Nu-Jazz | Broken Beat Vinyl 249 Items

The third release in the series of 12” EPs featuring reinterpretations of tracks from the album “People Need People” - the brilliant album by Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella released in 2021 - features the excellent collaboration of two American artists from the Detroit scene Tall Black Guy and Andrès. Terrel Wallace AKA Tall Black Guy, raised on bread, Motown, jazz and early hip hop... he has become a standard bearer of the current hip hop beat scene. With a steady stream of sample-filled productions and clever flips, he has won fans all over the world. His production skills are showcased in his own rendition of “Nigeria”, where he calls on Broken Keys AKA Tommy Sheridan DJ, producer, vocalist and multi-Instrumentalist from Cleveland, Ohio. On side AA instead, DJ Andrés, now a revered figure of the Detroit scene praised by the eclectic Moodyman and Carl Graig among others, delivers a house version of “African Tribes” worthy of the most important dancefloors, in which he mixes soul-jazz parts with fragments of vocal samples and spoken words, all sublimated into a musical mixture with a strong deep house impact, with rhythm and mood typical of the black culture. Originally conceived as a trilogy, this successful reworking series will eventually embrace a further fourth chapter including two new Fred P. interpretations of the tracks “African Spirits” and “Tribes

This is the second in the 12” EP releases series featuring reinterpretations of tracks taken from the People Need People album, Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella’s brilliant collaborative jazz dance album released in 2021. After Joe Claussell’s fantastic work on “Inner Light” on the previous 12”, the same song gets here a further interpretation by the great Anthony Nicholson, one of the most respected producers and key characters in the tribal / afrocentric house scene, with more than 30 years of experience in the field. We also asked DJ Spinna to put his artistry on “New World Shuffle” and the result is uplifting: Bridgette Amofah’s original vocals shine over a sunny house groove full of keys and moog lushy layers, in a distinctive ‘Spinna feel’. Yet another meaningful perspective on the “People Need People” original release, which will soon receive another significant treatment by none less than Tall Black Guy, Andrés and Fred P! Stay tuned!

Initially planned as a trilogy, given the success of this project, the series of 12” EPs featuring reinterpretations of tracks from the album “People Need People” - the brilliant work by Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella released in 2021 - closes with this fourth chapter, with the excellent contribution of Fred P. and his Interpretations. Artist, DJ, Producer, Remixer and A/V Designer - born in New York and now living in Berlin - Fred P. has encompassed what it truly means to be an artist in the 21st century. With a discography growing exponentially year after year, he continues to push forward in his sound and his mind. These two new interpretations of his constitute a little jewel in which Fred P. offers us a skilful blend where afro, jazz and house music create a cosmic spiritual journey at times nocturnal, suitable for the most sophisticated dance floors - in both cases with different rhythmic patterns, broken-afro for “African Spirits” and cosmic-house for “Tribes”, Fred creates here an open space, deep and simply at the centre of the music!

Taking in sultry synth-pop gemz, cryptic house numbers and tropical trouser-movers sung in French & Japanese, Marseille based producer/performer Musique Chienne is one of the most colourful & charismatic new artists to join the Acid Waxa stables and her latest EP Acidebout (a clever doggo-related play on words en Francais) sees 4 of her greatest hits to date pressed onto loud-cut vinyl and given the techno/d&b/rave treatment from fellow label dons Roy of The Ravers, Lesinge & Aftawerks.

Mr. Fingers second part of the Around the Sun series of albums!!! Larry Heard's (under his most notable monniker) continuation on the path from last years "Around the Sun part 1". Encompassing all his influences from Jazz, R&B to Techno and Ambient these lush tracks with a feel that no one else expresses quite like him. No need to further elaborate... Larry Heard at his finest.

Mr. Confuse returns with a new funky 7Inch on the afrofunk tip.
'Spinning Around' kicks off with heavy funk drums, afro horn stabs and a driving mean Farfisa organ that really keeps you moving till the end. On the flipside 'Against All Odds' offers a driving bass line, raging brass and clever breaks – a breakdance sure shot!
Make sure you check out the music video of 'Spinning Around' and don't miss this release on Confunktion Records as the 7 Inch vinyl version is limited to a 150 units. Be quick on this one!

Inspired by mankind’s greatest adventure -- the Moon landing and, before that, the space race between the US and Ussr -- the LEM Tales project sees beat-maker and bass player Moonbrew join forces with organist and keyboardist Paolo Apollo Negri to create a sonic universe where hip hop meets funk, pop merges with jazz, old school interacts with new possibilities, and urban and space

After a convincing self-released EP in 2019 and a first introduction on BMM Records with a track feature on the "Groove Dingueries Vol. 1" compilation, Swiss quartet mohs. present their debut album "Mirage", an ode to creativity. Guitarist Erwan Valazza, trumpeter Zacharie Ksyk, bassist Gaspard Colin and drummer Nathan Vandenbulcke distill jazz, hip hop and afrobeat elements in an ocean of blissful synths while keeping a wary eye on the sound texture. From the funky instrumentation surrounding Fang The Great's vocals on "Heartbreaker" to the the nostalgic guitar loops of "Mirage", all the way to the relaxing, almost ambient soundscapes of "Lonely Cowboy", this album will comfort your ears like a warm blanket.

Mmyykk’s Science EP arrives at a time when the world needs it. The eponymous title track is about recognising the power and connection that we all have to the cosmos - and it feels like no coincidence that this body of work arrives in 2021.

The EP balances universal themes with playfulness; asks hard questions relating to accountability and materiality whilst remaining musically cohesive and funky throughout. An exceedingly difficult artist to pigeonhole, Mmyykk (pronounced Mike) works concurrently within the realms of soul, jazz, hip hop, R&B and ambient; his sound equally indebted to his fellow west-coast natives Thundercat and Flying Lotus as it is to synth experimentalists Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder.

Whilst Mmyykk operates as the multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer & engineer across all 6 tracks, we can still hear the richness of improvisation musical collaboration involved in the making of this record, with numerous cameos from artists in Mmyykk’s adopted hometown of Minneapolis as well as a feature from London’s very own Demae.

The city of Minneapolis, whilst not addressed directly in the lyrics, provided a backdrop like no other whilst this album was coming together. Being at the epicentre of such a tragedy had a profound effect on the formation of the EP... “The City was literally burning...” Mmyykk recalls as he goes on to explain that tackling themes such as police reform, reparations and accountability in his work is his way of taking a stand in the fight for justice.

Despite the grief prevalent in the city, the EP exudes a complex “dopeness”, executed so effortlessly it belies the skill involved in the process - it’s precisely this nonchalant cool that defines what Science means to the artist.

Whilst we can dissect the inspirations and trace the lineage of this body of work- the result is singular. It’s clear that Mychal Fisher, aka Mmyykk is operating on his own terms, in a lane of his own - and making it look easy.

As time moves forward, it becomes increasingly clear that the need for emotional expression through artistry is more important than ever, especially in the wake of emerging AI technology that threatens to replace human creativity. Minus & MRDolly's new album, "Giant Stops," is a testament to the enduring power of art to connect with audiences on a deep emotional level. Named in direct reference to arguably one of the greatest albums ever created, "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane, "Giant Stops" pays homage to the rich legacy of jazz while pushing the boundaries of the genre with a contemporary twist. The album seamlessly blends jazz, hip-hop, and electronic elements to create a unique sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and modern. For Minus & MRDolly, "Giant Stops" represents a new chapter in his evolution as a musician, showcasing his growth and commitment to pushing boundaries in his genre-bending style. Taking inspiration from the creative process of Makaya McCraven, the album features dynamic instrumentals backed by a live band, with Minus & MRDolly's signature lyricism and storytelling shining through both the instrumentals and the lended work of guest musician such as Meta_ or Luca Argel. By using this production method the album takes a bold stand for the importance of sampling as an art form hoping to encourage listeners to appreciate the rich history and evolution of hip hop and to recognize the essential role that sampling has played in shaping the genre. As a nod to his Portuguese roots, "Giant Stops" represents a deeper exploration of the artist's identity and a commitment to looking inward to find creative inspiration. With this album, Minus & MRDolly hopes to inspire others to embrace their own unique perspectives and use them to create art that connects with audiences on a deeply emotional level. In a world where technology threatens to replace human creativity, "Giant Stops" is a reminder that the power of art to connect with people on a fundamental level is enduring and will continue to shape our world for generations to come.

A little masterpiece brimming with exoticism, whimsicality and psychedelia, presented here in two different versions recorded by Enzo Minuti and his group in 1981 – an afro-dub one propelled by sax, synths, percussion and weirdly processed choir vocals (side A), and a tropical-downtempo mix with claves and flute exuding Caribbean/cinematic vibes (side B). Both perfect for a sunset DJ set.

Midnight Conversation 2 is the new LP by the Italian duo based between Bologna and Berlin. The album waves through progressions in jazz, hip hop, house, and broken beats featuring an exclusive collaboration on the track ‘123’ with Capofortuna. Following their debut album ‘Midnight Conversation 1’ previously selected between the most exciting projects from Juno Records back in 2018 this new LP is truly something to behold.

Meitei’s 2020 album 'Kofū' was the bold bookend to an expedition, where sounds were first navigated and then subverted in 2018’s 'Kwaidan' and 2019’s 'Komachi'.

All three albums were Meitei’s attempt at immersive storytelling, reimagining moments of Japanese history he felt were being washed away – not least by the unforgiving sands of time – through wistful compositions that stretched across ambient music, hauntology, and musique concrete.

When it came to finalizing 'Kofū', Meitei found he was left with over 60 fully realized tracks, bursting with ideas that fired in divergent, curious directions. Meitei was content with the 13 tracks he had selected. But when it came time to begin his next album, he found that it had been sitting in front of him all along. He realized his work wasn’t over yet.

Meitei sounds right at home celebrating the past he first reimagined in his previous work. The merriment is palpable in its first two tracks of 'Kofū II' – a loop of cheery whistling amidst the clanking of wood leads into strings, cricket sounds and flutes, all united in bustling harmony.

'Happyaku-yachō' is where it comes into focus. Pitch-shifted vocal samples roam around in the crowded sonic field. “My image of this music is that it expresses the vibrant mood of Edo's merchant culture,” says Meitei, “where old Japanese dwellings were densely packed together in a vast expanse of land.” The affair becomes bittersweet as the track leads into the desolate 'Kaworu', a compositional piece lifted from his 'Komachi' sessions – a final requiem to his late grandmother.

The album is bursting with spectral vignettes of wandering samurais, red lanterns, ninjas, puppet theatres, poets, even a vengeful assassin ('Shurayuki hime', known to Western audiences as ‘Lady Snowblood’).

'Saryō' is as elegant and refined as you would expect. It induces stillness in its repetition, with each synth note a brushstroke. It was inspired by a Sengoku-era tea house he once visited, designed by national icon Sen no Rikyū. Meitei tied it to the reaction he felt while poring over the ink paintings in his grandmother’s house. “The decayed earthen walls and faded tatami mats gave me an emotional impression,” he says. “And the cosmic flow of time drifting in the small room. I decided to put my impression of this into music.”

In 'Akira Kurosawa', an appropriately thunderous track, Meitei finds deep resonance in his vast filmography, which drew equally from Japan’s rich heritage and troubled circumstances post-WWII.

'Kofū II' is not a leftovers album, nor is it a straightforward companion piece. In this album, Meitei has his biggest reckoning with the Japanese identity yet. Over the years, he has attempted to peel back what he believes has defined Japan and its people. After seeking answers with three full-length albums, his fourth poses more questions.

If his first three albums inspired a sense of longing – or, perhaps inevitably, fed an irreparable nostalgia doomed to history – 'Kofū II' compels us to reassess our relationship with the past. By constantly looking back, are we ever afforded a clearer present? After capturing the “lost Japanese mood”, where does that leave its country in the modern world? Meitei offers no immediate answers with 'Kofū II'. It forces you to sit with its disparate moods, to meditate amidst the textured fragments.

'Kofū II' will be released on 180g LP, CD and digital format on December 10, 2021 (LP expected to land January 28, 2022) via KITCHEN. LABEL. Both LP and CD format are presented in a debossed sleeve with obi strip and include a 16-page insert with words in Japanese and English from Meitei, printed on premium paper stock with design by KITCHEN. LABEL founder Ricks Ang, and is mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama in Tokyo, Japan.

Fate is a funny old thing. One day in 2011, DJ/producer Tom Trago found himself sharing a train journey with Steven Van Lummel, a DIY musician, artist and co-founder of PIP, an underground nightclub and cultural hub in The Hague. Over the course of a rambling, open-ended conversation, the idea of making music together came up; a few weeks later, Trago travelled to van Lummel’s place – a former industrial unit that was now home to a rotating cast of artists and musicians – and didn’t leave for a month.

Cossetted away from the outside world in van Lummel’s loft, with multi-instrumentalists Janneke Nijhuijs and Wieger Hoogendorp joining them to create a musical four-piece, Mega Wega was born. Over the course of four weeks, the quartet embarked on an almost continuous creative session punctuated only by impromptu parties and mixing sessions. Life-long bonds were made and over 70 tracks recorded before the mundanity of day-to-day life came calling.

For one reason or another, the project never saw the light of day, with tracks sat gathering dust on hard drives for the best part of a decade. During the madness and loneliness of the Covid-19 pandemic, Trago rediscovered the tracks. Delighted by what he heard, a collective decision was made to add finishing touches and release the resultant album on van Lummel’s PIP Records imprint. Further instruments and vocals were added over two days at Hoogendorp’s studio, before mutual friend Tom Ruig got on board to mix the album.

So, what can you expect from Haunted, Mega Wega’s debut album? First and foremost, it’s the sound of pure creative expression – the distillation of a freewheeling, no-holds-barred, spontaneous musical journey variously inspired by the do-it-yourself ethos of musical counterculture, shared inspirations and influences, epic jam sessions, distant stars (Wega, sometimes known as Fidis or ‘the harp star’, is one of the brightest in the night sky), imaginary journeys across dusty deserts, and the comradeship of four new friends.

Enchanting and alluring, it’s an album that gleefully denies lazy categorization and ploughs its own eclectic, atmospheric musical furrow in vivid sonic detail. It’s a collective exploration of heady musical eclecticism unified by saucer-eyed vocals, low-slung bass, loose-limbed beats, sweaty percussion workouts and hazy electric piano motifs.

Haunted begins with the woozy and hallucinatory slow-burn soundscape of ‘Get Things Done’ – an effects laden shuffle akin to lying flat on your back tripping under an intense desert sun – and ends with the creepy, mind-mangling post-punk funk of ‘Brain Carpaccio’; in between, you’ll find spaced-out, low-tempo lo-fi soul (‘Move Around’, ‘Haunted’), deep and off-kilter opioid jazz (‘Copenhagen’), intoxicating psychedelia (‘Last Night on Earth’), piano-laden dream-pop epics (‘Shake Or Fall’), and Latin-infused, percussion-powered hedonism (‘Chopping Heads’).

Born out of spontaneous collaboration and immersive, almost endless recording sessions, Haunted is an album shot through with imagination and boundless energy, captured for posterity by four friends and collaborators at the top of their game.

Maston’s Darkland is a breezy collection of the material from the Tulips sessions that didn’t make it on to the original LP. Originally a digital-only release for those in the know in the autumn of 2018, after re-issuing Tulips in 2020 it made too much sense for Be With to give Darkland a vinyl release. Like Tulips, Darkland was recorded mostly in Hoorn, in the Netherlands, between 2015-2017 during downtime from Frank’s touring duties with Jacco Gardner’s band. Bits were also done in Los Angeles on some extended trips back home. The collection plays like an alternate view of Maston’s instant modern classic Tulips; a companion piece to the LP proper with similar mixture of shorter themes and more full length tracks.

Electronic-jazz pioneer Mark de Clive-Lowe returns with the second installment of his Midnight Snacks EP series. Vol.2 kicks off with two dedications: “Crush Velvet”, a break-heavy, broken beat jam full of twists and turns, dedicated to Phlash – Mark’s mentor and dear friend, the late great Phil Asher. “Sorceress” is dedicated to the legend Chick Corea, a reworking of his Return to Forever classic by the same name. Featuring Mark’s lithe rhodes and piano lines, it’s perfect for the jazz-minded dancefloor. Side B kicks off with the downtempo head-nod of “Float into ETHer” before taking things back up-tempo again with “Joyful Resistance Part II” – a latin jazz-flavored 3/4-time broken beat samba keeping our spirits high in these unpredictable times. An EP packed full of future classics from one of the masters of the game.

The one and only MdCL - Mark de Clive-Lowe - is back with a batch of Midnight Snacks fresh out the oven. The third installment in his series of instrumental broken beat, jazz-fused tastiness features four new tracks of Mashibeats dancefloor goodness. "Musashi 2474” kicks us off with the bruk grooves, imagining a sci-fi future where the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi travels the spaceways. “Journeyman” follows, taking us into downtempo, head-nod, boom bap territory built around an MdCL piano sample. The EP’s flipside starts with “Third Plane” - a soulful broken beat jam, twisting and turning through a synth and keys drenched soundscape. We close out this snacks session with “Orbits” - a jazzy house inspired roller to take us home...

Marc Mac back with another high grade Bruk, Electro Boogie monster. This is the fourth and final piece of the series. From Africa to Jamaica, Brazil and now Japan Marc Mac has explored the international fusion and cultures that has been an influence on his style of Broken Beat. The four track EP is under-pinned with Jazz/Funkiness and a hint of Jungle in the subs can be felt on "Kambei". 'Yasuke Soul" and "Tokyo Nightlife" feel like a head nod to Ryuichi and Akiko, so buckle up and get ready for a Journey eastbound. Brilliant cover art is supplied by Mitchy Bwoy.
arigatō

Following a collaborative release on Sherelle and Naina's Hooversound Recordings and EPs on Sneaker Social Club, Wncl Recordings and his own Club Glow (ran alongside Denham Audio, LMajor and Borai), contemporary UK breaksmith Mani Festo readies four typically lairy cuts of gun-finger, rush-in-the-rave energy.

Mani Festo has become something of a breakbeat assassin in recent years with a deserved spotlight being shone on the producer as one of the brightest artists to emerge from within the dark 'n' dutty UK breaks and electro scene. What you see is what you get from Mani Festo; what you're getting is a screwface and a smacked jaw.

'Leviathan' kicks things off with its stripped-back, grime-like textures - distorted kicks, frantic claps and growls from the belly of the beast blend on a minimal-breaks sequence that packs quite a punch despite its uncluttered soundwaves. 'Tethys' follows in a similar vein; distorted screams come from a brass-creature deep in the darkness, scattered percussion and step-tipped production blur the lines between garage, breaks and electro.

Large wubs and basslines guide the listener front left (just make sure you've got your protective earplugs in!) on 'Night Drive' before 'With U' strays down an emotional and introspective route with its otherworldly atmospherics, jungle tones and contemplative stillness - a creative combining of both heaven and hell.

Legendary bassist known for his work with Massive Attack, Neneh Cherry, Soul II Soul and currently with Grace Jones. Soulful funky grooves with a PRINCE-like feel. 3 tracks: "robotronics", "freedom", and "falling". With Keziah Hodgson, Cleveland Watkiss, Dessy DI Lauro. 1-sided, pic sleeve.

To celebrate the 3 years anniversary of Mother Tongue and remind us all the sheer quality of the Madre Lingua album project from last year, MT’s own Patrick Gibin curated this special remix double A-sider! Patrick himself teamed up once again with Kaidi Tatham to refreak the EDB & Gary Superfly collaboration ‘Pressure’….the result is pure nasty and rude house vibes aimed at the dancefloor! On the flipside Mark De Clive Lowe gave a spacey and beatless twist to the electronic opus ‘Apollo 3000’ [another big favourite from Madre Lingua] moving things into more abstract territories! The best of both worlds on a single phat 12 inch!

Hand numbered, coming in a white flap envelope with info card inside. Description: Luke Beats – Nature Walk Prod & Mix by Luke Beats “Put down the phone, press play, then breathe”

Released for the first time in CD and Digital format in 2017 this is the sixth album by Luca Trevisi LTJ Xperience It contains some of his most played songs such as Get Down, Let There Be Groove, Put Me Down and the one that gives the title to the album Beggar Groove here in its two versions. The release is in a limited edition double album on White vinyl. Luca LTJ Trevisi (ltj Xperience) trained as a producer DJ in the late 1980s. Resident first at the Kinki Club in Bologna and then at Cap Creus in Imola, he is one of the first Italian DJs to program house and above all to re-propose Black Music, Jazz and Latin Bossa, all the genres that then over time gave way to Acid Jazz and Nu Jazz. He began his work as an artist and producer with Irma Records and in the 90s also his activity as an international DJ who saw him play at the Blue Note and the Jazz Café in London, at the Giant Steps in New York and at the Jazz Festival in Montreaux.

Deepening of a Groove is the new album, the fifth dedicated to the research of sounds Disco Funk from its origins revisited by today's rhythms and the dancefloor feeling of 2000. For the first time on this album 4 sung songs appear. Bad Side (already released in single version) and Infiltrator are sung by Anduze, soul singer from Los Angeles also known for his collaboration with Parov Stelar. I'm Gonna Funk U and Stranger are sung by the Marche singer AdniL for the first time in collaboration with LTJ.

Fresh imprint Caldeira open their account with the first vinyl retrospective of Swiss composer Louis Crelier, whose FM sorcery and LinnDrum drama takes the listener away to an imaginary Africa. Standing proud amid the sound waves, Caldeira emerges with a singular mission; to bring us music with hidden depth. Whether it’s a reissue or retrospective, archival or original, each release reflects the Michelin-grade tastebuds of label founder Camille Bertin AKA Plastic Bamboo.

Serbia's Disco Fruit crew has been putting out lush sounds that take in funk, breaks and soul influences on top of their bread and butter disco grooves for years now. This time they welcome back a label regular, Loshmi, who has put out plenty of edits here before now. His new one 'Dark Night' is a 60s-tinged high speed spy theme with funky brass and bristling drums all overlaid with rock-styled vocal yelps. The instrumental on the flip is a more paired back but just as hustling groove.

Highly active in the electronic music scene in South Korea, Livigesh releases his 6th official album "303 Romance" via No Slack Records. Livigesh has immersed himself into acid house, 90's hiphop and 70's funk music while making "303 Romance." His extensive use of the 303 "acid" basslines are present throughout the album. "303 Romance" is a look into Livigesh's musical influences. Squelching acidic and funky basslines, breakbeats and abstract vocal samples present Livigesh in his most uplifting, playful and simple to date.

The Amsterdam-based duo of Lyma and Rebiere aka Likeminds follow up their debut album On My Way with versions from its predecessor.

Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you still gotta make it to first base. That’s what happened when Rebiere’s laptop was stolen, along with all the recordings of their original debut album. The pair made a brand new album from scratch, but they kept coming back to the demos from the lost recordings. They started to rework the sound as a whole, adding finishing touches, including additions from Bo Floor and Gino Groeneveld from Jungle By Night. The demos weren’t the same as the stolen tracks, but they learned to love the imperfections all the same.

The Lost Tape takes you on a journey - through low-slung beats, party jams, soulful. melodies and woozy synths, all masterfully woven together with samples and field recordings from Amsterdam’s watery canalways. It’s also the story of how the duo met, at a time when Lyma felt lost at sea with his collection of unreleased tracks, before Rebiere threw him a lifeline and brought some focus and clarity. Sometimes finding a like-minded friend can make all the difference.

Italian nujazz newcomers pop back up with a full length LP on Chicago's own Star Creature label. Futuristic acid jazz over heavy drum beats, minimal squelching West Coast synths, punchy basslines all tied together under a warm bed of vibey overtones. Due out in early 2023.

London-Amsterdam connect for this lush one! UK legend IG Culture brings some London bruk boogie to the mix of Believe as Lcsm, the afro-futuristic jazz venture known as Likwid Continual Space Motion. A joint release between Dopeness Galore and INI Movement originator Shamis. “One for the real heads, made for dance floors in dim basements”

Two immensely talented musicians formally of dope soul/electronica four piece Electric Conversation from Paris. LaNote & Valet have a unique take on soul music with abstract rhythms and filtered textures yet memorable and beautiful songs with a genuine warmth of feeling, which is missing in so much contemporary music. This double album includes ‘Week-End’ which has also been remixed by the legendary DJ Spinna and ‘One Way’, blessed by a beautiful remix from Marc Rapson, both gaining support on the digital airwaves world wide. Further remixes come from the excellent aCatCalledFritz, Mecca:83, Simon S, Nicky Lars and Dusty (from Jazz Liberatorz).

Ladi6 is a singer with soul. A singer with a hip-hop background and masses of pop-appeal. A singer who first gained attention through her features with the legendary New Zealand export-band Fat Freddy's Drop, but who has also performed alongside such diverse artists as Gil Scott-Heron, Mayer Hawthorne and Mos Def. In short: A singer whose eyes have seen much and whose style is not governed by rules. As if that wasn't enough, her enormous charisma enables her to win her audience over within minutes with full support of her band of Parks and Julien Dyne (BBE).
The 30-year old has always endeavored to use music to tear down barriers and dissolve purported genre-boundaries. With her previous album, "Time Is Not Much" (BBE) which was produced by Parks and Mu (Fat Freddy's Drop), Ladi6 has already taken a perfect shot at her goal, which, combined with the interplay between the many diverse elements of the music, has a highly impressive effect. "The Liberation Of…" has already top the New Zealand independent charts for consecutive weeks and her single "Like Water" is the #1 independent New Zealand song on radio.

Ladi6, a New Zealander of Samoan origin, feels a deep connection to her homeland. And her homeland has suffered some tragic events in recent years: One and a half years ago, the South Sea paradise of Samoa was stuck by a Tsunami. Ladi6, whose real name is Karoline Tamati, was present when the wave of destruction arrived. A few weeks ago an earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch - the town in which her family lives. Again, Karoline bore witness to a natural catastrophe inflicting deep wounds on the soul of a population.

All the more surprising then, that 'The Liberation Of…' doesn't for one moment sound burdened or melancholy. Quite the contrary, in fact: It is an easygoing, feel-good album. The title of the record, however, suggests both the aim of the songs and the result, which their creation has achieved. For the album is exactly that, which its title suggests: Liberation.

It works in clubs. it works at after hours. Also, small bars vibrate meaningful on it: the music of Kuniyuki Takahashi enthralls everywhere and is made for heedful listeners, that love the thrill of little musical nuances, shifting in a deeply composed ocean of sound.

In terms of composition, melodic sensitivity, and subtle progression the music of japanese producer, Sound designer and dj stands out. Ambient, Future-Jazz, Deep House, Leftfield Elec-tronics: since more then 25 years the man from Sapporo expresses his emotions with a wide stylistic range.

As Kuniyuki or under pseudonyms like Koss or Newwave project, he released a body of work consisting of numerous albums and EP’s, that display his deep musical consciousness pro-foundly. Now his home label Mule Musiq drops “Remix Works “, an eighth tune strong compila-tion featuring for the second time since 2013 Kuniyuki Takahashi’s very own virtuosity of re-mixing.

A double vinyl that carries the full pallet of his skills – from yacht rock leaning synth-pop and balearic dreams to sweet wave signals and soulful Pop House.

It all starts with Kuniyuki’s Remix of “Plateau”, a tune by japanese Nu-Jazz / Post‐Rock band mouse on the keys, released in 2013 on the short living japanese retalk label. An epic, almost ten-minute-long house voyage, full of discreet acid shades and enlightening Jazz chords, that play spirited tricks on each other’s manic musical preaching.

Audio premiere for Povratak na Parni Pogon on Monday 24th of May via Music is my sanctury
Video premiere via Clash or Twisted Soul
Airplay - dom servini (soho radio), Wyep Pittsburg (dubmission), Wkdu Philadelphia (eavesdrop radio), Jocks & nerds (soho radio), Basic Soul Show, Bondfire Radio NYC + many smaller stations across EU, UK & US
LP review - Mojo, Songlines agreed so far
Key selling points:

Kozmodrum are pioneers of the Croatian nu-jazz scene

Kozmodrum's second albumGravitywon the highest award in Croatia, Porin

Individual members of Kozmodrum as well as Kozmodrum as a collective are acclaimed musicians in the Balkans and have won numerous prestigious awards for their work

Their music is like a DJ set played live - as all the music is played live with 'traditional' instruments by the Kozmodrum ensemble

numerous great reviews, but not many in English - we're looking to introduce the band to UK audiences with this release -- this is one review in english for their album Gravity:https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kozmodrum-gravity Our PR for this 3rd album by Kozmodrum is done by Francesco Soragna (Jus Like Music) with specific focus on UK market. BIO:
Kozmodrumhave been pioneering a new approach to electronic music in Croatia, often described by the band as Organic Dance Music. Techno, House and Dub styles intertwine through a continuous set, played by a live band on guitars, drums and keyboards.Simultaneously, the tradition of jazz ensemble performance is stitched into the architecture of music itself.
Kozmodrum have released 2 albums, 'Na Tragu Satelita' in 2016, and 'Gravity' the following year, receiving a Porin Award for the latter (the Croatian Grammy). Individual band members also received numerous awards for their accomplishments and are considered by many to be pioneers in the Croatian nu-jazz scene. Kozmodrum's main influences are Tycho and Elektro Guzzi, as well as Jaga Jazzist with whom they performed live. The band have played numerous festivals and concerts, with Kozmodrum's members performing with Hans Joachim Roedelius, noise/art/sound figure Sunao Inami, as well as jazz masters Reggie Washington, Peter Erskine, David Liebman, Alan Broadbent, David Murray and Saskia Laroo.
Onstage, Kozmodrum is a five-piece ensemble that adds a third dimension to their music, written and produced by the band's founder Janko Novoselić. Using the framework of a DJ set, the compositions are made to be played openly, where the beat is 'looped' until a cue is given to make a change or switch to another part. The pieces are often minimalistic to start with, but evolve over the performance into more complex patterns, harmonies and melodies. With constant shifts between the natural and the artificial, organized and improvised, quiet and loud - Kozmodrum create an unforgettable, mantric performance.
Kozmodrum are:
Goran Delač - bass
Hrvoje Galler - keyboards
Ivan Kapec - guitar
Elvis Penava - guitar
Janko Novoselić - drums, percussion, synths, sounds & fx

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Freek Mulder, a.k.a. kotokid, is spreading his wings and taking to the skies with his debut release. The first EP of the producer and bass player is symbolically titled ‘Fledge’, as in the young birds’ period just before embarking on their first flight, while developing feathers large enough in order to take off. The listening experience reflects the feeling, is packed with complex compositions, yet full of light sonically and spiritually.

The intricate title is complemented right off the bat with the first track, ‘Unfreeze’, which captures the emotions of opening up again after hiding away from yourself. Recorded in the Flowriders studio with Freek on bass, along with a bunch of analog synths and drum computers, together with Jonathan Szegedi on drums, and Maarten Cima on guitar. Restoring optimism with ‘Revlead’ and ‘Glitchdragon’, inspired by late ‘70s Weather Report feels like a sonic embrace. 2 tracks on the EP feature the soulful vocalist Bahghi Yemane, on the genuinely empowering, emotion-filled ‘Neghisti’ and a thoughtful tribute to the city of arched bridges, ‘New Amsterdam’. Overall, the elements of ‘80s jazz-fusion, modern hip hop, and indie R&B shape this musical piece into a unique experience of its own kind, cleverly blending ponderous melodies and harmonies with solid grooves and sound design, while the bangin’ bassline ties everything together in the most sophisticated and delightful way. Kotokid renders undiscovered environments, with improvisation and composition existing as equals in his music.

The animation on the cover is a design by Portuguese tattoo artist Ricardo Almeida, which depicts a maybug, or a doodlebug, in Dutch often called ‘mulder’. Just like Freek’s last name and a family symbol that he carries around with him on a ring. Perhaps it’s no coincidence maybugs are attracted to light."

Honing your skills is under-appreciated in times of instant gratification and the continuous stream of music. Rotterdam-based producer Kofi The Unknown subverts this idea and took time for spiritual introspection, studying rhythms and sound production. Where being a late bloomer normally is seen as a sobriquet, the producer, composer and beatmaker wears it as a badge of honour and solidifies it as an honorary title by pinning it to his debut EP on Wicked Wax: The Late Bloomer. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Kofi The Unknown shares his journey that led to The Late Bloomer, an emotional journey through sophisticated dance music, straight from the heart, aimed at the soul and feet.

Highly influential to Kofi’s sound and this EP is London’s Broken Beat scene. Syncopated drums, soulful chords and heavy bass lines work in tandem to emphasise the danceability the genre is known for. This is further solidified by the track Kofi released leading up to this release: One for Motet, an ode to the Broken Beat MC and Jazz Refreshed host Jason Hicks. The Late Bloomer further develops Kofi’s ode, but provides his Rotterdam flavour and brings his Hip Hop and Funk lineage into the mix.

Embrace Mistakes sets the stage for what’s to come in various ways. It is a textbook case of how dance music can tell a story and be introspective. Kofi’s honesty shines bright on the entire EP and strikes from the first kick drum on. It also shouldn’t be hard to recognise and feel the emotion the producer shares on the title track The Late Bloomer. The emotionally-laced chords and crushing drums are reminiscent of late nights at a warehouse or emotional sequences from a dystopian movie.

Staying true to his ethos ’exploring the university that music holds’, Kofi finds this beyond music production as The Late Bloomer provides an audible experience through creative mixing. Stuttering analog synths, enveloping leads, multiple percussion rhythms and off-beat snare rolls hit from all directions of the stereo spectrum, further underlining the sophistication of his merit. While the EP follows the Broken Beat accents on dance, it is an equally mindful listening experience.

Kofi The Unknown is a Rotterdam native producer with a knack for rhythms. His keen ear is informed by mentor and Dutch enigma Trian Kayhatu. While Kofi has taken the time to perfect his skills under the guidance of Trian, the two are simultaneously working on the exciting follow-up project to this debut EP. Without looking too far ahead, enjoy The Late Bloomer. It’s not only a crown jewel Kofi proudly wears, it is also establishing him as a future household name in the sophisticated dance scene. "

YUKU's fourth record in what's becoming a increasingly sought after vinyl-only series of anonymous white labels brings the mysterious Kliptown alias back for a solo release. Extremely fun and versatile 130-140 bpm broken beat weapons.

Amaury “King Klavé” Acosta’s debut solo album features virtuoso collaborations with Pino Palladino, Pedrito Martinez, DJ Harrison, Marcus Machado; as well as the vocal stylings of Jake Sherman and J. Hoard.

The Album is a 17-song genre bending synthesis of Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, fused with Afro Cuban Music that was recorded in New York City with over 20 musicians.

This project is a multi medium art project, tying in music, film and painting. The film will be released in 2023, and the cover art was painted by world renowned Cuban artist Luis Cruz Azaceta. The music was inspired by many topics including, mental health awareness, navigating the duality of having multiple cultural identities (Cuban & American), Finding the courage to preserve regardless of the world’s uncertainty, and staying steadfast to his vision.

Following their seriously strong debut release from rising talent & label mastermind Thatmanmonkz. We have an absolutely superb duo of reworks (and dubs) from the man himself & Chicago polymath Khalil Anthony, an author, musician and celebrated collaborator in theatre productions.

With the locution “Great Oxidation Event” we usually refer to the first major mass extinction that has been known on Earth. Occurred around 2,5 billion years ago, it consisted in a huge rise in oxygen in the atmosphere and shallow oceans that radically changed the conditions for the life on our planet, enabling the subsequent development of multicellular life forms. As debut on his own label Hyperjazz Records, with ’The Great Oxidation EP’, electro-shaman Khalab comes back to his natural habitat: the dance floor. With these three instrumental tracks, the visionary artist aims to drive the listener on a backward journey, down to rediscover the most ancestral human rite: to dance. A return to the origin in a radical way to reach a brighter future, but also a bridge for another world - a new space where meet new life forms and uncover new feelings and new consciousness. To embellish this EP, the presence of two very special collaborations. The acclaimed Detroit-based drummer and producer Shigeto joined Khalab in the track ‘Anaerobe’. Also, the Mexican visual artist Carlito Dalceggio contributed with his amazing art by creating the video clip for the track Neba’: a full hand-drawn short movie with no digital manipulations or special effects. His work reflects the seamless ease in which he moves between genres and cultures all in the service of creating the mythology of now.

Khalab Electronic artist and producer Khalab has developed an international reputation for his original fusion of traditional African sounds, deepbass work, jazz, and heavilylayered & dense electronic textures. He has three albums on his credits: ‘Khalab & Baba’, a four-handed workwith the Malian griot Baba Sissoko, released for the Nickodemus’s Wonderwheel Records; the worldwide acclaimed ‘Black Noise 2084’, that draws on the field recordings archive of the Royal Museum in Brussels and result of the collaboration with some of the most innovative musicians of the current UK jazz scene; and ‘M’berra’, recorded in the Mauritanian desert together with the some Tuareg musicians from Mali (M’berra Ensemble), that earned him the collaboration with the Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. His music evolution is a seamless journey – from the most ancestral tribes to the unexplored cosmos; from the black jungle to the skyscrapers; from the remotest subconscious to the furthest and real projection of future Africa. His wide-reaching musical tastes can be heard regularly on his monthly Worldwide FM show, Love from Rome. Already working on a new record ready in 2022, Khalab pulls out of his laboratory the first experiment with this EP.

Kenichiro Nishihara is a highly acclaimed musician who has gained support from many in the dance music scene. His long-awaited 6th album "Elastic Afterwords", released in 2019 to celebrate 10 years of his career, is now available on LP!! Guest vocalists include Michael Kaneko, Sirup, Marter, and Pismo. The album also features Finland's national jazz player, Jukka Eskola (Flugelhorn), Daisuke (Sax) of "jabberloop", one of the leading instrumental jazz bands in Japan, and Akihiko Ogi (Gt) of Zainichi Funk, and many other live musicians. The album is a milestone work that bridges the club jazz scene of the 2010s and 2020s.

Mad genius and longtime member of Urban Tribe, Kemetrix unleashes eight tracks of pure, raw, anthemic, futuristic techno from the streets of Detroit. A clinic in the sacred and profane, the horror and the beauty, that can only be brought to you by someone that has truly lived it.

Karaba is the new signing on Kryptox. The Berlin label founded to show what’s happening in the German Jazz crossover scene. One of these bands is Karaba from Munich. The band was already featured on the Kryptox Kraut Jazz Futurism Compilation in 2019. Now they deliver their first mini album for Kryptox. Five young guys from Munich. Skilled and tight on their instruments and deeply rooted in the heritage of all kind of wild forms of jazz, krautrock and psychedelic music.

Butterflies go through a four-staged life cycle: egg, caterpillar, pupa (chrysalis) and then adult as a butterfly. The transformation from caterpillar to butterfly happens in the chrysalis where the caterpillar body dies to give life to a new, beautifully winged body. This album is an ideal soundtrack to this amazing phenomena, a representation to inner transformation and deep evolution.

Kaidi Tatham returns to 2000black with R&B and boogie offeringsin his own distinct style.'Galaxy' features Lola who soulfully sings about escapism and hope through the stars.'A Message From Above' sounds like the gods themselves have passed on a messageto Mr Tatham to tell us all. Take heed to the sound of jazz boogie via Jamaica.The Ep is signed off with 'Ergonomic Structures' the sound of a hip hop 2 step tune that we all wish existed in '87 (soundman know wha we a chat)