Sign up for our newsletter. Cancel anytime you want.
Spotlight 39
Welcome to the Spot Light. Check out the latest psychedelic, cosmic, prog, freakbeat, folk, kraut, experimental, jazz, drone, mystical, and avant-garde sounds!
Looking for older versions of Spotlight Magazine, check the Spotlight Archive.
Business customers, please visit the Clearspot website here.
PSYCHEDELIC/PROGRESSIVE/FOLK
Maya Ongaku
Electronic Phantoms
"Our new album is filled with a kind of sensibility that wasn't a part of our first one: a desire to get anyone who hears it to get up and dance. We spent 2023 playing a good number of live shows, from touring and playing festivals throughout Europe and Japan. We are a band without a drummer, and we've been using synths and drum machines - jamming along with machines so to speak - to freely rearrange the songs from our debut album. That experience is what motivated us to make this EP. Playing live in front of a crowd allowed our music to go through a gradual transmutation. It instilled us with the desire to make more people dance. The title of the EP is 'Electronic Phantoms.' We are reaching a point where our lives are at the mercy of electronics. With the development of new technologies like AI, it's becoming harder to distinguish between what is real and what is computer-generated. These circumstances can be likened to the appearance of a phantom. The world of virtual reality can also be described as an electronic phantom. What kind of music will result if we take a world lived in by spiritual beings and express it with something diametrically opposite, with sounds generated by machines? That is the main idea behind the creation of this EP. To be deceived by machines, or to have our knowledge overtaken - those ideas don't frighten us. Rather, we'd like to reach a level of understanding with machines. Through jamming along with them. Love isn't born out of machines; it can only come from within our hearts." ~Tsutomu Sonoda, August, 2024.
Deaf Lizard
The Last Odyssey (black)
Deaf Lizard's sound is a rough orgy of heavy fuzz rock paired with psychedelic and doomy ingredients that will hit you before you know it. Years of experience and the upmost worship of the forefathers of heavy rock lead the band to continue on their quest for stoner galore. While their self-released debut album 'No Man's Sky' was welcomed wholeheartedly by the stoner rock community in 2020, Deaf Lizard release their second coming 'The Last Odyssey' through Electric Valley Records. Despite the doomy title, the band has no plans to slow down after Covid. This album brings with it seven songs that will melt every doubt about the band's renewed vitality right off the listener's face. With a more focused and developed sound, the band delivers the same energy you can expect from their live shows. 'The Last Odyssey' sets off where its predeccesor 'No Man's Sky' ended. Deaf Lizard have put their time off during the pandemic to good use, hence shaping their sound towards a more focused and punchy result. The seven songs of the album showcase stylistic varities ranging from heavy doom to psychedelic improvisation. Extensive songs like 'The Devil's Show' and 'Independent Terror' hit you hard with slow grinding guitars and heavyweight drums only to make way for more straightforward heavy rock in songs like 'City Of Life' and 'Nuclear.' Opening the second half of the record, the mesmerizing 'Lady In Black' leads into psychedelic territory of the long-winded but captivating 'Ape's Odyssey,' an eight minute psych jam with lots of precisley carried out improvisation. The album closer 'The Veil' stems from early sessions for the first album culminating the album's captivating energy in an ecstatic finale. The lyrics of the album losely follow humanity's self-inflicted downfall and its aftermath providing doomy meaning to the album's title 'The Last Odyssey.' Fans of bands like Monolord, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and Black Rainbows will not be disappointed.
Ivan The Tolerable Trio & Bhajan Bhoy
Infinite Space
Ivan The Tolerable Trio are back with an alternate version to the amazing 'Infinite Peace.' 2 epic tracks to take you away into infinite space! "When we went in to ATA studios in Leeds to record the 'Infinite Peace' LP - it was always the plan to have two versions of the album - a straight mix that documented what we actually recorded there in its pure form and another version that would rearrange everything into a new shape. Once the LP was out, I passed all the stems to my old pal/former bandmate and frequent collaborator Ajay Saggar (Bhajan Bhoy/King Champion Sounds/University Challenged) and asked him to remix it in a way that sounded nothing like the original record. It's a much more ambient and floaty affair - more Popol Vuh than Sun Ra - a full drift spread across two 22 minute suites. This is what he did - infinite space - we hope you like it." ~Oli Heffernan, September 2024.
Maneige
Live A L'outremont 1979
Professionally recorded in 1979 at the iconic Outremont Theatre in Montréal and now finally made available for the first time, this dynamic and energetic performance contains two exclusive live tracks never recorded or released on any of their studio albums.
Khana Bierbood
Monolam
Second album by Khana Bierbood (translated as Strange Brew in Thai), who formed in 2012, in Bangsaen Beach in Thailand. After hours of jamming together they started create their unique sound influenced by '60s surf music, '70s garage rock with Thai traditional music. More info soon.
Wendy & Bonnie
Genesis
Enchanting and sunny 1969 psych folk by San Francisco teenage sisters Wendy & Bonnie Flower. A cult album that would later inspire bands like Stereolab, with dreamy vocal harmonies as the main attraction, laced with Brazilian splashes and soft-rock strains. Pure timeless psychedelic pop perfection, awash in serenity and haunting reverie floating in the ether above airy soundscapes that convey a sophistication that belies the artists' tender age: 15 and 18. Alongside them are top-notch musicians such as guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Randy Sterling, and organists/pianists Mike Melvoin and Mike Lang. Originally produced by Gary McFarland, Gábor Szabó and Cal Tjader.
G.o.l.e.m.
Gathering Of The Legendary Elephant Monsters
'Gathering Of The Legendary Elephant Monsters' is the natural evolution of G.O.L.E.M.'s musical vision: to modernize the tradition of a glorious past and create an imaginative sound, rich in references yet unique and unmistakable in its authorial traits. The album is based on tons of old organs, synthesizers, and electric pianos, melded into a boiling cauldron of tube amplifiers, aged woods from Ludwig and Rickenbacker, and dusty electric contraptions dreamt up by engineers on acid. Splitting their time between stage and studio, the group has spent the last two years refining their sound, shaping new ideas with the skill and awareness that only experience can bring. A long collective effort, where each member contributed fundamentally to the creative process, resulted in more complex and intricate tracks that both confirm and surpass the group's characteristic sound, elevating it to a higher level. The richness of the writing, the sophistication of the arrangements, the originality of the sound experiments, the technical prowess of the individuals, and the depth and musicality of the lyrics are the elements that stand out when listening to the six tracks on 'Gathering Of The Legendary Elephant Monsters.'
Hjelm, Hans
Into The Night (marbled)
Guitarist Hans Hjelm explores the transition from day to night in this instrumental work. The Stockholm-based musician's sophomore solo album features cinematic landscapes of synth-wave and prog rock sounds. Hjelm, known for his work with psych rock outfits Kungens Män and Automatism, has crafted seven instrumental tracks that blend retro-sounding analog synths with driving beats. Recorded in the depths of Swedish November at Helter Skelter studio, the album features a stellar cast of collaborators, including Mikael Tuominen (Kungens Män), Jesper Skarin (Gösta Berlings Saga), Per Wiberg (Switchblade, ex Opeth), and guest guitarist Gustav Nygren (New Rose). 'Into The Night' invites listeners to the space where the familiar blurs into dreamlike uncertainty, echoing the nocturnal overtones that inspired its creation. Co-release with Majestic Mountain Records. Edition of 100 copies on solar flare marbled vinyl.
Lemon Lemon
The Harvest
After the first EP 'Double' released in 2021 the Manchester - Treviso based psychedelic outfit Lemon Lemon are back with an 8 track album. 'The Harvest' is more mature, sonically wide and varied: post-punk, pop, psychedelic rock are all mixed together for a juicy and sour lemonade. The DIY philosophy perfectly applies on this second release as all the musicians collaborated together in a 2 years span opening towards various jams with other artists incorporating synths, keyboards, saxophone and much more. The album represents all the ideas that have been collected by the trio after 'Double,' cherry picking the best ideas and letting them bloom like fruits ready to be harvested.
GARAGE/BEAT/SURF/ROCK’N’ROLL
Voo-dooms
Doom With A Voo
A line-up change here and there has seen the band's sound get a lot heavier, now they hit like a radioactive fist, and maybe a whole lot scarier! Back with a vengeance, or a Voo, The Voo-Dooms have entombed themselves for four further graveyard hits, and are now ready to share them with the humans. Pounding drums, fuzz guitars, bedazzled bass, with a little theremin to add, this four-track EP includes a revisit to 2019's 'Hangman Stomp,' giving a little extra Doom, and a cover a 67 flip side from The Electric Prunes. Limited to 300 copies.
Fleur
Fille Sauvage
With great pride Fleur presents her third album 'Fille Sauvage'! The Dutch '60s yéyé chanteuse has been charming us all with her lovely French '60's pop beat sound and her sweet voice, that bears resemblance to Françoise Hardy's or Sylvie Vartan's. Her first two albums and additional singles alongside her captivating live performances have won everyone all over instantly. This album shows a new facet of the singer and puts the Fleur-sound firmly in the garage while keeping her charming French '60s yéyé girl vibe. "I wanted to cut loose and show everyone I can get wild," says the unstoppable madame Fleur. "This might just be my favorite album yet - it's still me, but with a rawer, spicier edge! Plus, I even play a little piano on a few tracks." All songs on this album were penned by Dutch cult legend Mark ten Hoor, the driving force behind garage rock trio The Kryng. These guys also laid down all the backing tracks, so expect scratchy guitars, pounding bass, and thundering drums, alongside African rhythms, vibraphones, growling electric pianos, and searing guitar solos. As always, Fleur's warm, breathy voice floats effortlessly above it all. If you're into The Troggs, The Kinks, The Monks, The Remains, and Miss Ludella Black, blended with the vibes of Françoise Hardy, Nancy Sinatra and Jacqueline Taïeb, you're in for a treat with 'Fille Sauvage' by Fleur!
Routes
Surfin' Pleasures
Having previously surfy-fied the songs of Kraftwerk and Buzzcocks, 'Surfin' Pleasures' sees The Routes take on the music of Joy Division. As with their previous "tributes", this is not an album of note for note cover versions. The Routes have only taken subtle melodic and rhythmic hints from the original songs; rearranging them into songs of their own, respectfully and lovingly translating the music of Joy Division into a different musical language. 'Surfin' Pleasures' sees twelve classic Joy Division songs reimagined and rearranged as banging '60s surf guitar instrumentals (à la The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Shadows, The Trashmen, Terauchi Takeshi, Link Wray, The Surfaris, The Astronauts and more).
Crystal Flake
Mr. Mine/i'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter
Soundflat Records presents an absolutely stunning single in a wintry Christmas outfit: The enchanting Crystal Flake captivates with two catchy songs, 'Mr. Mine' and 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter'! But who exactly is Crystal Flake? In 2021, Tommy Greed, drummer of Ray Collins' Hot Club, released a solo project digitally under the name Tommy Greed's Guest List, where he managed to involve several renowned colleagues from the broad R'n'R scene. As part of this project, Greed wrote 'Mr. Mine,' a "first great love"-teenage-romance with strong musical ties to The Shangri-Las. He enlisted Belgian singer Crystal Dawn (aka Crystal FlakeE), a well-established figure in the R'n'R scene (Crystal & Runnin' Wild, Tuesday Violence), to perform the track. Alongside the Connie Francis classic 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter' as the B-side, a perfect Christmas 7" vinyl single was born: two beautiful '60s rock'n'roll songs in a pop-inspired sound, somewhere between The Shangri-Las, The Pandoras, and The Bangles. What label could be better suited for this than Soundflat Records!? Let yourself be transported into a musical winter wonderland and celebrate this heartfelt project from these two musical talents! 'Mr. Mine' is a fantastic '60s-pop-beat'n'roll-single that shouldn't be missing under any rock'n'roll Christmas tree this year!
POP/ROCK/WAVE/NOISE
Jordann
Dehors (pd)
A limited edition picture disc of the 2017 hit single 'Dehors' by Jordann, one of Montréal's best young singer-songwriters. Includes a live version of the song on side B.
Franklin Electric
In Your Head/in Your Heart
Finally reissued for the first time in over four years, 'In Your Head/In Your Heart' features both EPs from 2019 and 2020 by the Juno-nominated collective based in Montréal.
Wild Classical Music Ensemble
Confined
The Wild Classical Music Ensemble is a Belgian experimental rock band formed in 2007 by artists with mental disability within the social-artistic non-profit organisation Wit.h in Kortrijk. Their unique sound is a blend of punk/rock riffs, fanatical rhythms and soaring flutes and fiery synths, over which gravitate multiple, multilingual voices that scratch harshly as much as they comfort. There's something very Belgian about this harshness and noisiness. We often think of compadre Arno, from the TC Matic era. During the Covid crisis, the disabled members of the Wild Classical Music Ensemble were undoubtedly subjected more than others to the harsh conditions of confinement, alone in their rooms. Damien Magnette was still able to visit them with sound equipment. This was one of their all-too-few windows onto the world. Forbidden to meet, let alone play together, the members of Wild were nevertheless able to compose songs in tandem with Damien. The tracks were then sent to musician friends - Fabrice Gilbert, Ava Carrère, Wim Opbrouck, Shht, Arthur Satàn, Nathan Roche and Julien ZLDR - who added their artistic touch. Jean Lamoot and Carl Roosens joined the adventure, one as mixer, the other as video director. It's a result of the conditions under which it was created, this is the band's most highly-produced album, and perhaps its most accessible: frankly rock, with a great deal of freedom in production, and sometimes with a certain pop allure. Jean Lamoot's contribution to the mix had a lot to do with it. In addition, the forced slowdown allowed us to devote much more time and attention to writing the lyrics. Leader Damien Magnette says: "For over a year, we were all confined. But what about when you're a mentally handicapped person? Well, it's very different from you and me... We have the right to choose, the luxury of deciding for ourselves what rules we want to follow or not. We have free will. They don't. This series of confined songs is dedicated to all the people who have gone through this crisis, deprived of their free will. We send them our thoughts, hugs and kisses full of true love! The songs respond to a deep desire to look out for each other in adversity (the so obvious 'Comment Ça Va?' by Johan Geenens and Wim Opbrouck, or 'Waarom Ben Je Boos' by Sébastien Faidherbe with Wim Decoene, the latter full of empathy). A sense of loneliness is logically present on the album ('Dat Is Mijn Verdriet' by Linh Pham, a very real, very concrete and particularly touching poem, or 'Loneliness,' whose text was improvised by Wim), if not an understandable rage ('Je Ne Veux Pas' and 'My Frustrations'). It worth noting that on 'On Reste Heureux,' Sébastien Faidherbe composed all the parts in one go, with an optimism that stands out from the anger expressed in his other songs. Let's make no mistake: none of this is really over. All these emotions, suffering, pain and hope, speak to us far beyond this grim story of covid. All covers are different, handmade with stamps and sticker done by people with mental disability.
PUNK/HARDCORE
Feldspar
Old City, New Ruins
Massive post metal-core from the Italy's capital city. 'Old City, New Ruins' is a unique hardcore album, inspired both by emerging currents of the genre - such as Comeback Kid, Turnstile, Trapped Under Ice - and by the European and Northern European heavy tradition - like Kvelertak, Turbonegro - to the pantheon of influences of Feldspar: Nirvana, Motörhead, Gorilla Biscuits, Slayer and everything in between.
INDUSTRIAL/EXPERIMENTAL/NOISE/NEOFOLK/GOTHIC
Zero Kama
What Is A Body? (black)
Yes, your eyes tell you the truth - this is the first new record by Zero Kama released since the 2008 live album! During these 16 years Zoe Dewitt was active with book publishing, Zero Kama and Korpses Katatonik reissues, lectures, scientific research, exhibitions, and rare but bright live shows. However, most of us have forgotten our dreams of seeing new releases of Zero Kama. Originally, 'What Is A Body?' was the 50-minute background soundtrack for Zoe Dewitt's lecture performance in the anatomical theatre of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in 2015. Exclusively based on samples from 'The Secret Eye Of LAYLAH' it takes you to the same Zero Kama you always known - dark ritual music with transcendent drones and tribal parts. The music is not to talk about but to listen and disappear in. Comes with a big booklet about the record's conception and Zoe Dewitt's lecture.
Intermodulation
Connections (1970-1974) (4cd)
Formed in Cambridge in 1969 by Tim Souster and Roger Smalley, Intermodulation started out as a 4 piece group with the addition of Robin Thompson and Andrew Powell (who soon moved on to other Cambridge projects, including a pre Chris Cutler Henry Cow). Powell was replaced by Peter Britton, and this incarnation of the group remained for the duration of their existence. Having releasing a box set of works by Gentle Fire it felt necessary to do the same with Intermodulation and thus complete the other half of this missing chapter in British experimental music. Intermodulation have a quite different line up to Gentle Fire, most notably with Peter's percussion, Robin on bassoon and soprano sax, and the shared use of VCS3's and electric keyboards. Nonetheless both groups covered similar ground, appeared at the same European festivals, travelled together with Stockhausen to Iran, and they were generally concerned with a similar repertoire of experimental scores. Although Intermodulation released no records during their existence (and Gentle Fire only the one LP), both groups did appear side by side on the recording of Stockhausen's 'Sternklang.' This 4CD set aims to cover a wide range of their work. CD1 contains the entirety of their 1971 concert at Ely Cathedral (a 6 minute excerpt of which appeared on the 2CD 'Not Necessarily English Music' compiled by David Toop). CD2 focuses on their BBC recordings including excerpts from 2 Prom performances, one of which is the famous 1970 Prom which had Soft Machine taking the stage in the second half. CD3 features material held in the archives of 3 German radio stations and the fourth disc consists of one work; 'World Music' by Tim Souster, the 72 minute opus written for the four players plus tape. In summary, we hear Intermodulation play 5 Stockhausen pieces (4 of which are realisations of his intuitive text pieces), 2 Terry Riley pieces and one by Cardew. They also play 2 compositions by Tim and one by Roger as well performing 2 group improvisations. The set comes with a 48 page booklet detailing the groups history. This is a numbered edition of 500.
Vox Low
Singles And Rarities 2014-2018
For the first time collected, here's some hard to find tracks released by Vox Low on different small labels. Some tracks have been released on only 7"s released at 100 copies. A1/A2: 12" Released on Astrolab Recordings 2015. A3/B2: 7" Released on Evrlst.inc 2014. A4: 7" Released on Astrolab Recordings 2016. B1/B3: 12" Released on Hoga Nord Records 2016. B4: Digital released on Play Pal Music 2015/12" on Oracle Records 2018.
METAL/STONER/HARDROCK
Mammoth
Mammoth (black)
Heavy duty southern rock from 1981. OG copy sells for several hundred dollars. "Mammoth is a grabber right out of the gate, every step they take is unleashed with deadly economical precision. They may flash on Lynyrd Skynyrd and other vintage southern rock traditions but the brilliant way the vocals are recorded and the to-the-point interlocking guitar moves will fire up anybody into any sort of hard rock. They can rip it up with hot leads, probably jammed out on these songs at live shows but lucky us, they laid them down for all times here with the sort of thought out unified force and construction that screams hit radio. Loads of personality, accessible, produced and mixed with the clarity of classic rock that never loses it's perfectly deployed impact. The uncluttered arrangements leave plenty of space, crafted with the kind of balanced mojo in the mix where every detail adds to the whole. Down and dirty but also achieving a universal pop-friendly appeal! The Mammoth LP was recorded in 1981 at Relayer Studios in DeLand, Florida with the two guitars, bass and drums quartet line-up sounding like it could have been a decade earlier. Buzz Fetters on lead guitar, Bill Abell on rhythm guitar, Joey Costa on bass and Ron Herman on drums... with everybody contributing to the vocals. Rather than having a strong up front emotive singer the lead vocals here are multi-tracked and integrated into the songs with plenty of attitude but also a genre-transcending presence - you can imagine the vocal ambience working in punk, glam, even psychedelic contexts. Mammoth have a sound informed by roots music but it is really in the rear-view mirror the way they roll. The songwriting here is terrific, they have a way of saying things that comes off as sincere but not too serious. You get plenty of in-your-face hard rock action but also several melodic tracks that have a more reflective charm to round out the trip. AND... when you hear their brilliant ode to southern rock titled 'Southern Sounds' I challenge you to find any song about the subject more delightful. These guys keep it real, whether they're being bad ass or vulnerable they express themselves with 100% genuine feeling as contagious and life affirming as it gets!"
Black Spell
Into Darkness
Black Spell's fourth album came to life after a period of black meditations about doom and here it is. Not made for the amusement of anybody. Recorded in 2023 in the Shrine Of The Black Gods. Produced by Black Spell and Makarov. Black Spell has always been: Alastair: guitars, vocals, organ, Pierre: bass guitar, Johan: drums, synthesizers.
SOUL/BLUES/COUNTRY/OLDIES
Hampshire, Mick
From 30.000 Feet Ep
In 2022, armed only with his Grimshaw semi-acoustic guitar, unamplified, Mick Hampshire (The Milkshakes, The Delmonas,The Masonics etc.) played and sang through a single microphone, and the sound was crisply collected by a mobile recording device under the direction of long-term friend Kevin Younger (The High Span, Armitage Shanks, Ye Ascoyne d'Ascoynes, etc), in a back room, the results were captured on Mick's first solo album, titled 'Mick's Cat And Rooster Blues.' Mick Hampshire follows his album release with this four-track EP, once again crisply collected by a mobile recording device under the direction of long-term friend Kevin Younger, through a single microphone. Limited to 300 copies.
REGGAE/DUB/SKA/ROCKSTEADY
Bionic Singer
Botha Warning/warning To Botha
Another big Shaka tune from the late 1980s - Bionic Singer's anti-apartheid shot 'Botha Warning' - coming out of the same Jamaazima vaults as Hugh Maddo's 'Pop Style' LP that was reissued late 2023 under the kind courtesy of the imprint's Nami Harmon. The late Bionic Singer a.k.a Osbert Maddo, or more commonly Madoo, was brought up in East Kingston and as a child attended the legendary Alpha Boys School. He began singing together with his brother UU Madoo (aka Hugh Maddo) and soon became a regular on the Stereophonic soundsystem during the late 1970s. Recording mainly with Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson and for Winston Riley's famed Techniques stable through the early '80s, he then moved to the US in 1983. Ceasing to record for a period, he returned towards the end of the decade under the Bionic Singer alias on the Bronx-based Jamaazima label, recording this searing indictment of South Africa's apartheid government under P.W. Botha following his stroke in 1989.
Andy, Horace
Get Down
Horace Andy, the Jamaican roots reggae singer and songwriter legend, is known for his distinctive vocals and songs such as 'Government Land,' 'Angel' and 'Five Man Army.' The celebration of the 40 year anniversary of Horace Andy's 'Get Down' (in Brazil best known for that song) is here with a special 7". This limited release - on smokey green vinyl - has the remastered vocal original on the main-, and the instrumental on the flip-side.
SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/R&B/GOSPEL
Ben, Jorge
Bolado
Check out this limited release of two rare Jorge Ben tracks, the father of samba rock - one unreleased, and on the other side a live performance that was only ever released in Japan in '72 and bacame a cult object stored in a limited number of collector safes! Jorge, accompanied by his incisive guitar and backed by the power trio of Brazilian music, Trio Mocotó, is showcased with two extraordinary live performances of a truly supernatural album on this limited white coloured 7".
Tim Undercover
Barquinho/i Am Rational Rmx
One of the biggest icons in popular Brazilian music (MPB), Tim Maia, got a well-deserved remix treatment by Tim Undercover. 'Barquinho' on the a-side, a classic MPB song already covered by numerous artists, floats around a dire situation that got featured in the news when a boat was left adrift on the high seas all day. On the b-side is a rare Tim Maia remix of a song that was hidden away for several decades up until his 'Racional, Vol. 3' found its long awaited surface on the face of the earth. Presented as transparent orange vinyl, this 7-inch is a proper tribute to the legacy of the legendary musician.
Boykin, Brenda/step Three Feat. B. More
Bossa7
A split release of two languorous tunes from the sultry Brazilian planes. On the A-side we have the 007 theme song of the often overlooked one-off Bond actor George Lazenby - a cover of Louis Armstrong's 'We Have All The Time In The World.' Performed by Brenda Boykin, a great contemporary jazz singer who carries a most authentic and creative voice, who received a BAMMY nomination for 'Best Vocalist of the Year' in 1997. On the B-side there's a proper funky instrumental by Step Three featuring B. More. It truly is 'A Dream,' when it got loads of feet on the dance floor after its initial release in 1993. Released on red 7-inch vinyl.
Biondi, Mario
Mario Biondi
Mario Biondi's EP is here as DJ promo copy on turquoise vinyl. The Italian singer is renowned for his deep, soulful voice reminiscent of American jazz and soul singers. His musical style blends soul, jazz, and R&B, making him a standout artist in these genres. Biondi initially gained international recognition with his 2006 breakthrough single 'This Is What You Are,' which became a hit in the UK and beyond. His signature sound, characterized by smooth melodies, rich arrangements, and his warm baritone voice, often features lush orchestral elements, funky grooves, and influences from classic soul icons like Barry White, Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes and Al Jarreau. Biondi's vocal delivery has been praised for its emotive power and ability to evoke classic 1970s soul, while still maintaining a contemporary feel.
DANCE/TECHNO/HOUSE/HIPHOP
Marvelous Jc
Get A Grip
Special 7-inch reissue of the 1990 track 'Get A Grip' by lesser-known yet influential figures in the early hip-hop scene, Marvelous JC. Their sound on this release, which was heavily associated with the Miami Bass sound and the broader bass music movement, features hard-hitting bass lines and fast, rhythmic beats, characteristic of the Miami Bass style that dominated certain areas of the hip-hop scene during this era. The track gained recognition in underground circles for its energetic production and catchy hooks. The vinyl release includes both a vocal and instrumental version.
PRESS: SELECTED REVIEW QUOTES, INTERVIEWS A.S.
ORKESTR – I (LP-CD, Self Released, Sound Effect)
Review Quote: “Stylistically and conceptually Orkestr have delivered one of the most creatively constructed albums we heard this year.” (Quote from an interview by Weirdoshrine)
MOURA – Fume santo de loureiro (12”-CD/Spinda)
Review Quote: “Finally, after a couple of years, this exciting band has a new record out, a lovely EP titled ‘Fume Santo De Loureiro’…” (Quote from a review by ‘TimeLord’ Michalis Lagopatis for TimeMachine/TimeMaZine, GR)
AGUSA – Noir (LP-CD/Kommun2)
Review Quote: “…another quality album by Agusa! Invest!” (Quote from a review by ‘TimeLord’ Michalis Lagopatis for TimeMachine/TimeMaZine, GR)
400 LONELY THINGS – The New Twilight (CD/Cold Spring)
Review Quote: “400 Lonely Things presents a striking aural adventure for which the old school feel emphatically transports us into a melancholic time capsule.” (Translated quote from review by Patsker Omaer Beguin for Luminous Dash, BE)
…and here’s the link for a recent interview DarkUndergroundMusicZine conducted with 400 LONELY THINGS)
UFOMAMMUT – Hidden (LP-CD/Supernatural Cat-Neurot)
Review Quotes: “Like no other, Ufomammut knows how to take you on a journey through their dark universe.” (Translated quote from review by Jan-Willem Declercq for Dansende Beren, BE)
“Ufomammut‘s latest was far more experimental and diverse than I was expecting. This undoubtedly resulted in a truly intriguing listen from Italy’s finest and possibly their best work in a long time. Stunning. (Quote from review by Reza Mills for The Sleeping Shaman webzine, USA)
FORD’S FUZZ INFERNO – Fuzz Up Your Electric Chair, Baby! - Live at Studio 195 (CD, Subunderground C.A.)
Review Quote: “There are hints of ’60s and ’70s rock, but the main driver is pure garage punk, and it’s done in an enjoyable fashion. I’m certainly going to investigate Ford’s Fuzz Inferno further, based on this release.” (Quote from review by Rich Cocksedge for Razorcake)
EDGAR WAPPENHALTER – IJsschots Veenlaag Mist (LP/Morc)
Review Quote: The upcoming album by Belgian psych-folk artist Steve Marreyt a.k.a. Edgar Wappenhalter, titled ‘IJsschots Veenlaag Mist’, is due for release on October 9th through Morc. Here’s an interview (in English) with Austrian website Skug)
FLEUR – Fille Sauvage (LP/Soundflat)
Interview with Fleur about the making of ‘Fille Sauvage’ is available on It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine.
TRABANTS – Mantra/Surfers On Acid (7inch/Hypnotic Bridge)
Interview with Trabants is available on It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine.
GOLD – Psychedelic Days (LP/Sound Effect Records)
Review Quote: "Since their formation in 1989 after a gig at the legendary CBGB’s, G.O.L.D. has been noted as pioneers of the Detroit-steeped power rock scene in Sweden." (Quote from article and interview at It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine)
VIDEOS
WASTE – Ups And Downs And we also spotted this new video for a track by Dutch early ‘80s punks Waste, taken from their reunion-EP ‘The Next Century Is Almost Over’, out on Subunderground C.A. The EP was released last year already, but since we all love watching car accidents, here goes…
CONCERTS
LINUS VANDEWOLKEN (MORC)
16-10-2024: Pont L’Abbé (F) - Galerie Rouge
17-10-2024: Le Fret (F) - La Jetée le Fret
18-10-2024: Lannion (F) - Le Comptoir
19-10-2024: Brest (F) - Badseeds Recordshop (afternoon 'in store')
19-10-2024: Brest (F) - Atelier Carnot (evening)
20-10-2024: Rennes - (lieu secret/secret location)
SULA BASSANA - with band (SULATRON)
24-10-2024: Nürnberg (D) - Blakcbox
25-10-2024: Vöcklabruck (A) - OKH
26-10-2024: Bayreuth (D) - Glashaus
28-03-2025: Berlin (D) - Neue Zukunft
17-04-2025: Bochum (D) - Planetarium
24-10-2024: Nürnberg (D) - Blackbox
SOCCER COMMITTEE (MORC)
05-11-2024: Düsseldorf (D) – Kunstakademie / Mini Musik Department
16-11-2-24: Vorstenbosch (NL) - Kloosterkapel
ZONE SIX (SULATRON)
06-12-2024: Rüsselsheim (D) - Das Rind, Herzberg unterm Dach
MINERALL (SULATRON)
21-12-2024: Esslingen (D) - Komma, Light in Bloom Festival
22-12-2024: Ulm (D) - Hexenhaus
KACIMI (LE POP CLUB)
11-10-2-24: Colmar (F) – Festival Du Disque/Le Grillen
12-10-2024: Kusel (D) – Kinett
16-11-2024: Genève (CH) – Bongo Joe / Vernissage
23-01-2025: Paris (F) – Le Point Ephémère
11-02-2025: Genève (CH) – Urgence Disk