73
VARIOUS
Cat: BEWITH 170LPBEWITH001BOOK. Rel: 11 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Be With 10 Years: Joyride + Labour of Love is a magnificent tribute to a decade of Be With Records' influential output. This limited edition, housed in a beautifully designed 380gsm board slipcase with a matte laminate finish and UV spot varnish, features a 140-gram vinyl record and a comprehensive 310mm square softcover book. The vinyl includes ten exclusive, never-before-released tracks from various Be With artists, offering a fresh perspective on the label's eclectic catalogue. The book, Labour of Love, is a meticulously crafted document of Be With's first ten years, featuring artwork reproductions, Rob's insightful reviews, and exclusive interviews with artists like Ned Doheny, Leon Ware, and Lewis Taylor. It also includes contributions from notable fans and industry figures, providing a rich, multi-faceted look at the label's journey. This set is a collector's dream; both the musical and cultural impact of Be With Records in a beautifully presented, limited-edition format. A great package.
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out of stock $64.95
74
Sofa Surfers - "Sofa Rockers" (Richard Dorfmeister remix)
Mama Oliver - "Eastwest" (Stoned Together - resmoked by Richard Dorfmeister)
Bomb The Bass - "Bug Powder Dust" (dub - Kruder & Dorfmeister remix)
Kruder & Dorfmeister - "Boogie Woogie"
Sin - "Where Shall I Turn" (K&D Session)
Bone Thugs N Harmony - "1st Of Tha Month" (K&D Session - Kruder & Dorfmeister remix)
Kruder & Dorfmeister - "Lexicon"
Knowtoryous - "Bomberclaad Joint" (K&D Session - Fruder & Dorfmeister remix)
Rocker's Hifi - "Going Under" (Evil Love & Insanity dub - Kruder & Dorfmeister remix)
Strange Cargo - "Million Town" (K&D Session - Kruder & Dorfmeister remix)
Review: For the 25th anniversary of Kruder & Dorfmeister's iconic Sessions, this CD box set is the best version yet for fans and collectors. The set includes previously unreleased music and remixes from artists like Madonna, Lewis Taylor, and Count Basic. Originally released in 1999, Sessions compiled Kruder & Dorfmeister's masterful remixes and original tracks, defining the "mood music" genre with its rich blend of dubby downtempo, drum & bass and Brazilian sampladelia. The compilation's subtle complexity and cinematic allure remain as influential as ever, capturing the essence of its era with a smoky, introspective vibe that continues to resonate. This edition includes a 40 page booklet plus a poster as an added bonus.
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in stock $38.97
75
Review: Photay aka. Evan Shornstein makes a determined return with Windswept, his latest LP for Mexican Summer. Building on but also somewhat departing from a built repertoire of post-IDM come funky sonics, this latest outing moves in a slightly more new age direction, riffing on the many possible worlds implied by the episteme of "Balearic". On an album nominally about the wind, and with an express aim to "mimic the wind", Photay makes deft use here of everything from wind chimes to blustery transigent noise, working them all between chunks of girded downtempo and confident chugs. Still as percussive and tricksy as ever, Shornstein echoes the likes of Letherette and Throwing Snow, meeting both hot and cold fronts of thermostatic dance.
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in stock $27.37
76
Review: There are not very many labels that are as successful and revered in electronic music as Mood Hut is, coming up with gem after gem after its inception in 2012. 'Water Seeds' by Oro Azul offers four tracks that range from sub-aquatic, mellow and relaxing to tribal percussiveness that really takes things to another level. A little more chilled out than their normal output, perhaps, but certainly not a massive departure, there are some serious island vibes here.
in stock $17.68
77
Review: My Friend Dario is a leading Balearic bossman who hails from the island of Sicily. For his new album on Hell Yeah he captures the spirit of that gorgeous rock in musical form. It's a work that embodies a summer spent holidaying on the coast, from the journey there to the warm days and on to the lazy, balmy nights. It's full of magical synth work and gentle grooves that are perfectly escapist, full of love and romance and just a little nostalgia for long lost days doing nothing but relaxing.
in stock $22.39
78
Review: Soela, the DJ and producer alias of Elina Shorokhova, channels her deep musical roots into Dark Portrait, an album that reflects both personal and global turmoil. Transitioning from her classical background into the electronic realm, Soela crafts a sonic journey that resonates with emotional depth and technical precision. The album begins with 'Unsuitable,' a track steeped in melancholic trip-hop vibes, setting an introspective tone. As Soela navigates the complex emotions surrounding her country's invasion of Ukraine, her music becomes a therapeutic outlet. This emotional intensity flows through tracks like 'Through the Windows' (featuring Francis Harris and Philipp Priebe) and 'Drowning' (with Module One), where intricate beats and ambient textures intertwine seamlessly. 'Spirits' and 'Lost In The Fog' offer haunting soundscapes that draw listeners into Soela's world, while 'February Is Not Going To Be Forever,' a collaboration with Lawrence, brings a dancefloor energy laced with a sense of urgency. The title track, 'Dark Portrait,' melds dubby rhythms with poignant melodies while the lead single, 'Even If I Ask You Stay,' showcases Soela's poignant vocal delivery amid a lush arrangement, addressing themes of escape and healing. The album concludes with 'The Darkest Hour Before Sunrise,' a hopeful and ethereal piece, blending subdued keys and strings with a sense of renewal. Dark Portrait is a deeply personal and powerful album, where Soela's rich musicality and emotional insight shine through, offering listeners both solace and inspiration.
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in stock $25.71
79
Review: Exquisite Balearic inquisitors Archeo Recordings' one mission is to dig up the lost paleolithic fossils of pelagic yore; this time they unearth the 1984 LP stylings of Ettika, with thier self-titled debut track. This bop has gone down in time as an initial obscurio, one that flew well under the radar until, apparently, tastemaker Vidal Benjamin 'rediscovered' it in a bargain bin. Then plugging it via the ironically named 'Balearic Nightmare' mix, it became an overnight re-sensation. It's easy to see why its popularity lay dormant for so long; it was originally made for a 'back-to-work' scheme aimed at unemployed immigrant youth in Rouen, France, so its utilitarian function has since been transcended here. Now reissued on fresh 12" with three newer mixes, 'Ettika' testifies to the fact that we simply need to look harder, and in the unlikely places, for the still undiscovered species of banger out there.
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in stock $27.63
80
Review: Spectral musical favourites Ghost Box return with the beautiful third album by Beautify Junkyards. Extending the idea that junkyards aren't already beautiful in their own scrappy sort of way, Nova is an exquisite selection of junk-larked tropicalia "finds", visually (album-cover-ally) building on the news cut-up assemblages of Dada and committing them to the beatific atmospheric siblings that are trip hop, psychedelia and what we'd trepidatiously deign to call cosmic lounge. With special guests Paul Weller, Dorothy Moskowitz (of United States of America) and Jesse Chandler (of Pneumatic Tubes & Midlake), this is a thoroughly far-flung metal detecting foray indeed, but it's not the inclusion of the canonic names of 60s psychedelic rock that makes this one special, more than it is its bright, refined, verging on impeccable recordings; despite much guitar echo and analogue anaphora, nothing gets lost in mire, despite this being a nominal junkyard. Best of among the shiny things has to be 'Sonora', the star prize in this magpie's nest. These acid folk have well and truly done it again.
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in stock $18.23
81
Review: For his seventh studio release 'Dream in Dream', Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) continues his genre-hopping streak, carving out new space for his sonic explorations. Best known for shaping Japan's alternative music scene and crafting intricate soundscapes, Oyamada's latest effort is a hazy, rhythmically adventurous blend that flirts with ambient jazz, r&b, and a dash of retro-futurist electronics. His knack for blending disparate elements into something cohesive remains intact. Opening the record, his signature use of angular guitars and tight synth layers dances around syncopated beats, pulling listeners into a dreamlike groove. But there's more at play than surface-level nostalgia or easy listening. While many might remember the cut-and-paste genius of 'Fantasma', or his remixes for artists like Blur and MGMT, here Oyamada seems more interested in texture and atmosphere than in outright hooks. Despite a nod to 70s synth influences, this isn't a direct callback to any specific era. 'Dream in Dream' unfolds like a wandering conversationiimprovised in parts, yet controlled in its overall direction. The songs balance bright, airy tones with moments of contemplation, capturing the warmth of the past while remaining firmly planted in today's soundscapes. A steady, thoughtful progression for Cornelius, offering something both familiar and unexpected.
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in stock $37.31
82
Review: Back in the depths of the global Coronavirus pandemic, Nick Hoppner and Alex Kassian decided to join forces to record an album, one that would set aside their club credentials and instead focus on their collective love of krautrock, ambient and 'guitar-driven music'. The result is The Big Melt, the duo's first missive as H.A.N.K. Beginning with the immersive, enveloping sound world that is 'Cruise' - a slow-build, effects-laden dreamscape that offers nods to classic Tangerine Dream, shoegaze and 1990s ambient electronica - the album bobs along attractively, with exotic rhythms and intoxicated electronics ('A Useful Fever') sitting side by side with shuffling Balearic instrumentals ('Azul's Garden'), kosmiche epics ('Jag Aar Jag'), sitar-laden wonders ('While My Tar Gently Weeps'), and analogue-rich nods to Neu!, Can and Dunkelziffer ('No Harm').
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in stock $28.19
83
in stock $25.15
84
in stock $20.73
85
Review: You should never assume too much when it comes to Eartheater. Powders on Mad Decent and finds the maverick modernist at her most vulnerable and exposed. Where she's so often warped and manipulated her voice as part of her hyper pop experimentation, here she comes through in strikingly direct terms whether soaring over elegant threads of synthesis (on gorgeous opener 'Sugarcane Switch') or covering System of a Down's 'Chop Suey' in fragile, acoustic fashion. Even after so many albums, it feels like we're still in the process of understanding the many dimensions of the Eartheater creative universe, and here is but one new galaxy to explore.
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in stock $37.04
86
Cat: ITX 030. Rel: 18 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Unstoppable Munich label Ilian Tape has another entry in its fine ITX Series here and this one is called 'Biospore Farmers' from Fields of Mist, describing it as "Sunrise Beams Through Orbital Mist." In less abstract terms, it is a gorgeously hazy and lo-fi electro-exploration. The first two cuts are slow, doleful and reflective with grainy pads and deep space ambiance swirling around nice rough-edged broken beats. The B-side picks up the pace with the brilliantly kinetic bounce of 'Astral Projection Spores' and then the skittish and celestial trip that is 'Orbital Mist'. A high-class EP once again.
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out of stock $16.30
87
Review: Bullion (Nathan Jenkins) returns with a surprise full-length album, Affection. Breaking from his irreverent electro-shanties for a minute, Affection reminds us of Jenkins' far-reaching capacities as a producer and songwriter, with each song on this expansive new LP centring on the titular theme of affection and intimacy. Avowing the sound advice that is not to take others' advice, Bullion's M.O. going into the record was to follow his instincts and treat the studio as a site of adventure; this is reflected as much in the album's roomy, deep and detuned pop ditties, which veer away from banger science and more into the slow dreams of warm synths, subtle progressions and emergent horizons. Carly Rae Jepsen's feature is the bait highlight on 'Rare', though star cuts like 'World_train' and 'Cinch' also catch us off guard.
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in stock $29.29
88
Cat: 189763 4. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $29.57
89
Review: Panoram crafts soundscapes for dreams that take unexpected turns. Imagine dozing off on a lazy afternoon with the TV murmuring in the background, snippets of conversation drifting through an open window. Half-formed thoughts wander into a surreal movie behind closed eyelids-vivid colours, unfamiliar characters. Across 17 sketch-like tracks, Panoram weaves a labyrinth where reality blurs: ethereal vocal pads, faux guitar, detuned synths, bursts of flute, and orchestral percussion, even cheeky cartoon samples. It's chillout music with a cool edge, ambient with a hint of irony. Great Times challenges ambient norms, offering cryptic tracks that explore fleeting ideas-where anxiety, distraction and grace intersect.
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out of stock $25.42
90
Cat: TTT 109. Rel: 21 Oct 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Following 2022's Orange, Naarm (Melbourne) based pair CS + Kreme return with a brand new third album The Butterfly Drinks The Tears Of The Tortoise. This time out, the pair decide to head into a world of more dramatic sounds and global soundscapes that fuse organic elements like medieval arrangements, seafaring guitar strums and Sundanese tarawangsa strings with their own signature rhythms and industrial-edged drums. The standout track 'Uki' exemplifies this contrast as it evolves from abstract vocal loops and whispers into an avant-garde acid techno workout with claps and sharp melodies. The album therefore ably showcases the CS + Kreme's ability to merge delicate harmonies with unpredictable sonic structures.
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in stock $33.72
91
Review: Ephemera is the debut album from Fergus Jones, formerly known as Perko, an Edinburgh-born, Copenhagen-based producer, DJ and founder of the FELT label. The nine-track album was created through collaborative efforts with musicians like Huerco S, James K and Koreless and explores Jones' personal and sonic journey while blending instinctive production with emotional depth. Tracks like 'Heima,' co-produced with Huerco S and James K, and 'Tight Knit' featuring Birthmark and ELDON, are perfect examples of the album's blend of raw emotion, intricate sound design and evocative vocals, all of which head into bold new territory stylistically.
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out of stock $25.15
92
Review: HNNY's long-awaited album Light Shines Through marks a serene return to electronic soundscapes, offering a delicate and introspective journey through ten tracks. After nearly a decade, the Swedish produceriknown for his minimalist, atmospheric productionsidelivers a record filled with soothing, vibrant compositions perfect for moments of quiet reflection. Moving away from the soulful samples of his debut, Light Shines Through focuses on ambient serenity. Tracks like 'Melody Electronics' and 'The Smallest Things' showcase a subtle blend of muted percussion, shimmering synths, and ethereal vocals, creating a tranquil listening experience. Even the more energetic moments, like 'All For You', maintain a chilled-out quality, with light rhythms and swirling melodies inviting calm. The album is concise but fully captivating, weaving tiny sonic worlds within its restrained runtime. HNNY's intricate yet understated approach makes it a perfect companion for study sessions or peaceful mornings. From the hypnotic repetition of the title track to the soft journey of 'Morning Trip', Light Shines Through is an endearing exploration of electronic simplicity and introspection.
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! low stock $26.81
93
Cat: MISSYOU 038. Rel: 04 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Curiously, 'The Winning Streak' has nothing to do with Miami Vice the TV series - in fact, the artist was an alias of library music legend Alan Hawkshaw and the track was a piece he composed in the early 1980s that ended up being used as the theme for a long-forgotten UK drama about 'family business intrigue'. The track, presented on this Miss You reissue in extended and original forms, is however a far-sighted treat - a combination of Harold Flatermeyer style synthsesiser excellence, delay-laden drums, Martin Rushent-esque percussion, trippy melodic motifs and just the right amount of sonic intrigue. A slept-on delight for sure. To round off an excellent EP, we also get original bonus cut 'Roadrunner', a synth-heavy instrumental which was used as incidental music in the TV series.
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in stock $19.62
94
in stock $35.66
95
Review: Lips & Rhythm cruises into Summer 2024 with a new EP by Residentes Balearicos. Based in Ibiza, Alessandro Doretto and Luca Averna craft sun-drenched dance music from their island studio. The title track, 'Paraiso,' merges slowed-down Acid and Flamenco guitar with claps, creating a timeless vibe. 'Polvo Mineral' offers mystery with ethereal pads, robust drum fills, and chanting. 'I Wanna Dance' pays homage to the Italian Dream House era with lush chimes, driving synth lines, and pitched-down vocals. Gaspar Muniz, with roots in Brazil and New York, remixes 'Paraiso' into a breaky electro track perfect for late nights in Rio De Janeiro...or whoever you are so long as you shut your eyes and dream.
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in stock $22.10
96
Cat: PMKA 1008. Rel: 20 May 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Japanese stars Akiko and Yukihiro Fukutomi came together to cover SADE's anthem several years ago but it now makes its way back to fresh wax courtesy of Record Store Day 2024. They infused it with dark, mysterious jazz and contemporary influences and Akiko's enigmatic vocals intertwine flawlessly with the minimalist arrangement. On the B-side, their original 'let GO' offers a spiritual journey through dub-techno realms where the synergy between Akiko's emotive delivery and Fukutomi's masterful production creates a captivating sound. This release epitomises the pair's creative chemistry and innovative approach to blending diverse musical elements into a seamless, immersive new realm.
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in stock $19.62
97
Review: Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation has long been a ardent fan of the DJ community and his most recent physical output strategy is to take key tracks from his most recent album and place them on DJ friendly 7" singles, each released with beautiful artwork and matching coloured vinyl, with an unreleased track to compliment on the B-side. 'Poppy Fields' is a funky groove that features a unique melody and urban eastern vibe to it. The flip side, 'French Bird' continues the smooth downtempo happenings. With Eric Hilton, you can always expect a great groove and a wonderful approach to chill out music - this is no exception.
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in stock $8.22
98
Review: Cold Busted ventures into downtempo and Balearic territory here with Vanilla offering up a limited but 7" full of hazy and lo-fi beat sketches that make you ache for a sun lounger and a warm day. The gentle beats of 'Pointbreak' are offset by wonky and detuned chords that bring a sense of irreverence and 'Surfin' Summer' then casts you adrift on nice lazy sax motifs. 'Remember' keeps the grooves slow and low and 'Breeze' shuts down with another cathartic and open-skied sonic excursion. A perfect accompaniment to some mental escapism, then.
in stock $13.82
99
out of stock $34.26
100
Cat: FJLP 03. Rel: 25 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
out of stock $30.12
101
out of stock $30.68
102
in stock $30.68
103
Review: Upstairs P. is also known as Garrett Rowley) and is a DJ and producer who is currently based in Los Angeles. So far his sounds have come on the likes of Germany's Public Possession in the form of a collaboration with Baba Stiltz, who has contributed to part 2 on the flipside of this new 12" on Punchy & Friends. 'Grem Freche (part 1)' is a melon-twisting bit of psyched-out dark disco, chug and downtempo no wave with endless percussive evolutions and winding rhythms. 'Grem Freche (part 2)' has a more loose, DIY and dubbed out edge but is just as excellent
in stock $19.08
104
Review: By Scott Hansen's previously prolific standards, we've had to wait a fair old while for a new album. Infinite Health, the third Tycho album for Ninja Tune after years signed to Ghostly International, is by design something of a reset: a self-proclaimed meditation on "hope for the future" mixed with a "requiem for the past". Stylistically, that also means a return to his electronic roots, with colourful, melody-rich and sun-splashed synth sounds combined with unfussy beats and breaks, toasty basslines and glistening, AM radio-friendly guitar licks. It is then, regardless of the inspirations behind it, a classic-sounding Tycho album - as highlights 'Phantom', the instrumental deep synth-pop dreaminess of 'Devices' and the lo-fi, trip-hop influenced shuffle of 'Green' emphatically prove.
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in stock $10.23
105
Review: Years after his debut and a string of four further albums, American downtempo pop powerhouse Tycho aka. Scott Hansen presents his sixth record Infinite Health. Hansen says Infinite Health is "about hope for the future and a requiem for the past." He explains: "I kept thinking back to the high-water mark scene in Fear and Loathing, the author sitting at a typewriter looking out a window onto his past, trying to find meaning in the chaos. Infinite Health is about creating a space for healing and reflection, a mantra for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing." Working within a higher-tempo, haute house range, the likes of 'Phantom', 'Devices' and 'Green' bridge the divides of acoustic and electronic, effortlessly portraying the imaginary unity of both, offering pristine ambitronic lulls and eco-friendly highs.
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in stock $27.37
106
Review: Love Spirals Downwards' seminal 1998 album, Flux, receives a well-deserved vinyl reissue, enriching its ethereal soundscape with newfound clarity and depth. Remastered by Ryan Lum, the album's lush blend of ethereal guitars, celestial vocals, and pioneering breakbeats resonates as powerfully today as it did upon its debut. From the skittering rhythms of 'City Moon' to the haunting beauty of 'Psyche,' the album's innovative fusion of genres captivates listeners, offering a timeless sonic journey. Insightful liner notes by Jason Morehead of Opus Zine accompany the release, providing a deeper understanding of the album's creative process and enduring impact. Flux stands as a landmark in the dream pop genre, hailed by Pitchfork and post-punk.com among others and this vinyl reissue allows fans to rediscover its transcendent beauty once again.
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out of stock $32.05
107
(Blu-ray)
Review: When Air's Moon Safari first landed on terra firma in 1997, it was a revelation that flipped the French touch boom on its head. Swapping discoid thrust for sensual lounge, Nicolas Jean Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel kept a certain sophisticated nostalgia in their sound which tracked with their compatriots, but they absolutely weaved their own spell with it. The hits caught on for good reason, from the dirty grind of 'Sexy Boy' to the swooning romanticism of 'All I Need' featuring Beth Hirsch on vocals, but the moments in between merely added to the spectacle, lodging Air in the hearts and minds of a whole generation. This special anniversary edition adds a second disc of B-sides, remixes and session tracks, plus a Blu-ray disc featuring the iconic videos and a documentary from the Moon Safari era.
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in stock $25.15
108
Cat: NEW 9271LPC. Rel: 28 Oct 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: When It Falls is a timely but classic album from Zero 7, whose music by the point of 2001 had been firmly planted chiefly among the go-to repertoire for chillout music, before the chillout room itself was ousted from the average club. Sporting such popular singles as 'Home' and 'Warm Sounds', the record also features now-stellar artists Sia Furler and Sophie Barker, pre-empting their latter-day fame with an emphasis on talent alone. The overall sound is slinky and cadenced, daring to incorporate uniques from bossa nova and lounge in what would have otherwise been an incongruous soundworld of breakbeat, trip-hop and electro; this is achieved through as much acoustic instrumentation and as many tactile recordings as possible.
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in stock $31.23
109
Review: Cultured Swiss techno label Acquit has put together this cheeky little 7" from Trecci with one great tune on each side. 'Invisible Self' is the opener and it is a delightfully curious, inviting blend of soft focus synth loops and smeared pads that sounds like waking up on a distant planet. On the flip, 'Sit And Wonder' starts with pensive piano chords which are eventually carried away on a supple deep house grove with loopy bongos and a feel-good sense of late-night cruising. Tasteful stuff for sure.
in stock $7.73
110
Review: Long-time UK music favourite Midland has taken a long old time to get his debut album into the world, but it was more than worth the wait. As you should expect from this cultured operator, it's not just a collection of bangers. Instead, it is a very personal deep dive and interrogation of the gay experience and AIDS epidemic. In amongst the sophisticated blends of meaningful synths, suspensory ambient sounds and a few more propulsive club cuts, the whole thing is infused with spoken word monologues and thoughtful words from a range of artists who experienced the crisis at its peak in the 80s and have long lived with the consequences. A truly special album.
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out of stock $25.71
111
Review: DJ Fede has our minds turning to warmer climates, longer days and sun-kissed parties not only with the artwork but also the sounds of his new 12" on Balearia. 'Santa Eularia Des Riu' is the one original single and is a delightfully deep, dreamy sound with muted sax lines up top, chords that ripple and melt away and organic percussion that brings that 70s hint of Ibiza hedonism. A Midnight dub mix ups the pace only slightly, then the Jovonn Forest remix brings a subtle deep house dynamism to proceedings before the Atmospheric Sunset version cuts utterly loose and lays back gazing up at the flame-red sky.
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in stock $14.92
112
Review: Relative newcomers Infradisco blend a Balearic sound of disco and house for the Italian label Archeo Recordings. Aqua Cheta is a blend of proper electronic examples of Balearic and chill out influences. 'Caduca' (Hear & Now remix) is ideal for the late-night scene with a blend a perfect blend of 80s and 90s but still sounding futuristic. Manu Archeo's remix of 'Dulcis' is a beautiful laid back downtempo jam that shimmers like a hazy day on the beach. We think you will like the organic and mystical 'Fluminea' as well. This EP couldn't finish any better than on the ambient tip with a soul warming float on the marina remix by Ocean Moon. Fans of Balearic, Cafe Del Mar and chill out music will treasure this EP no doubt. This 12" comes with a CD as well.
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in stock $34.26
113
Cat: PAULINST 0023LP. Rel: 08 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
out of stock $24.31
114
in stock $10.78
115
Review: Acclaimed Japanese artist Cornelius is back with a new three-song EP, Bad Advice/Mind Train, featuring a collaboration with Arto Lindsay. The EP's first single, 'Mind Train,' is an epic nine-minute track inspired by Yoko Ono which blends ethereal space-pop with minimalist structures and bursts of exhilarating chaos. Cornelius describes 'Mind Train' as a symbol of spiritual and inner exploration that is designed to prompt self-reflection. The accompanying video, created by renowned visual stylist Keita Onishi, enhances this journey with stunning retro-futuristic graphics that allow you to explore your own interpretations.
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in stock $27.91
116
out of stock $10.78
117
Review: Max Graef emerged with a dusty, lo-fi and lived-in house sound that soon made him a favourite amongst the underground heads of the early 2010s. In the years since he has dropped plenty of fine tunes and a great full-length and has seemingly been working on his skills and musicality because this new full-length is a real step up in quality. It comes as always on his home label Tartelet and mixes up some lush downtempo sounds with deep house bits, Balearic moments and plenty of soulful charm.
in stock $22.10
118
Review: French-Canadians Margaux Sauve and Louis-Etienne Santais are Ghostly Kisses the internationally acclaimed pop pairing that has got a hardcore following of fans all over the globe. They impressed with their debut album Heaven not that long ago and now return with Darkroom, which focuses on the feelings we all had during the pandemic of loneliness. Both artists set up in separate rooms during the writing process and sent snippets to each other to only finalise when they eventually met up which they think ensured they brought "more depth" to their process.
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in stock $20.18
119
Review: Reimer Eising, aka Kettel, and Lennard van der Last, aka Secede, had already been lifelong friends by the time they began working on When Can. The Dutch producers wanted to create a seamless listening experience that would unfold and develop as a film does, using cinematic-leaning sounds to achieve their big idea. The whole thing feels like a narrative, a beginning-middle-end, which is doubly impressive when you learn there was no grand plan to begin with. Just two pals exploring what might come next. Originally released in 2012 - hark!, those heady, innocent days - what's perhaps even more astounding than the picturesque, immersive soundscapes here, is the fact this is the first time When Can has made it onto vinyl. Having said that, 12 years ago was another time and place, not least in terms of music sales, so let's not dwell on what everyone was thinking by not bringing this out on wax sooner. Instead, savour every moment of the rich, dreamy electronica.
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in stock $40.35
120
Review: Reissued after its 1997 debut, Crustation's Bloom emerges from the shadows of trip-hop giants like Portishead and Massive Attack as a legendary gem of the genre. Comprised of Ian Dark, Stig Manley, and Mark Tayler, the Bristol-based band crafted a fantastic sonic universe with their singular LP, featuring the enchanting vocals of Bronagh Slevin, ethereal atmospheres, and hypnotic beats. The album, adorned with artwork co-designed by Stanley Donwood of Radiohead fame, immerses listeners in a dreamy landscape from the opening instrumental 'Hey' to the sublime 'Purple.' Slevin's velvety voice guides us through a nocturnal journey, evoking a sense of safety in darkness. Tracks like 'Close My Eyes' and 'Face The Waves' transport listeners to ethereal realms, while 'Reverie' shows the beauty of orchestral strings intertwined with melancholic lyrics. Yet, it's 'Flame' that stands as the album's pinnacle, a transcendent hymn to beauty and serenity. Beginning with ambient dreaminess, Slevin's whispering vocals crescendo into a breathtaking refrain, accompanied by strings that evoke a phantasmagorical atmosphere. Overall, Bloom remains a hidden masterpiece of trip hop, its nocturnal, spacey, and velvet textures embodying the genre's essence.
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in stock $26.09
121
Review: Unheard Of Hope - one prominent tine of the holy trinity / label supergroup known as TAR/MM/UOH - specialises is that all-too-rare subsection of music, the avant-garde. Theirs is a seedier aesthetic, preferring the more traditional, yet grimmer and demurer ends of this hotly contestable musical "approach", and perhaps emblematic of this is the latest record by Guatemalan cellist and vocalist, Mabe Fratti. Out on every format - tape, CD, vinyl - Sentir que no sabes ("feel like you don't know") hears Fratti's crystalline vocals glint like life-giving liquids, and sound too to effuse from the same fruitful source as its watershed cello lows and occasional blossomy arp-pop structures (ballad 'Pantalla azul' is by far the poppiest moment). The evident confidence brought to the record lends it an element of surprise, too, when we discover that it is entirely thematically rooted in doubt. In the words of the artist, this is a record born of the "moment when you feel you don't know anything and you are soft like jello and any fork can go through you." When one finds strength in permeability, one embraces what is normally registered as a pure antagonism, and all seemingly rigid particulars are changed for ever.
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in stock $15.47
122
Review: Up and coming producer, Volodymyr Gnatenko's THRPY 001, released on the promising new label Rithmotherapy, features three tracks that exemplify what very well be the future of techno. 'Noobkai' opens the EP with a groovy techno beat infused with slight EBM elements and metallic sounds, complemented by melodic parts that create a compelling atmosphere. 'Kistana' blends Goa sounds with techno and trancey moods, creating a track that's both energetic and immersive, showcasing Gnatenko's ability to merge different influences seamlessly. 'Blunariz' finishes the record with a deep electro cut, characterised by moody, post-apocalyptic vibes that leave a lasting impression. THRPY 001 is a forward-thinking release that solidifies Volodymyr Gnatenko and Ritmotherapy as names to watch in the techno scene.
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in stock $19.08
123
Review: Braulio Lam's latest record is a unique outing, spanning pensive ambient dub and trip-hop moods, and cherrying them with an added visual element in the form of a photography insert. Born on the border region of San Diego and Tijuana, Lam's repertoire works in an expressly brooding sound that threshes its inspirations from the close but separate apposition of these two cities. The sense of a polemic being is a central theme of Lam's work; this is not only evident in his practice, which drifts back and forth between music production and photography, but also in the sonic content of Close Up itself, which drifts between depth-scouring electronica and Pacific folk in quick step, revealing them to be dialectically adjoined. Our favourites here have to be 'Buena Vista Social Dub', a crystalline immersion in dub and vocal etherics, and 'Mirror', and 'Monika', which lends a seething tape hue to a slowly moving slice of Latin blues.
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in stock $23.77
124
Cat: DSPPR 85. Rel: 08 Jul 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Warriors Of The Dystotheque, initiated a decade ago by Jonny Mac, now sees its members unite physically for the first time. In doing so they blend diverse sounds, ideas, and influences into an album of gentle grooves, Balearic escapism and plenty of jazz business in between. The journey spans Northern Ireland's Troubles, 90s rave culture, Florida's sunshine, and the contrasts of Ibiza's days and nights as tracks merge live and electronic music while reflecting themes of friendship, loss, despair, and enlightenment. Jonny Mac reflects, "It feels like we've connected the dots on this album, embodying the essence of our band beyond our online origins. It's truly a beautiful thing." It sure is, as well as being a beautifully uplifting work of subtle joy.
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out of stock $30.68
125
in stock $32.88
126
Review: While hearing the words double geography might send you into an immediate cold heat as you're transported back to school and the thought of a long afternoon in a sweaty classroom, this Double Geography stands for quite the opposite. Open Water is the solo vehicle for audio engineer and Weird Weather member Duncan Thornley who hooks up with jazz greats like Greg Foat and Kaidi Akinnibi. It is an utterly blissed-out sound for happy daydreams and summery reveries with drifting sax notes, languid grooves and gentle Beatrice breezes washing over you to soothing effect.
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out of stock $22.39
127
in stock $25.71
128
Review: Albertan experimenter Dylan Khotin follows up last year's full-length with an equally impressionistic two-tracker and logical successor, 'Alterac Acid/Mornings II'. Both tracks here are curious digi-Balearic offerings, with spacious episcopies of sound cast across meandering landscapes once seemingly trawled by space invaders and/or deep-cosmos probes. A nearly aimless acid line unfurls across the A-side, locking things into a nice stasis, before a more subdued, dare say clipped stab-womp drives the action of the B-track, which hardly so much as teases its drum line, nor avails itself of a need to even use drums at all (at points) to compel the listener into a driven, awestruck state of bliss.
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in stock $18.24
129
Review: Balam's new single 'Caravana Planetaria' has already been widely tested on dance floors across the world and has reportedly never failed to make a mark. First up on the 12" is 'Caravana Planetaria' (club mix) which rides on raw drums with slapping hits and has darkened vocal loops adding the character next to spangled pads. 'Caravana Planetaria' (Guitar mix) brings more freaky energy and tense textures for the dark, later nights in the club and 'Caravana Planetaria' (Guitar instrumental) then closes out with an extra edgy sense of uneasy melody.
in stock $17.14
130
out of stock $40.35
131
Review: Recloose is a real magician who cooks up sounds like no other artist. His new EP is another captivating five-tracker that masterfully combines emotive soundscapes, late-night jazz vibes and dub-infused experimentation. Blending funky, cassette-like textures with high-tech musicianship, it showcases his refined signature style which he has been honing for more than 25 years since his iconic demo submission to Carl Craig. Once more here he balances sophisticated atmospheres with a playful, nocturnal energy that is designed for discerning listeners who appreciate subtle, genre-crossing artistry.
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out of stock $25.97
132
Cat: FJLP 02. Rel: 25 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $30.12
133
Review: Dutchman Banabila's second studio album on Knekelhuis once again affirms his status as a boss-level operator among ambient music fans. The eleven-track record explores soul-stirring, krautrock-tinged, and avant-garde electronic landscapes that are all rooted in emotive expression. His compositions feature ethereal voices in the form of fictional characters chanting in a language of their own creation, resonating with a captivating essence that transcends linguistic boundaries. The record also showcases Banabila's mastery of sonic textures as he weaves a narrative of layered complexity and emotional depth while some tracks like 'Rattles' hark back to his earlier work on Knekelhuis.
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in stock $25.71
134
Review: This superbly spaced-out album of guitar-shimmered downtempo odes from Hysterical Love Project is a wonderfully moody and dreamy listen. It rides on gentle 90s-inspired rhythms a la Kruder & Dorfmeister, with angelic vocals woven into the grainy pads. Some cuts are sunny firmly into the sofa while others tentatively raise their head above water. 'Oil Slicks (Song For The Spirals)' is a heartbroken late-night sound for lovelorn wallowing, 'I Hope I See Some Of My Haters Out Tonight' casts you adrift under a moon-lit sky and 'Your Laugh As My Ringtone' is laced with melancholic riffs that lodge deep in the brain.
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out of stock $29.57
135
Cat: HRL 009. Rel: 17 Jun 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Reality Hacked Part 2 collects three more heavyweight remixes of key tracks from Lost Souls Of Saturn’s most recent album Reality. Among such jewels are the serene vocal lilts and trembling percs of UNKLE’s ‘Click’ remix, on which Lvv Gvn soars across the track in awestruck wonderment, and the playful wibbles and stark rhythms of Hessle Audio’s Pangaea on his version of the same. This second 12” in the Reality Hacked series rounds off on a heavy-set dubby take on ‘Scram City’ by Echologist.
in stock $25.71
136
Review: Martina Topley-Bird's Quixotic, originally released in 2003 and now reissued, stands as a bold statement of her artistic independence. While known for her work with Tricky, Topley-Bird emerges from his shadow here, sowing off a versatile and compelling sound. The album opens with the captivating 'Intro,' which sets a unique tone with its a cappella style. 'Need One' follows, blending stoner rock with electronic elements, creating a gritty yet intriguing vibe. Tracks like 'Anything' and 'Soul Food' highlight her ability to fuse acoustic balladry with modern production, offering melodies that linger long after the songs end. Topley-Bird's vocals are a standout throughout, particularly on 'Ragga' and 'Lying,' where her delivery is both powerful and intimate. While Quixotic does explore a range of genres, it feels cohesive, each track contributing to the album's moody atmosphere. For fans of trip-hop, electronica and beyond, Quixotic is an engaging and worthy listen and purchase.
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in stock $40.63
137
out of stock $14.37
138
Cat: LSP 004LP. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $26.81
139
Review: This new one from El Triangulo Records is the debut single from North Satellite's 2023 album, Past Life Half-Lived. It features several different and equally good versions including the original LP vision by the legendary Metro Area man Darshan Jesrani and alternate versions by Eugene Tambourine and Conrad McDonnell of Idjut Boys fame. The 12" is limited to 300 copies and for our money features some of the best cosmic disco and analogue drum grooves we've heard in a while. Of all the highlights, the opening Cosmic Freestyle is the one we love most.
in stock $16.02
140
Cat: 586084 8. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $50.84
141
out of stock $27.63
142
Cat: RHMRP 004. Rel: 25 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $13.82
143
Review: Texan producer Gi Gi has been quietly doing his thing for some time, serving up limited and self-released albums that blend chopped, screwed and heavily manipulated samples with dusty instrumentation and nods to vintage trip-hop, Balearic soundscapes and ambient experimentalism. Dreamliner, officially his fourth studio album, dials down the samples - at least in comparison to the dense collages of found sounds and familiar snippets of old - in favour of a warming, heady and intoxicating palette of sounds, rhythms and sonics rooted in kosmiche, stoned trip-hop, the sparkling sound worlds of Global Communication, folktronica and densely layered ambient. If you're a little anxious about the state of the world and seeking calming, meditative music in which to lose yourself, look no further.
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in stock $27.63
144
Cat: LPSHSH 067. Rel: 28 Oct 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Tenalach, the latest EP from Chancha Via Circuito and El Buho, engages listeners in an enigmatic and atmospheric soundscape, blending organic and electronic elements. Following their earlier collaborations, this release takes them deeper into uncharted sonic territory, creating a vivid, almost otherworldly experience. With its mysterious tones, Tenalach feels like a soundtrack to an alternate realityiimagine a journey through Latin American jungles and mountains, as if guided by the spirits of nature. The opener 'El Samurai' stays closest to the duo's signature folktronic sound, blending cowbells, violin-like synths, and animalistic rhythms. 'Sapo Cururu' introduces an intriguing mix of croaking frogs and driving snares, pushing genre boundaries with its primal energy. 'Oropendola' lifts with its strobing synths and the delicate flutter of birds, creating a dreamlike, airy atmosphere. Meanwhile, 'Sumay' delivers a powerful blend of epic synth lines and Chancha's hallmark percussion, evoking both majesty and melancholy. While the EP pulses with life, it's neither downtempo nor uptempoiexisting in a space that defies easy categorisation. Reflecting a more introspective and darker edge, Tenalach captures a subtle tension, hinting at the duo's contemplation of a rapidly changing world and the blurred lines between human and nature. A truly unique listen.
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out of stock $19.08
145
Review: C-thru - The Otherworld is a classy collection of introspective, cosmic-leaning dance music from Austin-based producer Jesse Edwards. It finds him paying his own personal homage to the golden era of trance, ambient and downtempo and they come after years of inactivity and mark a fresh new phase for Edwards, who was previously known for his psychedelic project Red Morning Chorus which got some deserving attention from Boards of Canada, no less. Edwards began his musical journey in the late 90s, collaborating with Jessica Bailiff on several albums, including works with Flying Saucer Attack and His Name is Alive, but has never sounded better than this.
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in stock $25.42
146
Review: ile Flottante is Mr. Beatnick's fith album, following 2023's Joy In Variation (including the notorious cover of 'Love On A Real Train'), and his well-received, off-beat collaboration with London-based avant-garde agitator Richard Greenan: Coasty. This is his first contribution to the International Feel trademark; the record draws its name from the national French staple pudding enjoyed on Mr. Beatnick's childhood holidays, also being a jeux de mot (pun) for "floating island". With fantasy visions of self-suspensory lands held firmly in mind, we launch ourselves into a bristling eight-track record, breezily nodding along to the rhythmic snowfall detailed on 'Crystal Snowflakes' and the impossible aerial beaches of 'Low Tide'. A truly fantastical sonic landscape; in a realm of floating landmasses, do dolphins still dance? Mr. Beatnick seems to say yes.
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in stock $23.77
147
Review: Mr. Wallace wraps up his Theme & Beat trilogy with a final flourish of delicate, expansive sounds that traverse both the real and imaginary. Across 12 tracks, there's an unmistakable blend of craftsmanship and experimentation, clearly informed by his years of crate-digging rare records and self-taught multi-instrumentation. From the opening lift-off to the dreamy wanderings of 'A Walk In The Park' and 'Drifting Away,' he transports listeners into library music-inspired landscapes that feel both lush and cinematic. The analogue/digital hybrid approach brings warmth and precision, with a particular nod to classic ambient and downtempo. Tracks like 'Chemical Spill' and 'The Getaway Car' throw in a bit of unease amidst the calm, while 'Communicating With Gods' edges into more abstract territory, effortlessly showcasing Wallace's skill at blending mood and atmosphere. 'The Sun Is Rising' closes the album on an epic note, a fitting conclusion to a project that's rooted in detailed sound design and ever-evolving production choices. Each track feels like a small, immersive world of its own, filled with layers that invite repeated listens to catch all the nuances. Wallace's dedication is evident, not just in the hours spent learning and perfecting his craft, but in how he's able to create something that balances both nostalgia and forward-thinking production.
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out of stock $47.81
148
Review: Ghost Box present the CD edition of their latest record by freakish scene-dazzlers Beautify Junkyards, Nova. Despite the record's immediate imagism bringing together news clipping collage, and connotations of scrapheaps and salvaging indicated by the band's name, the sound of the record is anything but adjacent to these themes. The six-piece psychedelia/acid folk band command a wide foundry of instruments, smoothening any rough edge into a shared, sonically doughy dream, beautifying a well-sifted haul of believably, formerly scrapped instruments into a pristine assemblage. Though it builds on motifs heard in 60s and 70s film soundtracks, echoing spaghetti Westerns and early sci-fi, the record's best moments are its seemingly impossible electronica syntheses, such as the unassailed critical mass of trickling drum machine, spring reverb, tonal murmur and near-atonal noise reached on 'Raridade De Contrastes'.
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in stock $11.66
149
Review: The super French crew Hard Fist have got a brilliantly twisted new Balearic record on their hands here thanks to the work of Shkema in both original and remix mode. He goes first with the deep, dubby and post-punk moodiness of 'Tas Malonumas' then 'Room Of Men Eaters' is a chugging deep disco cut with a fine vocoder vocal that brings some trippiness. 'Sarka Syrkaza' on the flip is another dark one with twisted metal guitar lines and rooted drum drums, then he remixes Afrodelic's 'Je N'Aime Pas Les Fetes' into a loose-limbed and percussive dub disco delight with filtered and freaky vocals.
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in stock $17.42
150
in stock $45.31
151
VARIOUS
Cat: DELIA 001LP. Rel: 29 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Delia Recordings is a new micro-label from Nottingham that launches into the world with this very tidy new album, Then Horizon Is On The Horizon. It's a various artists collection of absorbing works curated, mixed and produced by lifelong gear collector Matt Horobin and it comes on vinyl and CD and includes postcards. The tracks are all taken from three upcoming albums the label is working on by artists Brown Fang, Torn Sail and Shrinkwrap, and bridge the gap between the local evolving Balearic scene and Laurel Canyon escapism. Gentle grooves, downbeat dub and delicate drones all feature.
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out of stock $37.31
152
Cat: PLZ 048CD. Rel: 27 May 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: After a flurry of announcements and teasers comes Vegyn's latest record The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions. Arguably more of an aesthetic regrounding compared an long spell of style-establishing wonders, this record hears Joe Thornalley revive his original alias, and is unabashed in its involving of several London-centric all-star vocalists including John Glacier, Matt Maltese, Ethan P. Flynn, Lea Sen and Lauren Auder. All are heard banding together to ruminate on themes of faith, self-acutalization and eternity, together spanning multiple registers and gliding serenely over Vegyn's various dream-jungle, trap, pop and post-everything beats. Even the non-featured tracks contain vocal delights, with highlight 'Everything Is The Same' pitching up what we can only assume to be Vegyn's own, in a glitzed-out take on a Jai Paul-esque beatscape.
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in stock $11.61
153
in stock $13.25
154
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155
Review: Noema's new album ONE has been artfully reworked here by a range of a talents from divergent electronic worlds. Up first, Kalabrese presents a suberb re-imagining, layering funky keyboards, live drums, and his signature vocals atop the original track. Lauer follows with a leftfield disco piece featuring a lively arpeggio synth, live drums and an infectious melody. Mehmet Aslan's remix brims with rhythmic textures, playful melodies and funky electro breakbeats and Panthera Krause delivers an energetic dance anthem propelled by mind-bending arpeggiators and syncopated chords. Lastly, Shubostar injects her infectious "cosmic disco" sound into Noema's funky and surreal universe, adding a groovy twist to the mix.
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in stock $15.47
156
Review: Veteran Swiss born producer Kay Zee (Patrick Hollenstein) and the EP The Whole Shebang is released on Zurich based label Phantom Island. If you are looking for unique electronic music, then look no further than this little slice of wax that is limited to 20 copies. We really like the unique sound in 'Le Reve' with the experimental rhythm that combines dub and electro into a odd but slamming frenzy. Not to be outdone is the quirky electro of 'Strange Side Effects' or the catchy downtempo strangeness that is 'Inglisch'. 'Razor Sharp Boogie' covers the entire B-side with a cool, retro sounding jam. All and all, you have a very special 12" that sounds unlike anything out there. In this day in age, that is very special indeed.
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out of stock $30.68
157
in stock $22.66
158
out of stock $32.34
159
Review: Shanghai-based producer Knopha lands on Mule Musiq after picking up plaudits for his Nothing Nil EP on Eating Music. What he turns out here is some beautiful stuff inspired by Oriental New Age. 'Water Play' imperfectly blissed out and liquid ambient house and dub fused into something soul-soothing. Kuniyuki turns out a magical remix that has shimmering melodies and organic drum sounds washing over you then 'Palm Warmth' is all glistening melodies, celestial pads and delicate hang drum patterns that suspend you amongst the clouds. 'Prairie' shuts down with bubbly broken beats and warped leads peppered with soft shakes and more heavenly harmonies.
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in stock $17.68
160
in stock $23.20
161
Review: Toby Marks aka. Banco De Gaia is one of the foremost producers to ever operate in the crossover of breakbeat and 'tribal'. That pairing of associations might seem naff to some music fans now, but no performative dismissal on the grounds of any connotative problematic can ever detract from the inpourings of ardour and talent gone into his albums. Trauma is Marks' first record in nearly ten years, following on from The 9th Of Nine Hearts, and hears the esteemed trance-gressor continue to eke a sound rooted in the oblique, yet inspirationally powerful themes of global sufferance and idealism, both of which find their expression in the weighty, acidic dreamworlds of 'War' and 'The Dying Light', which are complex in mood and express a real ambivalence through their concurrent use of deep stereo padwork and poignant vocal sampleage. Far from indulging a mood of pure resignation, Marks crafts a dance-musical dreamworld that demands analysis, through which Trauma refers not to a wound, but to a dream.
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in stock $24.05
162
Review: Little Dragon - the pioneering Swedish four-piece fronted by enigmatic vocalist Yukimi Nagano, with multi-instrumentalists Hakan Wirenstarnd and Fredrik Wallin on keyboards and bass respectively, and Erik Bodin on drums and percussion - return with their sixth studio album, New Me, Same Us. After an impressive period of renown lasting almost two decades, this new record sounds like a moment of respite and a return to basics. "This album has been the most collaborative for us yet." they explain, "which might sound weird considering we've been making music together for all these years, but we worked hard at being honest, finding the courage to let go of our egos and be pieces of something bigger." This entailed total self-production in a long-term home studio built in Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as an impressively stripped-back sound, towing lullabies such as 'Where You Belong' and 'New Fiction', which both reassure and rouse at the same time.
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in stock $25.71
163
out of stock $27.91
164
out of stock $27.09
165
Review: Daffodils & Dirt, the debut album by Samantha Morton and Richard Russell, is a brooding and poetic exploration of Morton's troubled past and raw emotional experiences. With Russell's production prowess, the duo creates an unsettling yet captivating musical landscape that delves into themes of resilience and vulnerability. Morton's haunting vocals, coupled with Russell's sparse yet evocative soundscapes, transport listeners into the depths of her teenage years, where she grappled with homelessness and instability. The album's collaborations with artists like Jack Penate, Laura Groves, and Ali Campbell add unexpected layers of depth and beauty to the already compelling narrative. The album is a mesmerising blend of haunting melodies and raw emotion, inviting listeners to journey alongside Morton as she navigates the complexities of her past.
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in stock $25.71
166
Review: Lorenzo Montana is an Italian soundtrack composer, sound engineer, and producer, with a prolific career spanning decades. Vion is his 29th full-length album, and marks his first solo effort for the Oakland-based emotive electronics outpost n5MD. Here Montana fleshes out the full possibilities gleanable from the use of drum brushes, diving into the wonderful world of jazz brush patterns, in order produce an electroacoustic record with a glistening ambient palette - whereas beforehand, the use of drum brushes might have otherwise felt mostly unfairly relegated to 'jazzy' electronic genres like broken beat. From 'Nympalidea' to 'Vilu', Montana's expert digital touch, and ear for texture, is heard and felt throughout, with the central brush patterns banking on their distinctive timbre to both stand out and yet also melt into the surrounding, progressive ambiance.
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in stock $21.28
167
Cat: PILOTTON 32. Rel: 11 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Grains is Boozoo Bajou's 2009 third album; marked out as the duo's most "organic" record, we hear the inimitable blends of Louisiana Cajun, Caribbean music and electronica, once again laid bare by the pioneering pairing of Peter Heider and Florian Seyberth. Still taking after their local Laurel Canyon as their muse, Heider and Seyberth crafted a lush yet ruddy record 15 years ago, relying on the bare ability to tenderise vocals and guitar, over and above any production trickery (though the record is relatively polished too). Grains heralds a predominantly trip hop direction when the beats aren't softened, with 'Signs' serving as the prime example.
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out of stock $35.66
168
Review: One of the more surprising trends of the early 1990s was the fusion of contemporary club culture - or at least the slow-motion end of it - with what would have once been considered 'church music'. While it was made famous by Enigma's global hit 'Sadness', Sloopey G's 'Domine' EP was reportedly recorded and released first. Certainly 'This Is The Day (Notre Dame Remix)', which naturally heads this THANK YOU reissue, sounds like a prototype of the Enigma sound - think British street soul beats, dreamy ambient pads, sampled monk chants, tactile bass and spoken word vocals. The EP also includes both similarly formed original bonus cuts, 'Victime' and the house-influenced 'Cathederal Dance', as well as previously unheard bonus cut 'Love In Heaven', a deliciously, shuffling and saucer-eyed affair.
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in stock $21.00
169
in stock $34.54
170
Cat: IF 116CD. Rel: 17 Jun 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Amongst fans of the late Coil member (and prolific electronic experimentalist) Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson, the Amulet album has long been spoken of in hushed tones. The second and final set he recorded as The Threshold Houseboys Choir, it was recorded in 2008 and only available at gigs (or via mail-order) in a "hand-made four mini-CDR package housed in a circular Thai amulet case". This, then, is the set's first "proper" release, with the material now stretched across two CDs. Reminiscent of some of Coil's more colourful and polished works of the early-to-mid 1990s, much of the material on Amulet blurs the boundaries between ambient, dub, trip-hop and downtempo psychedelia, sitting somewhere between vintage Orb albums and the more out-there escapades of Future Sound of London.
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in stock $31.50
171
in stock $23.77
172
Cat: 792755 858769. Rel: 26 Aug 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: It Takes A Thief is the 2010 compilation from the electronic duo Thievery Corporation. Now reissued via Primary Wave, the album comes back again as a sore reminder of a rock-solidly wicked set of tracks, a collection specially selected by the dream team of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton for both longtime fans, and for music lovers who'd heard of Thievery Corporation but may have never listened to the band. It Takes a Thief features 'Lebanese Blonde,' the beautiful track notably used in the soundtrack to the controversial Zach Braff film Garden State, as well as 'Sound the Alarm', the funk-infused track that has since become a staple opening track for the band's live shows. Now released on vinyl for the first time, we're more than pumped to help get this one back in circulation.
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in stock $41.45
173
VARIOUS
Cat: DSND 011. Rel: 18 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Dualismo Sound decided to start this new Tribal Italia Breaks compilation with the aim of "reconstructing a different perspective of Tribal Italia," which was a label started in 1995 in Riccione. It was known for its mix of cosmic and Afro-disco sounds and regional DJs such as Meo, Fary, Fattori and Brahms. One aspect of the sound was that it took cub from hip-hop's sample-heavy culture and al that gave birth to the Tribal Italia catalogue. The best of it is offered up here on a worldly trip through all sorts of innovative rhythms and colourful sounds, exotic pads and tropical signifiers. A great retro-future collection of leftfield downtempo and disco, then.
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out of stock $32.05
174
Review: In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Looper's cult classic Up A Tree receives a deluxe reissue that breathes a little new life into the indie favourite. Marking a milestone in the band's career, this edition on limited and translucent green vinyl (including a one-sided organ flexi-disc) offers remastered tracks that showcase Looper's signature blend of electronic experimentation and infectious melodies. Packed with nostalgic charm and still-innovative production, the record which reached #21 on the UK Independent Album chart continues to captivate audiences and comes with remixes, reworks, new sleeve notes and alternative artwork.
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out of stock $27.37
175
Review: The Dining Rooms' tenth studio album, Songs to Make Love To, marks a milestone in their 25-year artistic journey. Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti, the Milanese duo behind the project, continue to push boundaries with their signature blend of psychedelic folk, cinematic atmospheres and hip-hop-inspired downtempo rhythms. Divided into instrumental and vocal tracks, the album shines with the duo's mastery of their craft, with guest appearances by Chiara Castello, Egeeno and Toco adding layers of depth and diversity to the sonic landscape. The artwork, featuring pieces by Tatjana Zonca, sets the stage for an exploration of love in its myriad forms - from the explicit act of loving to the intricacies of relationships and the concept of liberated love beyond possession. What sets Songs to Make Love To apart is its incorporation of anthropological and ethnomusicological themes, drawing inspiration from field recordings of urban sounds from around the world. This fusion of classic TDR sound with sounds from Genoese carruggi, Milanese dockyards and global cities like Istanbul and Sao Paulo adds a rich texture to the album, elevating it to a truly excellent listening experience.
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in stock $29.02
176
out of stock $17.14
177
Cat: PNFG 41CD. Rel: 15 Apr 24
Balearic/Downtempo
in stock $13.25
178
in stock $34.82
179
out of stock $33.15
180
in stock $13.82
181
Cat: STRD XV. Rel: 04 Mar 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: In April 2023, Swiss label Subject To Restrictions Discs offered up a fine debut EP from Zurich electronic wave duo Dadalus & Bikarus. This follow-up EP presents the same tracks in freshly remixed form, with a variety of underground heroes and rising stars providing the revisions. Saeko Killy kicks things off with a minimalistic, subtly funky new wave rework of 'Voran', before Cage & Aviary man Jamie Paton drops versions of two tracks: a moody, slap bass-sporting dark-wave re-wire of 'Youri Gagarine', and a chugging, A Love From Out of Space style tweak of 'Gone'. Over on side B, Andrei Rusu re-imagines 'Tous Les Mesonges' as a dense, discordant slab of rolling acid-electro, while Anastasia Zems turns 'Voran' into a brain-melting acid jacker.
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in stock $17.96
182
Review: Stella Polaris has long been focused on showcasing quality Scandinavian electronica, chill-out, downtempo, leftfield indie music with 18 years of festival offerings and associated label outings. This new compilation is another bumper mix on double gatefold and coloured wax with a specific focus on female producers. There are chugging cosmic delights like Lucca's Pitch Down Stella remix of Groove Armada's 'Time & Space,' while Cemetary's Stella Polaris remix of Mads Bjorn's 'I Have Nothing To Say' feat Rick Astley is a cinematic and atmospheric sound with celestial melodies and an airy synth groove. Furterh cuts from Sekuoia, Beg Steal Or Borrow and Glitch Garden make this a brilliantly interplanetary listen.
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in stock $38.42
183
in stock $25.71
184
Review: 24 H Avant La Nuit is a new EP from Lord Ringard but anyone who has seen him play in the last couple of years will likely have heard these jams before. They have been out digitally in that time but never on wax, which is where music this good belongs. getting out in the deep and leggy grooves of 'Bis Repetita Placent' is as smooth as slipping into silk pyjamas. 'Il Vento Solare' slows things down further and douses you in synth-laced romance and optimism and 'IWYN' then gets deep with a gospel vocal cry over languid 90s house beats. 'SK's Sunrise' is a sugary and starry-eyed downtempo closer for late night lovers.
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out of stock $16.02
185
in stock $21.00
186
Review: Leya Touch and soFa elsewhere, known as Dream Baby Dream, merge their unconventional musical styles in their self-titled album, out now on the wonderful Hell Yeah . Their sound weaves occult synths and processed vocals over dubbed-out, mid-tempo rhythms to create a retro-futurist blend of cold wave, cosmic disco, dub, and trance. The duo, who see themselves as "two children who refused to grow up," offer a dreamlike journey through playful yet melancholic soundscapes from seductive melodies in 'Love Zone' to the eerie dub of 'Carpenter On The Beach, the album is a captivating mix of past, present, and future musical elements.
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in stock $22.39
187
in stock $15.47
188
in stock $17.96
189
Review: Keanu Nelson is a young Aboriginal Australian artist from the remote community of Papunya, northwest of Alice Springs. He paints in the Western Desert movement style and, on this album, sings poems from his notebook over minimalist Casio beats programmed by Yuta Matsumura. His debut album, which came on the Altered States label, now gets re-issued on a larger scale. Inspired by local gospel and reggae beats, Keanu's songs explore family, home, and loss and he sings in a blend of both Papunya Luritja and English. The result is a haunting, original sound that is part Francis Bebey, part Suicide, and one that feels both familiar and groundbreaking.
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in stock $27.09
190
Review: Shigeto started playing drums at a young age and spent his childhood immersed in the Detroit and Ann Arbor music scene. After nearly failing high school, except for his music studies, he pursued jazz at New York's New School and later in London, where he delved into electronic production. Since moving to Brooklyn in the early 2010s, he has not looked back and is now a mainstay of the underground and a key artist in the Ghostly family. His new album Cherry Blossom Baby marks his first full-length release since 2017 and is is another succulent and sublime blend of electronic, jazz, r&b, and hip-hop with a collaborative Detroit-rooted sound that celebrates personal growth and resilience.
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in stock $28.73
191
Review: Sometimes we get some wonderfully enigmatic notes with new releases and this is one of them. Rather than share them all, enjoy this one line - "Protecting the past by projecting it into the future, preserving identities, encouraging conversations across generations, and above all, safeguarding the island of Procida's vast intangible cultural heritage from extinction." Now you can ponder the meaning of that while getting lost in a collection of global grooves that span dub, downtempo, ambient jungle, Balearic and more with plenty of humid atmospheres, whimsical melodies and a general sense of mystic aura that will keep you coming back for more.
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in stock $17.96
192
Review: Ivanna Ivanivna returns to Companion with her debut full-length release as Space Biology, titled Osmosis. Following the success of her single 'Pulsar' from Companion Collection II, this six-track extended EP further showcases the Ukrainian producer's remarkable creativity and technical prowess. Osmosis offers an excellent blend of lysergic electronica, exploring the fluid realms of dub, downtempo and IDM. The pulsating rhythms are punctuated by muted breaks and airy high frequencies that dance playfully over wobbly, dub-infused basslines. Rich, textural pads envelop sweeping synth melodies, while subtle grooves emerge, guiding listeners through the ethereal soundscape. This release encapsulates a sense of mysticism, inviting introspection and urging us to reflect on our consciousness. It creates an auditory journey that allows our minds to drift among the stars while grounding us with its deep low-end fullness, reconnecting us to the world around us.
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out of stock $19.34
193
Review: Jacob Long's fourth full-length LP for Kranky hears the artist otherwise known as Earthen Sea expand his repertoire to an almost full reimagining, taking to the now longstanding Earthen Sea moniker from the fresh incarnation as a "piano trio", rather than a solo production effort. Though we gather this might not genuinely be the case, all it took was a simple shift in self-imagining to fashion a completely different take on a still so far meditative sound. Here elements were chopped and resampled, then layered with bass, drums, percussion and additional keys; the result is a fusion of live band acoustics and downtempo loops, sculpted into nine smoke-and-mirror dubs of fractured jazz, soft-focus noir and trip hop dust.
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in stock $34.26
194
Cat: GBR 045. Rel: 25 Nov 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: For sensitivity and naturalism in experimental music, Gosha Martynov & Natasha Sinyakova seize the crown with their new album Imena Rek. On their first foray into the physical, the duo expand the spectral ambience and medicated breaks of their earlier work with lithe touches of organic jazz and Cafe Del Mar cool, creating a complex assemblage of dreamy downbeat and emotive electronica that's entirely easy on the ears. The record is an ever-evolving, life-giving slough; we wade through many restorative swamps, each bearing its own sonic, ecosystemic character. The fen's mouth stretches open wide on 'Pozhaluysta', tempting the listener with an open-skied siren song set to skittish drum pats, while things grow hazier from 'Osvobodi Menia' and thereafter; the trip-hop influence is almost entirely naturalised, shedding the genre's usual rough-edged clicks and pops for a preferential sawn-off, willowy sound, that retains its smoothness even in moments of irresolution and tension, as on 'Rany'. And the slow mangrove whirl 'Iskra' really flaunts the pair's talents, with beautifully played pan flutes, and resonant silicate rustles, convoking a new hallowed ground; we wind up mentally clutching at damp mosses, imagining ourselves laid arrest in a sodden but warm bayou, as we're serenaded by two Armenian-American master musicians.
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in stock $27.63
195
Review: Cherry Blossom Baby marks Shigeto's first full-length since 2017, emerging from a period of introspection and renewal. The Detroit-based artist, renowned for his blend of electronic, jazz, r&b and hip-hop, delivers a vibrant, collaborative album that reflects his cultural heritage and personal evolution. Drawing inspiration from the cherry blossoms of Hiroshima, Shigeto infuses each track with a sense of resilience and transformation. The album shows Shigeto's artistry and his commitment to collaboration. From the high-energy 'Ready. Set. Flex' featuring drummer Ian Maciak and rapper Zelooperz, to the soulful 'The Punch' with KESSWA, Shigeto embraces a range of sounds and styles. Tracks like 'BookaMagick' and 'Runnup On'm' showcase his ability to blend genres and create immersive experiences. Cherry Blossom Baby celebrates Shigeto's return to his craft, honoring both his roots and his growth. The record's rich, expansive production, influenced by 70s and 80s psych and jazz, reflects a collaborative spirit and a deep connection to Detroit's musical landscape.
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in stock $24.87
196
Review: Six years after their fan-favourite album Kites, Submotion Orchestra is back with the equally impressive 'Five Points' EP which was recorded over two months at Taz Modi's new studio in Sussex. If finds the band blend electronica, jazz, soul and ambient music in a fresh and distinctive way. After revisiting their past with Unplugged collections and the vinyl release of their debut album Finest Hour, this project is where the band now moves forward with a refreshed perspective. The EP, which features Ruby Wood's fragile vocals and live instrumentation, explores new sonic landscapes and pushes their sound further than ever before as a great taste of the full length to come.
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in stock $17.42
197
Review: Swiss trio Melting Steineicomposed of Martin Schenker, Luzius Schuler, and Dshamilja Kaltireturns with a nostalgic and sun-drenched collection of tracks on their latest offering, Universal Crush. Recorded in a garage-turned-studio using an old Tascam tape machine, the album captures the warmth and charm of analogue production, weaving together influences of jazz, bossa nova, and psychedelic synthesiser music. From the delicate groove of 'Dodge' to the carefree, laid-back sway of 'Front Porch Days', each track radiates a relaxed yet intricate craftsmanship. 'Glide' continues the vibe, its shimmering synths and tape delay effects evoking dreamy, far-off landscapes. The project is filled with a distinct sense of place, as though each song transports the listener to a sun-kissed Mediterranean island. What sets Melting Steine apart is their attention to texture and atmosphere. The use of spring reverb, chorus and vibrato imbues the music with a retro feel, while still sounding refreshingly modern. Tracks like 'Endless' and 'Cassis' are layered with analogue synths and flute melodies, creating a soundscape that feels both organic and otherworldly. This is music designed for daydreams, blending mood and melody with a timeless touch, perfect for escapism without leaving home.
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out of stock $32.88
198
out of stock $23.20
199
Cat: ACAN 11LP. Rel: 17 Jun 24
Balearic/Downtempo
Review: Moby's latest album, Always Centered at Night, is an homage to the power of unrestricted creativity and the allure of New York's late 70s music scene. With the assistance of exceptional vocalists, Moby has crafted a collection of songs that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. The album's unique approach, allowing vocalists complete artistic freedom, has resulted in a tapestry of sonic genius. From serpentwithfeet's ethereal dreamlike vocals to Benjamin's poignant poetry, each track exudes a sense of vulnerability and emotional depth. Always Centered at Night transcends commercial constraints, embracing the beauty of raw and unconventional expression. Moby's aim to foster creative integrity shines through, as the featured artists pour their souls into these collaborative pieces. This eclectic mix highlights the album's commitment to diversity and the celebration of talent beyond traditional boundaries. By showcasing the immense vocal talents of his collaborators, Moby has created an album that is a tribute to the transformative power of music.
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out of stock $28.73
200
in stock $8.93
