Downbeat | Electronica | Leftfield Vinyl 362 Items

This classic Massive Attack album finally gets an official reissue.

“It’s just too easy to make a standard dance track,” Aphex Twin said of his mindset back in 1992. “You’ve got to put a bit of thought into it to get something a bit different.”

‘Digeridoo’ was released on the Belgian R&S Records label in 1992, and originally peaked at #55 in the UK singles chart in May of that year. Over the last 32 years the track has become one of the essential Aphex Twin tracks in a gargantuan catalogue that continues to amaze and inspire.

“I wanted to have some tracks to play to finish the raves I used to play in Cornwall, to really kill everybody off so they couldn’t dance,” Richard D James, AKA Aphex, told Select magazine back in the 90s. “Digeridoo came out of that.”

Released as a 4 track EP that also included early Aphex productions (now classics) including the industrial, acidic clang of ‘Flap Head’ and hyperbolic futurism of ‘Isopropanol’, the release cemented a relationship with the R&S label that went on to release the ‘Xylem Tube’ EP and the pivotal album ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’ in the same year. The label’s owner & A&R Renaat Vandepapeliere reflected “When I first heard Aphex Twin’s music I said, ‘This is it!’, and everybody else said, ‘You’re crazy!’ …a lot of the hardcore R&S fans dropped us. To them it wasn’t music.”

‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) is the first time the EP has been re-issued with extra material. Whilst digging in his DAT archive (allegedly stored in an airtight military ammo box), Richard James revisited the recordings, encoding them through a Nakamichi CR7e cassette deck, using the customised deck with vari-speed to encode at speeds “felt right at the time”. Alongside these CR7e versions, the original mixes have been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, offering a dilated insight into one of electronic music’s most endearing releases.

‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) by Aphex Twin is available on R&S Records from 31st May 2024.

25th anniversary edition of the album "Roseland NYC Live" by the trio from Bristol, which was recorded and filmed in 1997 in New York's Roseland Ballroom with a 28-piece orchestra and released in 1998.

The live album and the concert film have sold over 1 million copies to date. The album features the most acclaimed tracks "Glory Box", "Sour Times" and "Roads" from their debut and second album "Dummy" and "Portishead".

The track list has been remastered and expanded to include 'Undenied' and 'Numb' from the concert film, as well as the full-length performance of 'Western Eyes', part of which was featured in the film credits.

'Sour Times' and 'Roads' are also now the original Roseland versions (previously replaced on the album by recordings from other performances). All 5 of these tracks will be released on CD and vinyl for the first time.

- 2LP, pressed on solid red vinyl, with gatefold sleeve, a double-sided fold-out poster and a replica of the backstage pass used at the concert.

The Late Night Tales compilation is a bit of a ‘stealth’ project for me personally. I’m very proud of it, but at the time, I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now because there was so much going on. You do these things in-between touring and you don’t really have time to reflect on them because you’re immediately onto the next thing. It’s nice to know that it’s getting re-released.

On vinyl for the first time, ‘Random Album Title’ is a seminal body of work in electronic music from Canadian producer deadmau5. The vinyl includes “Not Exactly,” “I Remember,” “Arguru,” and more. This award-winning, chart-topping album is arguably the most sought-after physical piece of work from deadmau5’s impressive catalogue - this is ‘Random Album Title’.

180g Vinyl including download code.

Best coverartwork ever! And the track isn't too bad either.

After selling 2.8 million copies in the last 12 years it was time to kick out a remastered version for 2012. Jazzy stuff for the dancefloor and your couch ...

Originally released via the R&S Ambient sub-label Apollo in '92 and repressed more times than anyone could even begin to keep a count of, Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is not only one of the most important releases in both the Aphex catalogue but also electronic music as an entire entity. A richly woven tapestry of blissful sounds that offer the listener new surprises, twists and turns no matter how many times they venture through its cosmos. The techno equivalent of mainlining serotonin, Selected Ambient Works 85-92 should be prescribed on a daily dose twice a day for any and everyone reading this...

Limited to 1000 copies on clear vinyl in occasion of HHV's 20th birthday.

20 years HHV: our team has selected an album from each of these years that is particularly relevant and precious to us. On a monthly basis, we release exclusive and limited pressings of these records in collaboration with some of our favorite labels.

The slo-beat pioneers Kruder &Dorfmeister of Vienna are among thehottest producers in the dance universe.Even though they only produced twounreleased maxis, big names like CountBasie, Bomb The Bass, Alex Reece orUnited Future Organization had some oftheir tracks remixed by these exceptionalproducers. Their productions oncompilations of Ninja Tune, SSR and WallOf Sound are considered mile stonesregarding the trip-hop genre.During the work for DJ-Kicks and theirdebut album they refused doing remixesfor U2, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello and theFantastic Four!

This classic Massive Attack album finally gets an official reissue.

Another reissue slammer form Warp's Nightmares On Wax back cataloque!

Reissue!

Higher Intelligence Agency was founded in 1992 by Bobby Bird during the heady days of Birmingham's legendary Oscillate nights, where he improvised & performed live, developing HIA's signature sound, as well being a resident selector . In 1993 HIA released the ambient dub classic 'Colourform' LP on Beyond Records.

This record is a reissue of HIA's 1993 Ambient Dub classic 'Colourform' album, originally released on Beyond Records, now re issued on Headphone as 2 x 12" vinyl, with a fresh new cut by the legendary mastering engineer & elecronic music producer Stefan Betke (Pole / Scape Mastering). Colourform received critical acclaim and favourable reviews on its release, and continues to be widely played to this day, with new generations discovering the music of HIA via digital platforms as well as through occaisional live HIA performances. These have included perfromance at the Detroit Electronic Music festival in 2007, at Beyond The Tracks Festival Birmingham 2017 , O.Z.O.R.A. festival Hungary 2018, and Oscillate Club 2019. More live dates are planned for 2020, including at Houghton Festival, Glastonbury and O.Z.O.R.A.

Reviews:

Tony Corbin – Echoes 1993 "Beyond Records' Ambient Dub Compilations have provided us with some of the countries most innovative and exciting electronic dance music over the last couple of years, not least from the Higher Intelligence Agency whose 'Speedlearn' single caused more than a ripple in ambient/trance circles earlier this year. The said single, in all its minimalistic hypnodub glory, is included on this, their debut set, as is 'Ketamine Entity', the ridiculously catchy ascending bass riff and trippy echoed beat highlights the groups dub sensibility….the album is quite a low tempo affair which actually adds to its intensity, particularly on tracks such as 'Influx' and 'Conoid Tone' which contain sounds that remind me of the Future Sound Of London. However HIA's identity is firmly maintained through their liberal use of spiraling 303 style sequences. A brave and bright debut".

Calvin Bush - Burning Bush 1993 "Colourform sweeps you up and trans-ports you across broad vistas of shimmering ambience via their heavenly slow acid grooves and hypnotic melodies, with plenty of space to just step in and explore. The perfect horizonless soundscape for the mentally unshackled listener".

Benn Wilmot NME 1993 "Inevitably there can only be one criteria for judging an album like 'Colourform', and that is whether it moves the listener into a state of bliss. Painstakingly constructed without sacrificing spontaneity or soft pedalling on their basic shuddering groove, 'Colourform' is always intelligent and undeniably high. Based on their finely honed live set, it builds from the bassy rumblings of 'Delta' and 'Speedlearn' upwards and onwards, slowly gathering pace until the double climax of 'Re Echo and 'Ketamine Entity'. That state of bliss is comfortably attained "

Massive Attack's third album "Mezzanine" finally gets the reissue treatment. Essential!

WRWTFWW Records is flying high as it announces the reissue of the 1997 ambient masterpiece Quiet Logic by electronic music visionaries Mixmaster Morris (The Irresistible Force), Jonah Sharp (Spacetime Continuum), and Haruomi Hosono (Yellow Magic Orchestra). For the first time ever, this iconic album is available on vinyl as a double LP with a heavy 350gsm sleeve, as well as on digipack CD and digitally.
Quiet Logic invites listeners to embark on a captivating sonic odyssey, blending intricate rhythms and celestial environments that push the boundaries of electronic music. Co-crafted at Haruomi Hosono's Tokyo studio in 1997, this album represents a time of rapid transformation in the genre, with these three artists at the forefront of redefining soundscapes.
With its unique blend of influences from Hosono's immense contribution to electronic, pop, and experimental music to Morris' worldwide chill out DJ performances and Sharp's pioneering label, Reflective, Quiet Logic remains a timeless piece of ethereal electronica. It was originally only released in Japan in CD format on the Harry Hosono-curated Daisyworld Discs label.
Remastered for 2024, this reissue is a must-have for fans of Haruomi Hosono / YMO, The Irresistible Force, Spacetime Continuum, Dreamfish, Tetsu Inoue, FFWD, H.I.A., Fax +49-69/450464, and mind-expanding musics.
Immerse yourself now.
Quiet Logic is pressed on biovinyl, a sustainable alternative to traditional vinyl. Biovinyl replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases, resulting in 100% CO2 savings in bio-based S-PVC production. Furthermore, it is 100% recyclable and reusable, embracing the circular economy ideology.

Edition on 180g.

Classic Aphex Twin 12" with four nice mixes!

Damon Albarn's brainchild which includes the massive hit Clint Eastwood feat. Del!

Responding to popular demand, Warp Records is repressing its seminal Boards of Canada catalogue on vinyl for the first time in over five years. Each Warp reissue comes with a download code and an original BOC sticker design from the era.

Another Aphex Twinclassic back in print! Pressed 180 gram wax, download code included!

UK National Album Day Limited Release. You've Come a Long Way, Baby is the second album by Fatboy Slim. It was first released on 19 October 1998 in the United Kingdom on Skint Record and a day later in the United States by Astralwerks. You've Come a Long Way, Baby proved to be Cook's global breakthrough album, peaking at number one on the UK Albums Chart and number 34 on the US Billboard 200. Praised by critics for its sound and style, the album brought international attention to Cook, earning him a Brit Award in 1999, and was later certified four times platinum by the BPI and platinum by the Riaa. Four singles were released from the album: "The Rockafeller Skank", "Gangster Trippin", "Praise You", and "Right Here Right Now", all of which peaked within the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. "Build It Up – Tear It Down" was also released as a promotional single. The album has now been remastered at half speed into the best available audio quality possible.

Finally reissued for all those that can't spend three digit amounts for the original pressing. A true gem.
“Lovage” is defined as “an herb that is said to be a benefit for relieving abdominal pains due to gastrointestinal gas…also touted to reduce flatulence when consumed as a tea.” But when placed in the able hands of sonic mastermind Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, recording under the guise of musical lothario Nathaniel Merriweather, the result is a concept album of “music to make love to your old lady by.” With the help of collaborators such as Mike Patton (vocals), Jennifer Charles (vocals) and Kid Koala (turntables), Merriweather serves as your personal guide to the sensual side of life, painting a satirical, darkly funny portrait of love and sex with left-field hip-hop and instrumentals as only he can do.

Faitiche presents a long-lost vinyl album: for the last 14 years, Jan Jelinek's Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records, originally released in 2001 on ~scape, existed only as a download. Now the landmark album is available again on vinyl, as a double LP with two bonus tracks (B-sides from the Tendency EP, 2000).

Another Aphex Twinclassic back in print! Pressed 180 gram wax, download code included!

Originally released on Firstcask Records in 2003. A selection of my styles and ideas at the time, ranging from drum n bass, ambient, acid etc etc

Released in 1999 on Taylor Deupree’s 12k label, »optimal.lp« was the debut album by Dan Abrams under his Shuttle358 moniker. For its 25th anniversary, Keplar presents it on vinyl for the first time with three previously unreleased tracks—the digital version also includes a alternative version of »Tank«—as well as a new artwork recreated by Daniel Castrejón and a remaster by Andreas [lupo] Lubich based on the original pre-masters that were been restored and cleaned up for the reissue project by Abrams. »optimal.lp« was inspired by the rich tradition of ambient music and the rhythmic complexity of 1990s electronica while also sharing many traits with the then-emerging clicks’n’cuts movement, making it a true sui generis piece of work—both informed by tradition and visionary, idiosyncratic and seminal for many artists after him.

Abrams developed an interest in ambient music when he was still a child, scouring through cassette tapes of environmental sounds, new age music, and world percussion. Discovering Brian Eno’s »Thursday Afternoon« as a young teenager marked a turning point for him. »It gave me the idea that ambient music could be an intentional creative act, that tone itself is a legitimate form of expression,« he says today. During the 1990s, he increasingly immersed himself in the electronica scene and the output of labels such as Instinct, where Deupree worked as an Art Director and released his first records as Human Mesh Dance. Abrams found a home on 12k after sending Deupree a demo tape that would later evolve into »optimal.lp,« released as the label’s fifth catalogue number.

As the first-ever album composed entirely of sampled material, "Endtroducing....." is a landmark in the history of electronic music. Its influence reverberates through the years, inspiring countless artists and solidifying DJ Shadow's place as a visionary in the realm of sample-based production.

Each track tells a unique story, from the hypnotic groove of "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt" to the cinematic atmosphere of "Midnight in a Perfect World." Shadow's meticulous craftsmanship shines through, showcasing his unparalleled skill in constructing beats that resonate with both intensity and emotion.

Queens Of The Circulating Library stands alongside Time Machines and Nurse With Wound's Soliloquy For Lilith as a post-industrial pinnacle of sensory-warping long-form drone. Crafted by the distilled duo of Thighpaulsandra and John Balance, the 49-minute piece unfurls in swirling, cyclical waves, tidal as much as textural, channeling the spirit of levitational minimalism pioneered by La Monte Young. Touted as the first part in "a continually mutating series of circulating musickal compositions" upon its initial release in 2000, the album remains a compelling case study in Coil's exceptional capacity for mutation and extremes. The theatrical introductory monologue delivered by Thighpaulsandra's mother - a career opera singer, in her 80's at the time of recording - sets the stage for a grandiose ascension. Written by Balance, the text is declamatory but dreamlike, refracted through megaphone echo: "Return the book of knowledge / Return the marble index / File under "Paradox" / The forest is a college, each tree a university." As her voice fades, the lulling synthetic infinity deepens, congealing into transient crests of volume and haze, like slow-motion surf misting in moonlight. Thighpaulsandra describes their aesthetic intention as a "bliss out," static but shape-shifting, an amniotic drift towards an eternal vanishing point. A supreme sonic embodiment of the slogan on the sleeve of Time Machines, two years prior: "Persistence is all."