Originally released in 1981 via Elite / MCA records, ‘En Trance’ is a joyous album that arguably represents the pinnacle of the Brit-funk sound. The band consisted of bassist, and keyboardist Lester J. Batchelor, drummer Ray Johnson, guitarist Andy Sojka, saxophonist Stewart Cawthorne, singer and guitarist Tony Antonio and producer Jerry Pike. The album captures the excitement of these exceptional players demonstrating utmost originality in the studio.
Musique Pour La Danse presents this LP limited edition reissue of The Purple Universe, an album originally released in 1993 by Swiss duo Synectics (Marco Repetto & Stefan Riesen) on legendary braindance label Rephlex. Bearing CAT number 06, this early release is one of Rephlex’s best-kept secrets. The 2 x LP edition includes 3 tracks from the CD version, never available on vinyl before.
The debut record from Ectomorph that launched it all — the project, and the label Interdimensional Transmissions in 1995. This is the first time it has been repressed in over a decade, and it’s using the original masters complete with 3 lock grooves cut by Ron Murphy.
Habibi Funk co-founder Jannis Stuertz first came across “the Holy Grail of Sudanese funk”, Saif Abu Bakr and The Scorpions “Jazz, Jazz, Jazz”, while browsing eBay listings a few years back. His interest piqued, he took a trip to Sudan to track down the musicians who had made a ridiculously rare LP that was changing hands for thousands of pounds online. Some four years later, his wish to reissue the set has finally come through. It was originally recorded in Kuwait in 1980 and brilliantly joins the dots between American funk, soul and rhythm and blues, traditional Sudanese vocals and rhythmic arrangements, and even a dash of Congolese soukkous. It’s the first full album Habibi Funk has reissued, and with good reason: it’s near perfect from start to finish.
Minimal Wave presents a reissue of Sympathy Nervous’ pioneering debut album originally released in 1980 on Vanity Records out of Japan. Sympathy Nervous was Yosihumi Niinuma’s lifelong project which he started in his Tokyo living room in 1979. Through Sympathy Nervous, Niinuma was able to channel his energy into what he loved – building his own synthesizers and speakers from scratch. Niinuma was inspired by German Krautrock and through his music created intense proto-techno soundscapes. Now finally available for the first time ever, remastered from the original tapes used for the 1980 release, is the timeless masterpiece in its entirety.
Waveform Transmission Vol.3 initially came out in 1994 on Tresor Records. The eight titles on the album marked a turning point for Jeff Mills. It indicates a transition from the straightforward sound he had created through the early 1990’s, into the different facets and sound pallet he will develop through the remainder of the decade. It is a significant piece within Jeff Mills’ masterwork.
The song “When I Let You Down” is the music for the trailer of a Gucci film “The Second Summer Of Love: Distant Planet” by Josh Blaaberg (2018). This is an Italo classics remastered. “When I Let You Down” on the a-side, “Boogie Tonight” on the flip.
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Two absolutely legendary pieces of early Chicago house music finally reissued for 2018. Mike Macharello and Duane Thamm JR’s Knight Action project was responsible for this colossal 1985 landmark release that saw a heady fusion of Euro influenced and Italo Disco sounds meet in the windy city and in turn create history.
Matt Edwards’ R-Time Records reissue label drops four more Sir Lord Commix tracks in the third ‘Retroactive’ release. Real name Amoon Andrews, the British house producer’s early discography continues to fetch high prices on the vinyl market. Dropping earlier this year, the first two instalments featured some of Commix’s finest cuts and now the Rekids offshoot presents the third chapter, following re-releases of Mark The 909 King.
Digging deep into the Chicago Rave vaults to re-issue the debut EP from Billy Nightmare aka “Mystic Bill” Torres. Growing up in Miami, Bill was involved in various parts of the music industry, from working at Flamingo Record Pool, to playing guitar for the band Life In Sodom (80’s Synth/Goth band). His interest in both House & Industrial music inspired him to make his move to the Windy City. Bill quickly became involved in the night scene with residencies at clubs like Shelter, Crobar, & Smart Bar. ‘Reality Check’ was released in 1996 on Woody McBride’s label Sounds. Originally the project was to be titled ” Billy’s Nightmare”, but to avoid being jinxed for life, Torres decided to switch it to Billy Nightmare. He put the Mystic Bill alias aside, got a hair cut, changed his sound and became this new persona. ‘Reality Check’ consists of 4 tracks, recorded at Mirage Studios in Chicago in 1996. Two tracks on the A-side are dark thumpers and will haunt your head for days. Side B has 2 versions of the same song, lighter and funkier in mood both show the diversity Mystic Bill is capable of producing.
You can count on Art Yard to replenish our jazz charts with the very best material from the great Sun Ra, whether that’s them putting out previously unreleased material or simply reissuing some of their already excellent material. This time, we have a tidy repress of the mythical “Disco 3000”, cited by many as Ra’s nuttiest piece of work or, in fact, a segment of music which totally made – and arguably finished – the free jazz sound. It’s a ride – if you haven’t heard it already then pounce on it! On the B-side, the magnificent “Third Planet/Friendly Galaxy/Dance Of The Cosmos-Aliens” is pure heaven for all those with an itch for some innovative drum machine patterns, as Ra goes further than anyone else ever did with some drums, organ and…are those effects? Legendary stuff!
Originally isused back in 2015 and now selling for silly money on Discogs and Ebay, Gondwana Records is announcing the re-release of Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra’s tribute to Allice Coltrane / Journey in Satchidananda and Blue Nile. Featuring Matthew Halsall trumpet, Lisa Mallett flute, Rachael Gladwin harp, Taz Modi piano, Gavin Barras bass, Gaz Hughes drums and Nat Birchall percussion and recorded at the legendary Maida Vale Studios.
Cold Beat is a San Francisco-based quartet fronted by Hannah Lew (synths, vocals) with Kyle King (synths, guitar), Luciano Talpini Aita (synths) and Sean Monaghan (guitar). Formed in 2013 the band has released three albums and two EPs. ‘A Simple Reflection’ is a 7-song collection of Eurythmics covers, yet feels just as personal as any of their original material. While digging through a collection of 12?s for her record shop Contact Records, Lew stumbled across the earliest Eurythmics B-sides and was floored. This lead to the discovery of their debut album ‘In The Garden’. Annie Lennox’s abstract and poetic lyrics really struck a chord with Hannah. What had started out as a single cover quickly snowballed into a full blown obsession. The synth and drum programming resonated with her songwriting process, so reimagining them was very creatively fulfilling. The covers on this EP are simultaneously dynamic and atmospheric post-punk that plays to Lew’s ethereal vocals and King’s crystalline guitar.
Polaroid were an Italian post-punk/new wave band, formed in Turin in 1981. The original lineup of the band consisted of Marcello Zavatto (voice, guitar), Massimo Vagnarelli (bass, drum-machine), Evandro Fornasier (guitar), Claudio Vagnarelli (synthersizer) and Marco Farano (Drums). Polaroid made their debut with the cassette 6-track EP ‘Senza Respiro’, self-released in 1984. Influenced by Bauhaus, Joy Division, The Cure, Pere Ubu as well as Chic and Talking Heads. The music was dark and cold, but also melodic especially with regards to guitars and voices. At the end of 1984 the band added vocalist Michele Cantoblundo while drummer Marco left and was replaced by a Roland TR-909. With Michele began a period of very dark and poetic music, influenced also by bands like Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and The Sisters of Mercy. The band peacefully broke-up in 1987. This vinyl re-issue of ‘Senza Respiro’ contains all 6 original songs with 4 bonus tracks from the band’s later period.
Mannequin Records present a trilogy of reissues from the avantgarde Italian-born producer Doris Norton, ”Norton Computer For Peace” (1983), ”Personal Computer” (1984), ”Artificial Intellingence” (1985). Apple’s first music ”endorsement” and Roland affiliate, Doris Norton is one of the most important women pioneer in the use of synths and in the early electro / computer music.
El Deux is the Swiss electro-pop trio of Gutze Gautschi (guitar, vocals), Steno Onetz (bass), Martin Kraft (vocals, drum machine). Formed circa 1981 in Aarau by Gutze and Steno who played together in punk/New Wave band Fresh Color aka Frische Farbe featuring a pre-Yello Dieter Meier. Gutze’s minimal electronic compositions did not fit the concept of Fresh Color, so they formed a new project with their live mixer, Martin Kraft, on vocals. The group was quite successful with many concerts, mainly in southern Germany and various TV appearances in Germany and abroad. Between April/September 1982 they recorded and mixed their debut album ‘Nur Für Mädchen’ in 15 days at Powerplay Studios, Zurich. The LP was released later that year on Gold Records. Influences at that time were of course the NDW “Neue Deutsche Welle” movement and also from Gutze’s time as a musician & guitarist since 1965. Their step up for recording was a Moog Prodigy, Korg Rhythm 55 (KR-55), Simmons Drums, Casiotone 202, Guitar and Bass.
Umo Vogue formed in Bristol by Stig Manley, Russ Crook and Neil Deamer who were in Bath based ska rock outfit ‘The AT’s’, along with Bristol based singer Debbie Marlow. Neil’s Brother Clive joined the band bringing a fantastic new dynamic to the band on drums, percussion and heavy artillery. The band name is a deliberate misspelling of the ultra-chic Italian fashion magazine ‘L’Uomo Vogue’. After winning the Bristol ‘Battle of the Bands’ in 1982 they were signed to Phonogram and dropped a few months later. They then signed to EMI in ’83 and released their first single ‘Just My Love’ released in early 1984. The second single was ‘Make It Real’ and was never released as the band were culled from the EMI roster in late ’84. For this reissue of their debut single we’ve added 3 bonus tracks, a demo of “Just My Love”, the unreleased follow single “Make It Real” and a bedroom demo “Erotica.” Each song displays ridiculously catchy melodies and innovative electronic rhythms. The drum tracks, a combination of rhythm machines and hand percussion, were mixed down from the 4-track tape used as backing on stage, with the rich slap bass and Roland SH09 synths weaves fluid lead lines in between the harmony vocals.
The Hipodrome Of Music 