From Nursery To Misery – Pixies In The Woods [DE153]

From Nursery to Misery were three teenagers who grew up together on the same street in Basildon, Essex. Formed in 1987, the band was comprised of vocalists (and identical twins) Gina and Tina Fear, along with keyboard player and producer Lee Stevens. Lee invited the twins to over to record some music with him, suggesting they try singing over some instrumentals he had written and recorded on a newly purchased 4-track. They played a sum total of four gigs before splitting in 1991. Their recorded output, however, was relatively prodigious, with the band appearing on over 22 compilations, as well as self-releasing two album-length tapes ‘The Oak Tree’ (1989), and ‘Equilibrium’ (1990), and a split EP with Germany’s Nostalgie Eternelle, ‘Art is the Tool’ (1990). All these releases were home-produced, hand-made cassettes distributed and swapped via the Mail Art scene. ‘Pixies In The Woods’ is a 13-track career spanning compilation including three previously unreleased tracks. Tracks range from no-fi synth pop overlaid with ethereal, child-like vocals, to audio collages of animal noises and harrowing, double-speed monologues. Lee’s expansive synth productions, informed by the Blade Runner soundtrack, early electro records, and 4AD acts like Dead Can Dance, provided a rich, spacious platform for Gina and Tina’s sung-spoken introspective lyrics. Their songs are disarmingly direct and unfiltered, the product of three self-confessed misfits exploring difficult, often intensely personal issues.

listen

From Nursery To Misery – Pixies In The Woods [DE153]

Shankar Jaikishan – Raga Jazz Style [OTR001]

Never before reissued, this legendary 1968 EMI recording is a revered Indian jazz rarity; a collectors’ holy grail. Raga Jazz Style is an original Indian excursion into Indo-jazz fusion. A one-away recording from the almost unknown Bombay jazz scene, it is among the few jazz LPs to hail from the subcontinent. Raga Jazz Style takes the melodic, scale-based raga system of Indian classical music and marries it with a swinging jazz rhythm section assembled by Bollywood’s most highly acclaimed musical directors, the soundtrack composing duo Shankar Singh and Jaikishan Panchal. Singh and Panchal were a dominant force in Hindi film music from the late 1940s onwards. Shankar had been trained in classical tabla, while Jaikishan was an expert harmonium player. They worked together on well over a hundred films, and their innovative compositions and orchestral scoring revolutionised the music of the nascent Bollywood industry.

listen

Shankar Jaikishan – Raga Jazz Style [OTR001]

Shahara-ja – I’m An Arabian Knight [LER1007]

SHAHARA JA - I'm An Arabian Knight (reissue)

The history of dance music is littered with one-hit wonders. The mysterious Sahara-Ja, whose one and only 12″ appeared on Australian label Central Station back in 1989, is a perfect example. Since slipping out in limited quantities 18 years ago, the Egyptian Lover-does-’80s soul cut “I’m An Arabian Knight” has become something of an in-demand record amongst collectors. This timely reissue contains all four versions included on the original ’89 release, including a tasty instrumental and the must-heavy Funky Arabian Mix. This sublime version puts more emphasis on the producer’s killer electro rhythm, dreamy chords, and cascading, Persian style synthesizer melodies.

listen

Shahara-ja – I’m An Arabian Knight [LER1007]

Din A Testbild – Programm 4 [MNQ093]

‘Programm 4′ is their fourth album. Mixed and auto-produced by Mark Eins near the Wall in West/Berlin in 1983, the album was rejected at the time by Innovative Communication, considered too much synth/punk/techno’, while the new label managers were looking more into new age stuff. In fact Schulze eventually sold the label in 1983, which started to release a plethora of acts loosely grouped around the NAM genre.

listen

Din A Testbild – Programm 4 [MNQ093]

Din A Testbild – Programm 3 [MNQ092]

Early pioneers of the German New Wave music scene, Din A Testbild were formed in 1978 by Mark Eins and Gudrun Gut. Din A Testbild played a significant role in defining the avant-garde music of Berlin. Legendary is their partecipation at the Festival Genialer Dilletanten” in 1981. ‘Programm 3’ is their third album. Mixed and auto-produced by Mark Eins with help of Ziggy Schöning, it was released on Klaus Schulze’s record label Innovative Communication in 1983.

listen

Din A Testbild – Programm 3 [MNQ092]

Silvia – Silvia LP [DE152]

Silvia is the name of a Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW ”New German Wave”) project created Tommi Stumpff and Silvia Nemanic. The pair met in Düsseldorf in the late 1970s and started dating when Tommi was the singer of punk band Der KFC. Silvia was absolutely inexperienced in musical things, she said, “I’ve played the recorder.” Tommi rented Klangwerkstatt studio for a few days in January 1982 to record his an album with his bandmate Ferdinand Mackenthun aka Käpt’n Nuss of Der KFC, but finished earlier than expected. With one extra day that was already paid for, they quickly wrote some more songs and recorded them. All they needed was a singer, so they asked Silvia. Simply titled “Silvia”, the record was released in mid-1982 on cult label Schallmauer Records, which had released many German punk, NDW, and New Wave records in the 80’s. Tommi and Käpt’n Nuss played all instruments and wrote the lyrics. Since Silvia had a very deep voice, Tommi slightly pitched up her vocals to sound higher on the recordings. The album displays Tommi’s transition from punk rock to cold electronics, EBM and eventually Techno. Tommi’s instrument set up was a Sequential Circuits Pro One and Moog Prodigy controlled by a Fricke sequencer and a Korg SQ-10 Analog Sequencer. Silvia urges the listener to save themselves and says “No miracle will happen You die tomorrow, young and guilty” evoking the urban Zeitgeist of the Cold War. All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Housed in the original jacket featuring a full color of Silvia on the front with hand drawn magenta type. Each copy includes a replica insert of the original lyrics sheet in German and a postcard featuring a black and white photo of Tommi and Silvia. Sadly Silvia passed away in 2003 and this reissue is dedicated to her.

listen

Silvia – Silvia LP [DE152]

Kirlian Camera – Helden Platz [DE143]

Dark Entries is proud to release “Helden Platz”, a long out of print 12” maxi single from seminal Italian electronic act Kirlian Camera. Keyboardist/vocalist Angelo Bergamini founded the project in Parma in 1979 and named it after an electronic device that photographs the electromagnetic halo around objects and living beings. By 1980, Angelo had recruited singer Simona Buja, keyboardist Fabrizio Chiari, and bassist Mauro Montacchini. Their demo cassette, “Dawn”, attracted the attention of Italian Records, a popular independent label. Over the next few years the band would release their first mini-LP, “Kirlian Camera”, the full length “ It Doesn’t Matter, Now”, and the singles “Communicate,” “Edges,” and “Blue Room”. The latter was a significant hit, eventually landing them a deal with Virgin Records. By 1987 the line up consisted of Angelo Bergamini on all instruments, Charlie Mallozzi on electronic drums and Simona Buja on vocals. Virgin wanted the band to provide another hit single in order to exploit the success of “Blue Room”, refusing to release the band’s less commercial material. In 1987 the band went Lark Studio at Carimate Castle, Italy to record with Italo disco producer Oderso Rubini. Thanks to the insistence of Bergamini, the label agreed to release “Helden Platz”, German for “Heroes’ Square,” in 1987. The song features Kirlian Camera’s brand of dark wave, marked by haunting melodies, slow moving synth washes, and orchestral strings. The song features the stark, dramatic vocals of Simona Buja, who sings about the “Blue blood of Winter” in a tale of Germany and Austria during World War II. Included here is the extended 12” mix, the 7” edit, plus the original B-side “Burial”, an instrumental that evokes a funeral procession soundtrack.

listen

Kirlian Camera – Helden Platz [DE143]

Marcello Giombini – Computer Disco [MGLP101]

GIOMBINI, Marcello - Computer Disco

One of the greatest euro synthi-disco album of early 80’s finally reprint by Mondo Groove Records. Original released in 1982, “Computer Disco” is the most Kraftwerk-ian italian production. Marcello Giombini was a pioneer of early sequencers and in this cult LP produced cheesey cosmic synth pop a little bit italo disco oriented. Every fan of 70/80’s synthesizer music and electronic djs should put in his collection if they not already possess the extremely rare original edition.

listen

Marcello Giombini – Computer Disco [MGLP101]

DJ Stingray – Psyops For Dummies & Purge [P026]

Reissue of 2012 “Psyops For Dummies” with two unreleased tracks: “Hypoalgesia” and “Cognitive Load Theory”. Sherard Ingram – DJ Stingray – has been an active member in Detroit’s electronic music community for nearly 25 years now. Never shy of a collaboration, Ingram spent much of the ’90s teaming up with Carl Craig, Anthony ‘Shake’ Shakir and Kenny Dixon Jr. to create a rich downtempo sound as Urban Tribe, with culminated in the release of 1998’s much-lauded The Collapse of Modern Culture album. He was then recruited to be the tour DJ for Drexciya in their final days, taking to the decks as DJ Stingray and masking his face from the audience, something he continues to do for all of his DJ appearances.

listen

DJ Stingray – Psyops For Dummies & Purge [P026]

Alton Miller – In Flight [IM025]

Originally released on Yore in 2008 after a hiatus in Brussels. Afro, jazz, funk and house all contribute to this 4-on-the-floor 4-piece. Heavy on the chords, basslines and percussion. Classic Alton Miller with a whole lot of deepness.

listen

Alton Miller – In Flight [IM025]

Aviador Dro – Cromosomas Salvajes [MEC019]

EL AVIADOR DRO Y SUS OBREROS ESPECIALIZADOS - Cromosomas Salvajes (reissue)

One of the most influential Spanish techno-pop bands from the 80s is finally taking back to life one of their most successful albums. Originally released in 1985, ‘Cromosomas Salvajes’ marked a big step forward on the career of El Aviador Dro y sus Obreros Especializados. While keeping their message in support of the working class, nuclear energy and futuristic vision, this work had a top production, more dynamic compositions and included some of the fans favorites: ‘Himno Aéreo’, ‘La Ciudad en Movimiento’ and ‘El Color de tus Ojos al Bailar’.This new pressing has been restored and remastered from the original tapes. LP edition comes in yellow vinyl with gatefold jacket with an exclusive postcard, one sticker and includes all tracks from the original issue plus the b-side ‘Tejidos’ and the unreleased track Europa Arde en mi Interior’ that was originally composed for the famous Eurovision Song Contest.

listen

Aviador Dro – Cromosomas Salvajes [MEC019]

Sory Bamba Du Mali – Sory Bamba Du Mali [ASVN035]

In 1979 Sorry produced his third LP for the Paris based Sonafric group. Long out of print Africa Seven is pleased to be re-issuing the LP with the authorization of the newly reformed Sonafric group. The re-issue benefits from extensive restoration and re-mastering to a spectral analysis level, bringing and polishing long lost and distorted sounds. The six track masterpiece opens with ”Mayel”. It blends Afro-space grooves, cowbell and swirling organ with psych guitar and punchy horns. ”Kanaga 78” was named after his band of the time. Sounding as fresh (if not more so) in 2016 as it did in 1979 the hypnotic bass, expansive drums, twisting organ and snakelike fuzz-guitar all combine to create a masterpiece of African psychedelia. ”Bayadjourou” closes off Side A of the LP with its pulsating, incessant organ hook-line and driving tom drums while adding in layers of Malian vocal from a female chorus and Sorry himself. Side B opens up with ”Tjamantie Kolo” which is powered by driving conga and drums layered with traditional vocals and distorted picked electric guitar lines. ”N’Nebakaidi” focuses on the song writing skill and delivery of Sorry who delivers a masterful vocal over grooves which somehow manage to sound melancholy but somehow also forlornly uplifting at the same time. The LP closes with ”Nani Nani” which is a brass driven wall of African sound.

listen

Sory Bamba Du Mali – Sory Bamba Du Mali [ASVN035]

The Order – Underground Rythmic Project [ML003LP]

The third release of Male Records features “The Order” a studio and live group that shares with “The True Underground Sound Of Rome” the same city and sound. A powerful mix of electronic detroit sounds together with melodic and balearic ambient atmospheres. Still comes as collector’s Album edition of 475 copies only containing the original songs from the rare “The Order EP” from 92 plus two unreleased strong songs: “Quasar” and “Way Back” recorded in the same year and performed only live during the big house event “Night Of Male 92” back in the days. This LP features also Stefano Di Carlo for additional percussions on Long Waves and Leo Young on the mix.

listen

The Order – Underground Rythmic Project [ML003LP]

Die Form – Zoo LP [DE136]

Die Form is a French post-industrial and electronic band formed in 1977-1978. The name ‘Die Form’ means ‘(the) form/shape’ in German and is a play on the English homonym ‘deformed’ and on the French homonym ‘difforme’ (deformed). Die Form is the primary project of electronic musician and multimedia artist Philippe Fichot. He began by recording a number of experimental cassette releases in the late 1970s and formed the Bain Total label to release these early cassettes, as well as various side projects such as Krylon Hertz, Camera Obscura, Eva-Johanna Reichstag, Hurt and Fine Automatic. In 1982 Die Form released their debut vinyl album, “Die Puppe” in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. “Zoo” is a compilation of 10 tracks recorded during the “Die Puppe” sessions from 1980-82. These were the first esoteric electronic experiments, often improvised. Underlying themes of eroticism, death, and other ‘taboo’ subjects become apparent in both the music and the album artwork, which Philippe also produced. The album was recorded with entirely analog equipment, including a Roland MC4 Micro-Composer, TR-808 Rhythm Composer, ARP 2600, and Kawai 60F recorded to a Revox B77 reel to reel tape machine. Songs range from hypnotic, minimalistic proto-IDM to daring experimental sound manipulation. 4 of these songs were featured as a bonus 7” to accompany the 1989 vinyl reissue of “Die Puppe” but remixed for the project. The remaining 6 songs were also remixed and released on CD in 2001.

listen

Die Form – Zoo LP [DE136]

The Dj Skull Saga Presents: Stomping Ground [CDJS001]

Rawax is proud to present Ron Maney aka DJ Skull on his own Chiwax series called The DJ Skull Saga. This platform will present Ron’s classic releases from the past and his present works. The series is starting with the 1993 classic “Stomping Grounds” which came originally out on the dutch Djax Up label.

listen

The Dj Skull Saga Presents: Stomping Ground [CDJS001]

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.

listen

Psycheground – Psychedelic And Underground Music [CNPL802C]

Jago – I’m Going To Go [DE133]

cs622941-01a-med

Jago was the studio project of Michele Violante created in Milan, Italy in 1983. The line-up also included Luciana Cirrillo aka Kynsha, who wrote lyrics and sang back up vocals. The name Jago comes from Iago, the main antagonist in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’. In those years, Michele produced a lot of songs and published material for Full Time Records. “I’m Going To Go” was recorded at Forum Studio in Rome in 1983 and released on Full Time the same year. He made an electro-funk demo with a Gibson Les Paul, but during practice the song became soulful funk but arranged with new wave electronics. The song revolves around a slick atmospheric bassline, driving electronic percussion, and tight rhythm guitar and synths. The setup for the recording was a Casiotone MT-40 keyboard, Boss DR-55 and Sequential Circuits Drumtraks drum machines, an Akai cassette recorder, and a Revox A77 for multi-tracking. Lead vocals were done by session musician Bruno Kassar, delivering Kynsha’s playful lyrics along to the lead melody. Also on the A-side is the Instrumental Version which became a hit in New York after Larry Levan played it repeatedly at the Paradise Garage. Full Time asked Levan’s long time friend Frankie Knuckles to make a remix. It was released in 1985 as the “Plant Mix”, and is included here on the B-side. This was Frankie’s first released remix, although the record label misspelled his name as ’Frankye’. The remix clocks in at over 8 minutes, and is a dub edit made using the stereo master of the instrumental track.

listen

Jago – I’m Going To Go [DE133]