Anatolian Weapons feat. Seirios Savvaidis – To The Mother Of Gods [BIS37]

Aggelos Baltas is a veteran of the global electronic music scene, responsible for a handful of celebrated EBM 12”s as Dream Weapons, and a particularly heady and open-ended brand of krautrock as Fantastikoi Hxoi. His newest project, Anatolian Weapons, was conceived as a way to bring together these two seemingly mismatched concepts, with the polyrhythmic percussion and wailing tones of Greek folk music serving as their unlikely bonding agent. “To The Mother Of Gods” is Baltas’ debut album for Beats In Space. Created in tandem with Greek folk musician Seirios Savvaidis, it is a work of simultaneous collaboration and subtraction whose meticulous construction becomes more apparent with every listen. An album-length exploration of what happens when the principles of dance music are applied to pre-digital musical modalities. Savvidis contributed stems of ten songs, which Baltas deconstructs and rearranges with appreciation of the ancestry of their lineage and of the deceptively ancient eerie, droning qualities inherent in the style. Occasionally augmenting Savvaidis’ recordings with his own, Baltas treats these elements as if raw materials for an architectural process. It is a record of psychedelic folk music.

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Anatolian Weapons feat. Seirios Savvaidis – To The Mother Of Gods [BIS37]

Alpha Stone – Stereophonic Pop Art Music [HNALP002]

Pete ‘Bassman’ Bain, one of the founding members of the UK cult psych rock band Spacemen 3, formed Alpha Stone after Spacemen 3 and his other band The Darkside split up in the mid-nineties. In 1996 the band recorded the album ‘Stereophonic Pop Art Music’ and it was released on Bomp! Records on Compact Disc. The album hasn’t had a ‘proper’ vinyl release until now, 2018, when Hoga Nord Rekords continues their collaboration with Pete Bassman by releasing the album. You can clearly hear that Pete Bassman was the driving force behind Alpha Stone; fuzz, synthesiser -sweeps, programmed drums and processed vocals are the cornerstones in Alpha Stone’s sound. Raga-like mantras, heard in Farmer C, lies track to track with more percussion driven grooves and psychedelic pop oriented songs. The album’s sound has obviously survived the 20+ years shelved in obscurity and proves the ‘Drugby’ sound still vital! It’s always hard to sum up a bands particular sound in a few words, but you could say that if you put guitar and bass, synthesisers, a drum machine, and Julian Copes record collection in the hands of an alien, you’ve got Alpha Stone.

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Alpha Stone – Stereophonic Pop Art Music [HNALP002]

Ultra Satan – Freedom Rock / Anti-Clock [HNR026]

On Ultra Satan’s second 7inch release on Höga Nord Rekords, the band is developing a new genre and concept. Ultra Satan is like a space being, living alone in an enormously big and empty space station, orbiting our planet. With mathematical precision this genius creates music that effects us earthlings on a transcendental plane and shakes the foundation we lead or lives upon.

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Ultra Satan – Freedom Rock / Anti-Clock [HNR026]

Magic In Threes – Return Of [KU050]

Originally released in 2015 on cassette by G.E.D. Soul Records. Now for the first time on 12″ LP vinyl on King Underground. The album is a collection of delightfully smoked out, library inspired instrumentals. Following in the footsteps of their highly enjoyable 2011 debut. ”Return Of” combines many shades of many moods into a tight record that finds a nice balance between strange hype arrangements and super chill ”couch-lock” inducing slow jams. It embarks on a cinematic soul journey from the opening note, through the interlude, straight to the closing credits.

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Magic In Threes – Return Of [KU050]

Örtmek – Örtmek 02 [ORTMEK02]

Örtmek comes back round, presenting another vinyl only pressing of three invaluable edits of vintage Turkish funk, rock and disco delicacies. Following the raw, percussive experiments of the first release. Opening track ‘Özil Dans’ rains down crashing cymbals and freak-out-worthy wah guitars, maintaining an irresistible and authentic groove that doesn’t falter for five minutes of Eurasian hypnosis. ‘Dokuz Sekiz’ weaves traditional string elements alongside bursts of wild chanting. Finally, ‘Mozart’in Davul’ stitches a frantic, dense rhythm from the fuzz and feedback of an unknown slab of Turkish psychedelia.

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Örtmek – Örtmek 02 [ORTMEK02]

Stefano Torossi & Giovanni Tommaso ‎– Echoing America [SP130-45]

A record that definitely lives up to its title – an obscure Italian sound library session that blends instrumental touches that evoke an America at the start of the 70s with some of the hipper, deeper currents you’d expect from the team of Stefano Torossi and Giovanni Tomasso. There’s plenty of expected sound library funk in the mix here in a way that makes for one of the most unique sound library sessions we’ve ever heard.

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Stefano Torossi & Giovanni Tommaso ‎– Echoing America [SP130-45]

Örtmek – Örtmek 01 [ORTMEK01]

Three expansive edits of Turkish funk and psychedelia, each dubbed out through tape delays and spring reverbs, as well as carefully EQ-ed and mastered for an enhanced sonic experience. Side A kicks off with the low slung funk of ‘Ayçiçegi’, featuring an infectious bassline which weaves between subtle flashes of spring reverb, whispered vocals, each underpinned by pounding drums. Side B begins with ‘Biz Burdayiz’ , a relentless drum loop and singular vocal hit looped around and manipulated with tape delays, and the record closes with ‘Günesi Kesin’, a tense funk break which builds before reversing inside of itself.

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Örtmek – Örtmek 01 [ORTMEK01]

Elektro-Dschungel – Kebab Und Andere Traume [ED001]

The Official 30th anniversary vinyl reissue of Elektro-Dschungel – Kebab Und Andere Träume album from 1987. A divere blend of New Wave, Turkish Pop and Oriental-Rock, Funk & Soul, Hip-Hop but also Disco in a exotic way.

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Elektro-Dschungel – Kebab Und Andere Traume [ED001]

Fontän – Fontän [HNRLP010]

FONTAN - Fontan

There are many ways for a band or an artist to compile an album: some make it in a week and some let the process go on longer. The latter approach does often mean that that the record will not be better than had it been recorded and mixed within a short amount of time, rather the contrary. However, there are those albums that just could not be made within in a week or a month, those compilation of songs that needed the time to melt together to form an album. Fontän’s third album titled ‘Fontän’, released on Hoga Nord Rekords is that kind of an album. Put the opening track ‘Mangsebung’ on, then stay with the record until the closer ‘Shadows’ rings out and you will go clear, sharp, and mildly messed up by the listening experience because this is an extremely well directed trip in mind-altering music! This album needed time to reach such heights. With Johan Melin’s and Jesper Jarold’s love for music and non-sentimental creative approach, this album proves that the band never gets hung up on trying to sound like the past masters, but to develop what they once started.

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Fontän – Fontän [HNRLP010]

VA – Africa Airways Three: The Afro Psych Excursion 1972-1984 [ASVN030]

The Africa Seven label might not have been around for very long, but the London-Paris dynasty has certainly established itself as a no.1 outlet for rare, unhinged world music. This is Africa Airways Volume 3: The Afro-Psych Excursion, a gorgeous compilation spanning the years 1972 to 1984, and it clearly offers some of the most magnetic tunes that they label has put out thus far. There isn’t a mediocre song in here and, as the saying goes, it’s all-killer-no-filler; take African Black’s “Nzango”, for example, a twisted, FX-heavy tribal experiment, or the more soulful highs and lows of tunes like “Zinabu” by Bunzu Soundz. Rough, dusty, completely psyched-out, and inimitable the whole way through; if you’re looking for something that’ll get the heads turning, and the diggers jealous, then this is your LP.

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VA – Africa Airways Three: The Afro Psych Excursion 1972-1984 [ASVN030]

Suspensivos Inflamables – Nube Psico Dub LP [COS003LP]

Hailing from Buenos Aires, like a massive tentacular burst of lightning, electrifying everything and everybody along their way, Suspensivos Inflamables since 2001, have been blasting stages and danceoors across south america with unprecedented sonic and ultra sonic power. Flowing unobstructed between lavish dubs and feverish psych punk rock, this 8 member ensemble performs live submerged on a visual lysergic orgy of self designed animations and video footage projected onto themselves. In the same fashion, this LP was recorded live in studio at Odisea Records, Buenos Aires, on several memorable sessions.

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Suspensivos Inflamables – Nube Psico Dub LP [COS003LP]

Psycheground – Psychedelic And Underground Music [CNPL802C]

The progressive jazz groove library holy grail album produced in 1971 by Gianfranco Reverberi, composed by himself, Stefano Torossi and Sandro Brugnolini, and performed by the musicians from NUOVA IDEA band.

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Psycheground – Psychedelic And Underground Music [CNPL802C]

Rouge Mechanique – All Will Be Changed [DISCODIEZ]

Rouge Mecanique delivers a stone cold classic EP for Discos Capablanca. The psychedelic steady muscle of ‘All Will Be Changed’ aims to destroy visionary dance floors. ‘Sans Scrupules’ is the most surprising acid banger you will likely hear this year. ‘Ampedusa / Xaver’ defies description and its mutant sound could evoque ecstatic early minimal house references, kraut and concrete music. ‘Can I Say’ is simply put the most elegant, languid way to say goodbye to an EP that exudes sheer brilliance and character.

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Rouge Mechanique – All Will Be Changed [DISCODIEZ]

The KVB – Of Desire [INV150]

Having begun life as a bedroom project for then Southampton-based Nicholas Wood to experiment with ideas around minimal electronica and shoegaze, The KVB has grown with partner and collaborator Kat Day. The now Berlin-based productive pair have released four albums of woozy and immersive anthems since 2010. ‘Of Desire’ is The KVB’s most fully formed record to date, taking in influences such as Death In Vegas, Scott Walker and Roxy Music to create something that is at once familiar and yet inventive and original. Steeped in musical history, it’s an album that hums with devotion and captures a band ready to emerge from the underground and embrace an ever-growing audience. “Being able to produce from home meant we weren’t restricted.” Wood says remembering The KVB’s early days. Many of the songs on ‘Of Desire’ date back to these earliest bedroom recordings, including lead single ‘In Deep’. “It’s about longing,” he adds of a song powered by a motorik beat and distorted blasts of icy guitars.” There’s definitely a romantic undercurrent to the record.”

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The KVB – Of Desire [INV150]

Eddie Hazel – Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs [BEWITH011LP]

Among guitar aficionados, they don’t come much heavier than acid-drenched enigma Eddie Hazel. A founding father of Funkadelic and responsible for the blazing ”Maggot Brain” solo, he released just one album. A concentrated dose of guitar-driven psychedelic soul and loping funk-rock, Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs(1977) was co-produced by George Clinton and features the full Mothership crew. Despite impeccable credentials, the album sank and dropped out of print for years, becoming a sought-after collector’s item for funkateers ever since. Mercifully addressing the dubious legitimacy and quality of previous reissues, Be With Records present a worthy and welcome 180 gram edition, limited to 500 copies. Eddie Hazel was a pioneering guitar genius, but his troubled lifestyle led to a dearth of recorded material that demonstrated his strengths. It’s a wonderful thing, then, that this lost classic is available on vinyl again. Possibly the finest slice of P-Funk you’ve never heard, it’s a record that will make your brain dance and one every funk fan needs.

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Eddie Hazel – Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs [BEWITH011LP]

Ashra – Blackouts [SPALAX14759]

Blackouts is a solo album by German musician Manuel Göttsching, released in 1978. It was originally released as an Ash Ra Tempel album, but the 2011 reissue of the album is credited solely to Göttsching. The album was written and performed entirely by Göttsching on electric guitar, keyboards.

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Ashra – Blackouts [SPALAX14759]

La Mecánica Popular – Noche Triler [NYCT7023]

LA MECANICA POPULAR - Noche Triler

La Mecánica Popular takes to the night for a much anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed, self-titled album. This special edition single features a natural modification of their signature psychedelic style – a time capsule of 1970s Afro-Peruvian roots gone American Rock & Soul. Noche Triler (Thriller) takes the form of an uptempo instrumental stunner, a unique combination of styles from guaracha and cumbión, and a refreshingly thrilling flip of Michael Jackson’s iconic masterpiece. Already a staple in the band’s live performances, Mótame En La Tormenta (Riders On The Storm) transforms the Doors’ cowboy-jazz road saga into a brilliantly versioned Amazonian cumbia, a beautifully dark and shadowy trip into the heart of la selva.

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La Mecánica Popular – Noche Triler [NYCT7023]

Vakula – Dedicated To Jim Morrison [LELEKA007]

Ukranian lo-fi genius Vakula is back and if audaciously tackling Steve Reich wasn’t enough, he’s taking on possibly his most ambitious project yet with “Dedicated to Jim Morrison”. The title says it all really, in this brazen tribute to the sixties rock legend. On the first side you’ve got “For Jim” with its bluesy, boozy, typically sixties rock, while “The Canyon Road” is definitely the track on here to really channel the sound of The Doors. Then the acoustic country twang of “Mississippi Delta” carries off a southern charm. On the flip you’ve got “The Human Abstract” which is one truly hazy affair and features some of William Blake’s’ spoken word poetry recited by friend Andrei Dubinin. “Airolg” sounds like, well, Van Morrison’s “Gloria” (once famously covered by The Doors) and “Tien Beach” features sublime tremoloed slide guitar, sounding like riding off into a sunset. This album is Vakula’s thoughts in time and out of season dedicated to Morrison, the poet, the musician, the soft mad child, the great man. ‘Enter again the sweet forest, enter the hot dream, come with us. Everything is broken up and dances’.

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Vakula – Dedicated To Jim Morrison [LELEKA007]

Modes & Severson – Midnight Exotics [CHANNEL064]

In typical Golf Channel fashion, this collaborative 12″ from Detroit native Todd Modes and Heroes of The Galleon Trade guitarist Mike Severson offers the perfect balance between left-of-centre experimentation, and disco-influenced dancefloor grooves. This is first evident on the baggy, slightly psychedelic stoner disco throb of “Midnight Exotics”, where Severson’s hazy guitar passages and beat boxing style vocal samples ride a trippy, disco-rock groove. Flipside “Disco Desire” pushes the intensity level up several notches. This time, Severson offers up wild, heavy metal-inspired guitar solos, which build in intensity over Modes’ pulsating, italo-influenced backing track.

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Modes & Severson – Midnight Exotics [CHANNEL064]