Release-Highlights in November 2024 26 Items

LINEAR LABS: Sao Paulo sparks a new golden era of musical genius defined by the maestro Adrian Younge. Step into an extraordinary psychedelic and soulful experience with Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: Sao Paulo: a compilation of new songs showcasing the musical brilliance of Adrian Younge with artists from around the world. Essentially, the album features one unreleased song from an array of forthcoming albums Younge has produced for Linear Labs, includingSomething About April Ill, the tertiary installment of Younge's masterwork trilogy, and a new blaxploitation adventure from hip hop legend Snoop Dogg, entitledDon't Cry For the Devil.

A quarter century since their 1998 debut, No Fear of Time finally reunites one of the greatest hip-hop duos of all-time, Black Star. Group members yasiin bey and Talib Kweli first joined forces to deliver their iconic breakout, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, which quickly became one of hip-hop's most revered works and launched both already-rising stars into the stratosphere. Although each has since enjoyed success and acclaim in their individual careers, they've never realigned for a sophomore follow-up to that release until now.Produced entirely by renowned beatsmith Madlib, No Fear of Time has a future vibe with vintage soul. The 9-track album was recorded guerrilla-style in hotels and dressing rooms around the globe, and initially saw a non-traditional release, being made available exclusively on a subscription-based podcast platform. Now, the album is officially available on physical formats for fans worldwide to own and appreciate the triumphant return of Black Star.

Bliss, the latest release of french producer Cezaire is an 8 tracks project blending hip-hop, funk and soul sounds.

Arthur Russell first visited The Gallery in 1976 with his then boyfriend Louis, who introduced him to Nicky Siano. Arthur became a regular at the space and one night as Siano was playing “Turn the Beat Around”, which had just been released, Arthur waved at him from outside the booth and asked to come in. Nicky opened the door and Arthur suggested they make a record like this together. This ended up being a huge step for Siano as it marked the first ever production by a DJ making a record from scratch.

Arthur had written a song and had an arrangement for it so they assembled a band featuring Wilbur Bascomb who was one of Nicky’s favorite bassists, as well as, Allan Schwartzberg, David Byrne, Miriam Valle, Peter Gordon and Peter Zummo who were all friends of Arthur’s. Russell played the cello and piano – and that was the band. They recorded throughout 1977 and the “Kiss Me Again” 12 inch was finally released in 1978 on Sire Records selling more than 300,000 copies.

Week–End Records is proud to release the first ever reissue by this outstanding disco production. Remastered from the original tapes. With liner notes by David Byrne, Nicky Siano, Peter Gordon and Peter Zummo.

DJ Sneak returns to his roots on his Synesthesia EP on Heist Recordings.

Last year, when DJ Sneak visited our studio during ADE, we spoke for a long time about his newly found joy in house music, producing music in the current landscape, and letting go of all the things that made him uneasy with the scene for a long time. At one point, he grabbed a bunch of his hard drives, fired up our Dave Smith & Pioneer Toraiz sampler (the one we used for our live shows and the workstation he swears by for producing and arranging all his music), and showed us what must be one of the most impressive collections of demos we’ve ever seen. He talked us through his ideas for a new record on Heist with the enthusiasm of a producer who had just bought his first MPC60 back in the 80s. His ‘Back to love’ EP was still due to release and we already knew the follow-up would be equally amazing.

Fast forward about a year and after amazing feedback on his Heist debut from platforms like XLR8R, DJ Mag, Faith fanzine and plenty of radio coverage, along with DJ support from the likes of Joy Anonymous, Louie Vega, Jamie Jones, Honey Dijon, TSHA, Dj Seinfeld, Jennifer Cardini, Carista, he drops a new record on Heist recordings; The Synesthesia EP is another showcase of the raw talent of DJ Sneak, skillfully working his gear and churning out massive tunes full of classic Chicago house references, 90’s euphoria, and chunky synths.

The EP kicks off with ‘I can tell what you want’, a deep and bubbly groover where DJ Sneak takes some naughty chopped up R’n’B vocals and adds a pinch of the ghetto sound that he adopted in his formative years in Chicago. Sneak manages to take that influence and deliver something altogether contemporary with this track, ticking all the right boxes of catchy vocals, moody chords, a nasty bassline, and clever sampling.

If the first track embodies his Chicago spirit, then ‘A taste of the 90s’ embodies DJ Sneak’s New York spirit. With funky guitar and key licks, loopy horns, shuffling percussion and plenty of changeovers in the arrangement, he masterfully shows us the joy of classic house music. There’s always another element that gets added or taken away to build anticipation or release the energy with its chunky low end. It’s a true party starter with the energy of a young DJ Sneak spinning his first records way back when.

On the flip, we’ve got ‘Dirty jazz’. This delicious piece of Deep House is built around off-kilter drums with a syncopated bass line and quirky sample cuts. It’s got enough beef to keep the energy going, and the right amount of weirdness to grab your attention whenever this is played.

The closing track ‘You know what I mean’ adds another layer of weird-sounding vocals that will stick with you until long after the song is over. This track – and the whole EP for that matter – oozes the playful energy of a producer who’s completely comfortable with his musicality. It’s fun and playful, delivered with the class that only a hero of the underground like Sneak can do.

On the Synesthesia EP, DJ Sneak takes you deep on a trip through his musical roots and keeps you on the edge of your seat with 4 tracks bursting with personality.

Grab this record while you can and share the love,
Heist Recordings.

NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED RECORDING of the Sensational and Banned Turkish Theater Play by James Baldwin and Engin Cezzar, Istanbul 1970
Licensed by Gökhan Akçura, author of Engin Cezzar's autobiography, who was personally entrusted with the original master tape by Engin Cezzar.
"One of the most shocking and daring plays staged in Turkish theaters was banned by the Istanbul Governorship on February 7, 1970. The ban on the play, which was watched by 30,000 people in 60 days, did not last long." - Turkish Press, 1970
Meticulously restored from the original master tape, remastered and cut by Shawn Joseph at Optimum Mastering, Bristol, UK.
Includes liner notes by Zeynep Oral (James Baldwin's assistant and journalist), Gökhan Akçura, Okay Temiz, and record producer Erinç Güzel (Caz Plak İstanbul).
In 1970, Turkish theater owner Engin Cezzar produced James Baldwin's groundbreaking play about gay relationships in a 1970s Istanbul prison setting. In 1969, jazz musician Don Cherry, visiting Istanbul with Okay Temiz to record an album, reunited with Baldwin and contributed music to the production. The recording session followed extensive discussions and featured performances by Cherry and Temiz, heightening the play's tension.
An unearthed free jazz masterpiece from 1970s Istanbul.

Vinyl LP pressing.

El Michels Affair - Boy Kills World (Songs From The Original Motion Picture) Songs LP from the film Boy Kills World Limited red colored vinyl LP pressing.

Limited white colored vinyl. Fred Again's upcoming album, "Ten Days", follows his successful Actual Life series and features a collection of tracks inspired by ten significant days in his life over the past year. Fred Again has described these songs as reflections on "small, quiet, intimate moments," with some capturing intensely joyful experiences and others representing more challenging emotions. The album includes collaborations with a variety of artists, such as Anderson.Paak, Sampha, Skrillex, Four Tet, and Emmylou Harris, among others.

London-based keyboardist and composer Greg Foat is back with his new album, 'The Rituals of Infinity'. Greg's first memory with the piano goes all the way back to his Aunt's house at aged 3 - where he fell off the piano stool. Since then, his relationship with the piano has evolved into a fulfilling, and successful career. He began taking an interest in composing at the age of 11, and truly ignited his love for Jazz after attending a workshop with Jeff Clyne, Olaf Vas, Trevor Tomkins and Nick Weldon at the age of 15. He then studied jazz at Middlesex University, followed by 6 months in Sweden on an Erasmus grant which lead to his first professional studio session there at 21. Greg has worked as a professional musician ever since, and has moulded and wonderfully multifaceted career within the Jazz music genre. Greg is planning a debut performance of 'The Rituals of Infinity' at Worthy Earth Festival in late September, in Hampshire.

'The Rituals of Infinity' album is inspired by many of things. Some titles are named after some iconic science fiction books such as The Rituals Of Infinity, A Private Cosmos, The Dark Labyrinth and The World of the Red Sun. Minerva's Owl, on the other hand, is about the Ancient Greek Legend. "The owl of Minerva takes flight only at dusk." so wrote G. W. F. Hegel, the nineteenth century's major philosopher of history. By that he meant that any given phase of history can be understood only in retrospect — after it's over. A beautifully fitting closing of the album. The album features the legendary Art Themen on Soprano and Tenor Saxophones, Trevor Walker on Trumper and Flugel Horn in a fine supportive role harmonising with Katherine Farnden on Cor Anglais. Natcyet Wakili has such a fluid approach to the drums which really makes the album special, alongside Jasper Osbourne on Bass Guitar. Shawn Lee also stopped by the studio with his horror movie classic waterphone - adding some eery atmospheric finishing touches to the album.

Limited to 150 copies, only available at HHV!

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few. With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a reection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signicant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll. Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and inuences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

You could say The 1968 Tapes is Jazz Sabbath's third album on which the trio, helmed by longtime Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne keys and guitar player Adam Wakeman, present 7 new exploratory jazz arrangements based on Black Sabbath tracks from the period 1970-1973. You can also choose to believe the album's liner notes: Although never released until recently, Jazz Sabbath's music has been finding its way to millions for over 50 years. Through a vicious cycle of personal tragedy and plagiarism the songs intended to change the jazz world ended up giving birth to a much darker sound. Now a third recording from the Sixties has resurfaced, perhaps their most important one. Their very first recording was rejected by the label; the label manager said it was too experimental and had no hit potential. However, these tracks were also blatantly presented as 'original songs' by that band from Birmingham a few years later. Whether they copied them from live bootlegs or if they got their hands on the mix, it doesn’t really matter. Their lasting popularity, even in the crude way they were covered, only proves just how monumental these songs were and how record labels are often wrong. With the truth now finally out there and that Birmingham band exposed as the musical charlatans they are, Jazz Sabbath have finally mastered the 1968 tapes to present their best work to the public.

Legowelt returns to Clone Records with yet another sonic journey that defies conventional electronic music boundaries, offering an album that is as eclectic as it is immersive. Blending different styles and textures seamlessly and proving that electronic music can still be creative and that function doesn't always prevail style. He delivers a collection that transports listeners through a kaleidoscope of retro-futuristic sounds, deep grooves, and cosmic melodies. Despite being in the music game for more than 25 years the music from Danny Wolfers remains playful and refreshing. Stylistically taking elements from his whole musical career and not commiting to the latest trend or any genre specifically, and low-key taking the piss with everyone who takes themself to seriously. While many electronic music artists are stuck in their own void, busy pleasing the big room, Legowelt meticulously crafts rich textured soundscapes, balancing between cosmic exploration and the dancefoor, that evoke both nostalgia and futuristic visions. His ability to fuse elements of house, techno, disco and electro with cinematic influences results in an album that is not only ready for club use but also gratifying at home. Each track offers something unique--whether it's the hypnotic rhythms, the lush synth lines, or the subtle, eerie undertones that creep in unexpectedly. Legowelt's attention to detail and passion for his craft shine through, making this album a worthy follow up to his last album on the Clone Jack For Daze series.

Limited edition of 3000 copies.

Originally released in 2004, MF Doom's MM..FOOD is hailed as a classic | hip-hop album full of inventive production, brilliant wordplay, and unique themes. Celebraled for its seamless blend of humor, wit, and social commentary, the album ushers listeners into a bizarre world af food-related metaphors, painting a bitterly comedic portrait of a life tainted by vice, violence, and jealousy. It was a brilliant and novel concept that gave Doom plenty of room to explore the album's subjects. Throughout MM..FOOD, Doom embeds complex ideas within seemingly simple narratives. Album opener "Beef Rapp' is a multi-pronged metaphor reminding listeners of the dangers involved in the glorification of conflict, especially within the rap game. "Hoe Cakes" borrows its name from the sweet, hot water cornmeal patties, which he uses as a symbol to rhyme about indulgence and excess. Continuing the motif, Doom uses the Madlib-produced "One Beer" to fold layers of depth about escapism and ego, while the popular "Rapp Snitch Knishes" critiques the sell-incrimination and contradictory behaviors of some rappers. Overall, MM..FOOD is both a social commentary and a piece of social satire, showcasing MF Doom'S ability to blend serious themes with his unique, playful lyrical style. In celebration of the album's 20th anniversary, MM..FOOD has been repackaged with all new artwork by Sam Rodriguez!

Released on 15th November via Polydor Records, “Small Changes” is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Michael’s eponymous third LP, the Mercury Prize winning, and Grammy Award nominated “KIWANUKA”.
“Small Changes” was produced alongside Danger Mouse and Inflo, the team behind the globally acclaimed “KIWANUKA” and its equally acclaimed predecessor, “Love & Hate”. The new record was recorded between London and Los Angeles. The core trio made up of Kiwanuka and his trusty co-producers expanded into a wish-list ensemble that featured legendary bassist Pino Palladino (D’Angelo, John Mayer, Beyoncé) and Jimmy Jam of the iconic Jam and Lewis songwriting and production duo (Janet Jackson, Prince, SOS Band).
A welcome return for one of Britain’s most talented of songwriters, most recognisable of vocalists, and most virtuosic of guitarists.
Art by YOUT and photography by Marco Grey.

Moondog's jovial H'art Songs was the first release not to incorporate his name in the title, but the record that forever proved his genius. A rare vocal album recorded by Moondog when he was in his sixties, these ten art songs blur the boundaries between classical and pop music. Moondog called this series of art songs 'H'art songs' -- Hardin's art songs. The musical content is on a higher level than most popular music, but has an appeal to a wide range of tastes, from the pop to the classical listener. This collection of piano pop songs written and recorded in 1977 made Moondogs' stunningly eclectic discography even more chaotic musically, it also featured some of his most mesmerizing wordplay. Telling tales that can be interpreted as metaphors for how to live -- sometimes political, sometimes autobiographical, sometimes nature loving - they are always intriguingly poetic, and helped push this album to the very top of all Moondog's releases."

Limited Edition of 100 records on green vinyl. Exclusive run for HHV. On Ol' Burger Beats' new albumWelcome 2 Norway, the Norwegian beatmaker delves into Norway's rich music history and has created a record that might be his most accomplished to date. On the best beat tapes throughout history, a story is told through the samples used, and this is truly the case with Ol' Burger Beats' new album, his first on Jansen Records. Norwegian Ol' Burger Beats (Ole-Birger Neergård) has been a mainstay on the international beats scene ever since his debut album High Rhodes was released in 2014. On that record we were introduced to the Oslo-based producer, DJ, and record collector's ability to create magic from old jazz and soul records. On Welcome 2 Norway, he re-discovers many national treasure, both well-known and forgotten ones. Among other things, he has had free access to the catalog of the legendary Arne Bendiksen's old record label, he’s sampled songs by Norwegian greats Jan Erik Vold, Kåre Virud, and Åse Kleveland, and chopped and pasted forgotten ballads from old-time dance bands, along with some Christian gems from dusty basements. The result is a record that both showcases the venerable history of Norwegian music, and also highlights Ol' Burger Beats' ability to create fantastic instrumental hip-hop tunes from old and dusty classics. The last albums by J Dilla might be the biggest inspiration for this album and are good examples of storytelling through sampling. The title Welcome 2 Norway also refers to Welcome 2 Detroit, a Dilla album that introduced the listener to the various musical styles in Dilla's hometown. In addition to delivering brilliant solo albums in rapid succession, he is also keen to collaborate with other artists on different levels. There are projects where he is the producer–Mind Games from 2017 and Out of Sight, Out of Mind from 2018 – where he works with some of his favorite rappers like Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin, Maxo, and Illa J. But then we also have the magical Loft from 2022, where the12 tracks explores the world of jazz together with other jazz enthusiasts like Ralph Thomas and Wendell Harrison, and the very successful albums with the Norwegian rapper Vuyo–All Yours from 2020 and Dialogue from 2021 When talking about the new album, Welcome 2 Norway, Neergård himself says: «After doing a few collaborations with rappers that’ve dragged out a bit, with more emailing and coordinating than music production, this has been an album where I've banged out a lot of beats, and just had some fun again. The samples I've used tell stories from my life over the past few years, and I've been searching for a Norwegian sound reminiscent of the typical soul and jazz samples found in American hip-hop–and I think the result turned out quite unique!»

The seeds of composer Rafael Anton Irisarri’s latest LP were first planted during his 2016 tour in Italy, months before that Autumn’s unexpected presidential election. The linguistic glitch of an innocuous diner in Milan named “il Mito Americano” – meant as “The American Dream” but translated literally to English as “The American Myth” – sparked a series of ideas, both conceptual and musical. Amid the chaos of 2020, while exploring the stark world of brutalist architecture and inspired by the false fronts of Potemkin villages, a vision started to take shape: Façadisms. Composed over three years, it’s a late capitalist lament of simmering electric despondency. Irisarri’s obsession with repeating motifs mirrors the cyclical nature of our tumultuous political history. The album’s eight tracks heave and storm like a tempest being drained of its rage. This is the sound of majestic dissipation, of morning afters, fashioned from a mournful haze with cavernous guitars and granular twilight. A euphony of a receding tide as one sifts through the remnants of what remains: dust, delusion, and memory. Opening with the somber gauze of “Broken Intensification," Façadisms moves fluidly between moments of absence and abandon. Ashen swaths of electronics billow above smoldering embers of melody, guitar, and scattered streaks of processed strings and voice, as on the rapturous doom of “Control Your Soul's Desire for Freedom,” featuring Julia Kent on cello and Hannah Elizabeth Cox on vocals. "The impoverished peoples of the Americas have known all along that 'freedom' is a cruel illusion crafted by the elites, akin to Potemkin's fake villages designed to impress Catherine the Great," Irisarri indicates. "Façadisms illustrates a twisted inversion where the rulers deceive their subjects with illusions of safety, democracy, and free speech to create a grotesque mirage of control over their own lives.” Elsewhere, Irisarri leans into passages of hushed oblivion (“Hollow,” “Dispersion of Belief”), while ragged drones rumble and disintegrate into wind-battered ambient wreckage. One has the sense that it’s all too late. The hour of fury has passed. The beauty has come and gone. Irisarri’s muse has become the crack in the façade of the unraveling myth. The record closes with a climax of grand departure. Co-written with Kenyan sound artist Kmru, “Red Moon Tide” surges from flickering elegy to celestial disquiet, roiling waves of hymnal descent, and bristling noise. The effect is unsettling and unmooring: a soundtrack for the soul leaving the body, only to discover a void. It’s the sound of the center not holding, of shared illusions being dissolved in a tunnel of white light. The cover photograph captures a profound sense of desolation. Taken in the historic shanty town of La Perla, Puerto Rico, where Irisarri spent his childhood, brutal colonial mysteries are lost to time. A skeletal concrete structure decays against an expansive blue horizon. Only the shadow of its shell ripples on the empty sea. Has the American myth finally run its course?

Bonding over a shared love of Parliament, Zapp and other signs in the greater funk Zodiac, Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus), collectively known as Tuxedo, return with their fourth studio album, Tuxedo IV. Their powers combined have yet again yielded a bevy of absolute slappers that are packaged perfectly for dance floors in 2024. Roll the Windows Down and turn the volume up. Tuxedo is Back 4 More so Don’t Think Twice.

Naya Beat Records reveals Volume 2 of its critically acclaimed series dedicated to South Asian dance and electronic music. Label founders Turbotito and Ragz have curated an exceptional 13-track compilation with a focus on an overlooked era of house and electronic music released between '88 and '94. While Volume 1 explored early 80s Balearic, synth pop, and disco, Volume 2 uncovers lost or forgotten future classics from later in the decade. The release spotlights a unique era in the late 80s and early 90s when fertile cross-cultural collaboration abounded in diasporic communities in cities like London and New York and when South Asian music was infused with acid house, New Beat, and dub. There is a true wealth of sounds here, from The Jets Orkhestra’s organ-fuelled house workout ‘x-290’ to the downtempo splendour of the Asha Bhosle fronted West India Company. Lady M lends the Hindi house track and arpeggiated wonder of ‘Kali Raat’ and Mantra’s eponymously titled cut is a hypnotic gem. Featuring other scintillating Balearic house, dub, and street soul from the likes of Asha Puthli, Bappi Lahiri, Johnny Zee, and Kuljit Bhamra, this double album is a treasure of never-before-reissued and previously impossible-to-find holy grails. Often "too Asian for mainstream success in the West, and too Western for success in Asia," the pioneering music from this time was frequently released to short-lived success or relative anonymity. Naya Beat founders Filip Nikolic (aka Turbotito) and Raghav Mani (aka Ragz) have spent the last four years endlessly hunting through dusty records, obscure cassettes, and unreleased studio tapes to deliver a reference release for contemporary collectors, tastemakers, and bold selectors looking for fresh sounds. Featuring an incredible gatefold package with Naya Beat’s trademark stunning artwork and exhaustive liner notes, the 2LP release has been cut to vinyl for the discerning DJ and listener by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt from The Carvery, London. Naya Beat Records is focused on uncovering foundational dance and electronic music from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora through reissues, remixes and compilations. Success came immediately with ‘Naya Beat Volume 1’, which was named Vinyl Factory’s number 1 reissue of 2021, and has been followed up with more fascinating releases such as a two-part remix project with disco-jazz legend Asha Puthli, a scintillating bhangra acid house EP with Mr. Scruff, a reissue of Pinky Ann Rihal’s 1985 Hindi new wave album, and the superb Bollywood compilation ‘Awaaz Series 1’.

Lucas Chantre, aka WORLD BRAIN, last graced us with a solo release half a decade ago, with 2019’s Peer 2 Peer. As its name suggests, that album explored the promise and perils of universal connectivity via quirked-up songwriting and instrumental psychedelia. His new release, Open Source, deepens this internal and external journey. Bursting beyond the four walls of ‘bedroom pop’ and reflecting a move from Berlin to Paris—where much of the album was recorded—and on to Brussels, the album has a jazzy, cinematic scope (as on the Brubeck-inspired march “Fromage collatéral,”) enveloping the listener in a cosmic-pastoral audiosphere.

There are still many tones that evoke the software sounds of decades past (the exemplar here is “cAPTCHA,” whose virtual marimba and vocalese suggest a breathless, Exotica-inspired introduction .mov for the information superhighway) but the palette has become richer and more organic, lead by the woodwinds which play a major role throughout, with flute provided by labelmate Martha Rose. (On the aforementioned “cAPTCHA” one also hears the world-class whistling talents of the incomparable Molly Lewis.)

Yet the single most noticeable new element may be the use of Chantre’s native French, sung by his sister on “Ville fleurie” and the gorgeous, fluttering “Minute papillion” (the title an idiomatic injunction to slow down!) Chantre initially wrote these lyrics in English, but felt something wasn’t quite right, only realizing what was off when he heard them sung in another language. That spirit of discovery – of finding a new spark in returning home – suffuses Open Source. It invites us to play, beckons us to relax, reminds us to find serenity amidst the churn of the present: minute papillon, dans le tourbillon.