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Cyan Worlds, Emperia Records, and Laced Records are bringing the captivating music of the steampunk puzzle-adventure Firmament to vinyl.

The 17 meticulously mastered tracks will be pressed to a deep red, heavyweight vinyl LP housed in a beautifully designed, collectable spined outer sleeve. The back cover includes liner notes from composer Maclaine Diemer and stunning artwork by the Cyan Worlds development team.

Firmament is an addictive new game by the same legendary studio behind the best-selling games Myst and Riven. It features rich storylines and world-building set in a seemingly abandoned world where you can explore and unlock its various mysteries.

Composer Maclaine Diemer, an insatiably curious composer and multi-instrumentalist, has created a darkly powerful, yet meditative score that draws the listener into unique, atmospheric, sonic intrigue. The score is a haunting, industrial ambient soundscape that is in equal measures both beautifully emotional and darkly foreboding.

Diemer blends deep drones and fantastic musical soundscapes, created in his Los Angeles studio with both vintage and modern synthesizers. The score features a host of unusual acoustic and electric instruments, warped tapes, and found sounds, all processed and manipulated beyond recognition. Regardless of his musical methods, the results are a deeply satisfying and, at times, unsettling listening experience that evokes glimpses into the mystery at the heart of Firmament.

Heith is the alias of Milan-based artist and musician Daniele Guerrini who crafts a mesmerising and ritualistic subterranean soundscape, a resonant and eclectic collage of distinct sonic elements: from celestial percussion intertwined with jarring, mechanical oscillations to haunting vocals atop murky dubbed-out beats.Exploring the textures of consciousness through research into the ritual animism, he kept an omnivorous and universalist approach to cultural and sonic influence. This is central to X, wheel, Heith's debut album and first release on PAN. It's a deep dive into his creative and spiritual practice, one where art and life are inextricable. The Liars Tell..., on the other hand, feels like a kind of respite, a moment of meditation and pause from the fatigue of dimension-hopping. As if the traveller dismounted their carriage and, standing puzzled on a crossroad, listened to the echoes of distant places. Occupying a liminal space and letting thousand of contradictory tales form the lyrics to one unfathomable song.

“Afterlife”… Planet of Zeus’s sixth album finds them reinventing themselves rather than the wheel. After their prophetic, pre-Covid release “Faith in Physics” and the consecutive postponements of their European and North American tours, the band took a deep dive into its own vulnerability and managed to come back stronger and more dangerous than ever before. No matter how far humanity and technology has reached, people always seem to be puzzled by the same old questions. From the ancient Greek philosophers, to Dostoevsky, Hesse and the average bloke on the corner. A blend of failed relationships, parenthood, sobriety, the constant search for a higher purpose and the thin line between “beneficence and rascality” with a unique and adventurous modern heavy rock sound, “Afterlife” is a perfect musical representation of the beauty and the curse of the human condition. A heavy rock must-have for fans of Queens of the stone age, Foo fighters, Mastodon, Clutch, Monster Magnet, Hellacopters and Royal Blood. Available in a limited edition, clear transparent 180g gatefold Vinyl by ihaveadrum records.

Produced entirely by Norman Whitfield, The Temptations’s "Puzzle People" takes the next step along the path that Cloud Nine started, and takes the Detroit band further away from a classic soul sound, and more towards the realm of psychedelic soul. Although a few ballads, including “Running Away (Ain’t Gonna Help You),” are still present, the album is primarily composed of Sly & the Family Stone/James Brownderived proto-funk tracks such as the lead single “Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down,” and the number-one Billboard Pop hit “I Can’t Get Next to You.” Also included are psychedelic-styled covers (recorded with distorted guitars, clavinets, and spacy reverb and sound effects) of contemporary songs such as The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing,” The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” and Roger Miller’s “Little Green Apples.” "Puzzle People" was released on the same day (September 23, 1969) as "Together", a duets album of covers by The Temptations and label mates Diana Ross & the Supremes. It peaked into the Top 5 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and spent fifteen weeks at number one on the R&B Albums chart.

Recorded as part of the same daydreaming puzzle as Unwishing Well, Still Clouds at Noon brings out the slowcore/sadcore elements that drift through The Reds, Pinks & Purples’ melancholy catalogue. Donaldson names '90s hometown San Francisco acts such as American Music Club and the more obscure Timco as pivotal to his guitar playing and development as a songwriter, both of which shine bright here. The slower tempo ballads on Still Clouds… often culminate in heavy fuzz drenched codas and showcase the more abstract poetic side of Donaldson’s lyricism. There’s an inherent pop-sensibility always at work though, with ear-worm melodies appearing over intoxicating circular riffs.

Formerly a Bandcamp only digital release, this white vinyl version is remastered and adds two unreleased tracks, one featuring Mark Monnone from Australian pop-legends The Lucksmiths on bass. Edition of 500.

Rung Hyang, a singer-soul writer who crosses over various genres, will release two EPs with Tendre, Taichi Mukai (tail) and others, as analog LP. Includes a new drum'n'bass remix by ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo) as a bonus! Both sides of the LP record are covered with jacket photos taken by popular fashion photographers, including “romantia” by Mitsuo Okamoto and “aromatic” by Kisshomaru Shimamura. The artistic appeal of the album makes you want to keep it close at hand.

Limited Gold Edition.

Quartet Records, in collaboration with GDM, Universal Music Publishing Italy and EMI General Music Publishing, presents the premiere vinyl edition of the famous giallo score composed by Ennio Morricone in 1971 for LA Corte Notte Delle Bambole DI Vetro (aka Short Night OF Crystal Dolls) directed by Aldo Lado and starring Jean Sorel, Ingrid Thulin, Barbara Bach and Mario Adorf. Considered one of the best and most consistent giallos, the film is about journalist Gregory Moore (Sorel), whose corpse is found in a Prague square and taken to the local morgue. But Moore’s spirit is alive, trapped inside his dead body and desperately remembering the disappearance of his beautiful girlfriend, who is linked to a terrifying conspiracy of depravity. Can a reporter with no visible signs of life solve this perverse puzzle before his existence ends? Morricone’s thriller scores remain some of his most distinctive and original works. As demonstrated in his scores for Dario Argento’s efforts in the genre, Morricone’s uncanny ability to combine lyricism, unbridled avant-garde experimentation and stylish elegance was his most significant contribution to the category. LA Corta Notte Delle Bambole DI Vetro shows Morricone once again embracing the sophisticated avant-garde sound while beginning his score with a haunting tune performed by Edda Dell’Orso heard over the film’s main titles. The waltz theme has a timeless quality, providing a disturbing and disarming melody for the film. This is the first worldwide vinyl edition of this Morricone cult score. It has been completely produced and mastered by Chris Malone from original master tapes and pressed in audiophile clear glass-doll vinyl.

Why you'll love it...
The original score by Academy Award winner Volker Bertelmann that is the soundtrack to Jules, starring Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List), Harriet Sansom Harris (Licorice Pizza, “Hacks”), Jane Curtin (Coneheads, I Love You, Man) and Jade Quon (Transformers: The Last Knight, The Hunger Games) is set for release by ABKCO Records. Written by Gavin Steckler (“Review”, “Playing House”), Jules made its world premiere at the Sonoma International Film Festival where it was the opening night film, and won the Stolman Audience Award for Best Feature. The film is produced by Michael B. Clark, Andy Daly, Deborah Liebling and Alex Turtletaub alongside Marc Turtletaub.

Produced and directed by Marc Turtletaub (Puzzle, The Farewell, Little Miss Sunshine), Jules, a Bleecker Street release of a Big Beach production, was filmed in Morris County, NJ and follows Milton (Kingsley) who lives a quiet life of routine in a small western Pennsylvania town. His day is upended when a UFO and its extra-terrestrial passenger crash land in his backyard. Before long, Milton develops a close relationship with the extra-terrestrial he calls “Jules.”

Things become complicated when two neighbors (Harris and Curtin) discover Jules and the government quickly closes in. What follows is a funny, wildly inventive ride as the three neighbors find meaning and connection later in life – thanks to this unlikely stranger.

The film’s score is the work of composer/pianist Volker Bertelmann who was a 2017 Academy Award nominee for his score to Lion. Last year he received both an Academy Award and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for his score for All Quiet on the Western Front. The Budapest Art Orchestra performs Bertelmann’s music for the Jules score. Recording under the name Hauschka, Bertelmann is a prolific artist in his own right and, beyond soundtracks, has released 20 full length albums of original music to date. The Washington Post’s Michael O’Sullivan wrote, “In the end, Jules performs a magical, if tiny, bait-and-switch: It’s less a sci-fi parable — “E.T. the Extraterrestrial” for the AARP demographic — than a fairy tale reminding us that the tribulations of getting old are more natural than sad, and best done in the company of loved ones.”

The VMP exclusive version of Jules (Original Score) is pressed on 180g Honey Crisp vinyl at GZ Vinyl. The 1LP will arrive in a single, direct-to-board jacket with an 8x10 insert and art by Sara Deck. It was mastered by Carl Rowatti at Trutone Mastering Labs.

This EP distinguishes itself especially for its step towards a slightly slower more atmospheric sound than the conventional Network 23 material. Simon aka Crystal Distortion, the artist responsible for the 3 tracks on this release exhibits a new pallet of sonic references which in relation to earlier material give a sense of maturation to the scene's zeitgeist. A1 almost sounds like it was pressed at the wrong speed with a slight laziness to its beat allowing it a remarkable feeling of holographic spatiality. A2 comes in at a more expected Spiral Tribe tempo, but with a more refined modality, employing sounds very reminiscent of Detroit Techno around that time. B side also merges into more digestible aesthetic in comparison to earlier material, deep sea dubby sounds juxtaposed with crunchy snares and hi hat ricochets. Another piece of the freetekno history puzzle brought back to record stores at affordable prices. Remastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin.

The psychedelic scene that never was – the perfect subtitle to this compilation. There were barely any drugs in Hungary to begin with. In this era, alcohol, music, and imagination have served as the primary means of mind alteration among the youth. The Communist party had a firm grip on culture through monopole control over venues, the media, and the recording industry, western records were not available, clubs enforced a strict dress code of suits, shirts, and longer skirts, and the police harassed young men for not more than having long hair or wearing blue jeans.
There was, however, an undercurrent of smaller semi-professional bands striving to succeed in the shadow of the very few stars privileged by the sole state owned record company. Given their chances to release music were at best limited to a few 7“ singles at the mercy of said record company powers. Psyched Out Grooves from Hungary compiles ten of the most outstanding singles recorded by the underdogs of this period. Some of the bands featured on here have eventually reached wider success by switching to more commercial styles, like Bergendy, Neoton, and Apostol. Most, like Echo, Meteor, Kék Csillag, Non-Stop, were temporal formations that dissolved after a few years due to personal conflicts, lack of success, or both. Others, like Scampolo or Juventus, lasted a longer time without an actual break through. Most of these bands never had a consistent, lasting ’psychedelic’ repertoire or identity at any point. These tracks were the exception, not the norm. That coherence - the illusion of a scene - comes from the curation and sequencing of Budabeats head honchos Von Yodi and Gandharva. It is the arrangement of these puzzle pieces that makes them fit together.
Limited edition of 300 hand numbered copies. Edited excerpt from the liner notes written by Gábor Vályi (Dj Shuriken)

"The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before" - Albert Einstein Walking up the fairway the crowd leans in to catch a glimpse. The tee, the ball, the club, and the endless green stretching out in front. The crowd leans in further phone cameras eagerly clicking away. The golfer steadies himself and brings both hands to the brim of his hat. This shuts out all the spectators from his field of vision leaving only the ball and green to focus on. The noise of the crowd silences. Bless Picasso, the King of Tidewater, delivered a masterpiece with Rillest in the Room Volume One. The noise from fans or critics can tempt one to return to the same palette, use the same brushes once again. Fall victim to hype and predictability like making The Hangover Part II, same story, different country. Rillest in the Room Volume Two is different. Bless elevates not only with growth and maturity but also a vulnerability in his penmanship while remaining true to the production sound originated with Volume One. With fewer features on this album, the listener is able to focus more on skills that Bless so elegantly displays. Brushing off just servicing fans and instead, he challenges not only himself but the audience while always remaining entertaining.

Phuzzle Introducing a fuzzed out EP inspired by heavy-syncopated and minimal instrument layered library records from the early 1970's. Intentionally composed for producers and Dj's to utilize open single solo instruments sprinkled throughout the EP. The theme is to find those open sounds and sync them together as they have the same tempo. Creating a puzzle for you to solve and complete. *Performing DJ's may consider purchasing doubles*

Mihai Popoviciu, one of the most esteemed names in the deep house and minimal scene, is set to unveil his anticipated new album, ‘Puzzle Box’, on Bondage Music. As one of the label’s core artists, Popoviciu returns for his second full-length album release on the imprint following his successful 2016 album, ‘Home’ - available on vinyl from 15th November 2024.

With a career spanning over a decade and with releases on numerous influential labels such as 8Bit to Berg Audio, Popoviciu has firmly established himself as a go-to within the minimal-leaning realms of house music. Known for intricate soundscapes and deep, hypnotic grooves, his work continues to captivate audiences globally. On ‘Puzzle Box’, he delves deeper into his signature stripped-back yet soulful aesthetic, offering a diverse collection of tracks that traverse through various sonic textures.

“With Puzzle Box, each track unlocks something deeper with every listen” - Mihai Popoviciu.

Consisting of thirteen tracks in total, ‘Puzzle Box’ showcases the Romanian’s sound to its fullest. On the vinyl edition, fans are treated to standout tracks like ‘Batiscaf’, ‘Storm Rider’, and ‘Far Gone’ — vinyl-only gems that capture Popoviciu’s talent for layering subtle, dubby tones with groovy rhythms. The opening track, ‘They All Say’, sets the mood with smooth, atmospheric beats with a skippy groove, followed by the dynamic “Video” and the driving, pulsating energy of “Frankfurt.”

Popoviciu’s skill in crafting versatile productions is showcased throughout the album, with each track offering something unique.
From the sleek, melodic strains of ‘Puzzle Box’ to the hypnotic, rolling basslines of ‘Kinetic’, this LP is a journey into his meticulously constructed sound. The digital version also features the bonus track ‘Body Count 2’, offering a final, rhythmic flourish to round off the release.
‘Puzzle Box’ further cements Mihai Popoviciu’s role as a mainstay on Bondage Music, a label which continues to champion forward-thinking, minimal-leaning house music. With this latest LP, Popoviciu once again proves why he remains a favourite, building on his storied career with another masterclass in refined, deep electronic music.

The first ever pressing of Windows96's new album 'Dated New Aesthetic' is now available! This LP is pressed on clear white vinyl and features a whopping six vinyl exclusive bonus tracks.

Exquisitely compiled by Discrepant head honcho Gonçalo F. Cardoso from three tapes released earlier this year by the tireless mind-body of Spencer Clark through his own Pacific City Sound Visions, 'This Year In Coconuts Vol. 2' is another revelation into the deeply personal soundworld of this true voyager of both ancient, present and forthcoming times. Com-ing from a truly singular artist, capable of conveying multiple visions into a labyrinthine-esque mythology all of his own, these seven tracks feel as much part of their original setting as connected pieces from this never ending and puzzling netherworld.

Dedicated to the Temple of Isis in Pompei and opening sides A and B, the two tracks from 'Tempio d'Iside' set up a sce-nario not far from a dream version of the Temple itself, made from crystal clear synth-lines and levitating ambiences, like drifting into ancient memories from days to come. Making up about half of the compilation, the four tracks from 'Kowloon Spider Temple' drip into a feverish mosaic of Clark's by now trademarked cascading rhythms, unhinged alien-vocal sam-ples, phantasmic textures and sparkling synth harmonies projecting a catchy hypnotic oblivion filled with intrigue. The sole title track from 'From the Caves and Jungles of Apulia' tangentially reports back to some lower-fi recordings of the past, with its murkier sound inducing the feeling of willing confinement within such caves and jungles. A brilliant Year in Coconuts, indeed.

RAT BOY have recorded in Los Angeles with T im Armstrong of Rancid, played festivals as far afield as Japan and China, and touredNorth America with The Interrupters. Yet for all those globe-trotting adventures, there"s no place you know quite as well as home.That"s the central topic that R AT BOY explore on their upcoming third album "SUBURBIA CALLING", which will be released onOctober 4th via Hellcat."SUBURBIA CALLING" sees RAT BOY exploring stories from their roots in Essex. It"s the land of wheeler -dealers and dodgy geezers,and home to nosey neighbours, rowdy clubs and Joey Essex. For readers outside of the UK, it"s the land of Blur, Depeche Modeand The Prodigy: a place not so far outside of east London, but in other ways it"s a world away. And it"s not only an immense fontof inspiration for RAT BOY, but the place where ever ything happens for them.. Just outside of Chelmsford sits a converted barnwhere the band can jump in and be creative whenever the mood takes them - a HQ that is a recording studio, a rehearsal space, anart studio, a storage space and a hangout spot all-in-one.Frontman Jordan Cardy says, "I wanted to sing about Essex. Essex is where we live and when you"ve grown up somewhere younotice things about it. There"s so much to draw on. Essex is really close to London but it"s different in a lot of ways. We"ve got alot of freedom here, we built a place where we can record and rehearse and hang out, somewhere you wouldn"t be able to have inLondon."RAT BOY - completed by Liam Haygarth (bass), Harr y Todd (guitar) and Noah Booth (dr ums) - approached the making of the al -bum in unorthodox fashion. They recorded a home demo and a live performance of each song, which were then sent to producerStephen Street (The Smiths, Blur) to edit together like a tapestry puzzle.

In this latest adventure with A.G & Southpaw Chop we travel to Laurel Canyon. This musical journey is a jigsaw puzzle including some of our greatest pop/rock stars within Los Angeles, California. Laurel Canyon is home to many counter culture stars of the 60’s & 70’s. Southpaw Chop adds the backdrop with his musical canvas that sets the stage for A.G’s colorful narration. THE Canyon is an intriguing and insightful.

The Cure's upcoming album, Songs of a Lost World, marks their return after 16 years and will be released on 1 November 2024. This project, led by frontman Robert Smith, delves deeply into themes of mortality, loss, and existential reflection, drawing comparisons to the band's earlier introspective works, like 1989's Disintegration. Many tracks, including “Alone” and “Endsong,” were previewed during their 2022 Shows of a Lost World tour, setting a melancholic and haunting tone that captures Smith’s reflections on personal losses, including family bereavements

Original Hollywood pressing. Tear in bottom spine.

Collapsing new rhythms and industrial visions meet restless melodic vocals on Gateway, the debut album from San Francisco duo YANTRA on Swiss label Subject To Restrictions Discs. This isn’t dance music, but you will dance to it. It isn’t ritual music, but it will channel spirits.
The dreamer is still asleep. She awakens to heed the call. Curious downtempo drums, spartan and potent, animate the body. Running through the city, shadows dance on walls, and alluring voices, whispered, sung, and soaring, possess the mind. At the end of the path, gazing at the mirror’s edge, she finds the source of the voice—and realizes it’s her own.
YANTRA are artist-producer Yaniv de Ridder, also known by the alias YNV, and lyricist-vocalist-instrumentalist Janina Angel Bath. The pair have worked together for some time, beginning with YNV’s 2021 LP Golden Hour Ritual. On Western Paradox, a YNV EP released last year on Subject To Restrictions Discs, Bath contributed vocals—and so YANTRA, the project and the concept, was born. Working together, the pair craft new forms of transcendent sound, timeless and familiar all at once.

The Butter Goods Terrain Frisbee promises to bring momentum and fun into your life. Ideal for anyone who appreciates outdoor activities.

Butter Goods Terrain Frisbee - Features:

• Ideal for on the go
• Made for any terrain
• Front butter logo
• 100% recycled plastic

Hello 24! Nice to have you here. 23 is so yesterday, so over the top, really. Well, we’ve been dancing the following dances recently. What about you?

What lasts a long time usually turns out well. Having admired TEE MANGO from afar for many years, our A&R Michael Mayer took heart and invited him to this year’s TOTAL. “So In Love” is in the best tradition of the KOMPAKT minimal funk of the early years. We are delighted to have this lovely Englishman on board!

REINHARD VOIGT has always placed great emphasis on loving animals. On the track with the unsurprising title “Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)”, he lets whole hordes of different four-legged friends and poultry on the microphone. Hopefully the stench will dissipate from the studio.

When Rhenish cheerfulness meets holiday anticipation, the result is something like this Hawaiian shirt turned music called “Chee-Caruso” by JÜRGEN PAAPE. No animals were tortured for this piece either, even if it sounds like it.

We stay in the realm of fauna and turn our attention to London’s award-winning pedigree dog REX THE DOG. “Laika” is a heart-warming ode to the mongrel dog of the same name, who was the first living creature to make it from the streets of Moscow into space. She would have loved that bleep.

A little-known fact about MICHAEL MAYER is that he is one of the fastest crossword puzzle foxes on the left bank of the Rhine, always in relentless rivalry with Wolfgang Voigt, who thinks he is even faster. The big battle is yet to come. Uninvited guest with five letters? “Urian”.

As an integral part of the family, JONATHAN KASPAR is of course not to be missed. “Are You” celebrates the kind of early morning rapture that is commonplace at his new DJ venue, the brand new Cologne superclub FI. Everything is so colourful here.

SASCHA FUNKE takes a bow to one of the greats of German showbiz with the trippy electro smasher “The Heck”. Born – like DJ Koze and Barnt – in Flensburg, died in Berlin in 2018 and wore glasses. More will not be revealed.

More emotion, more love, more sing-along factor? Si, claro! ARGIA’s “Love Keeps You Running” masterfully combines groove and pop – a blend that sounds very familiar to us. She may be at home in Madrid, but there’s Cologne DNA in her somewhere. We’re sure of it.

Let’s meet the legends, the veterans! JÖRG BURGER is still in a psychedelic mood in 2024. That suits him, that’s where he needs to be, that’s where we want him to be. A parallel universe is conceivable in which such music is affectionately called Goa.

Before going to bed, the WASSERMANN reads us a fairy tale from the Arabian Nights. At the same time, we focus on a point between everything, but really everything, and absolute, stark naked nothingness. 3, 2, 1… Let go.

Hello 24! Nice to have you here. 23 is so yesterday, so over the top, really. Well, we’ve been dancing the following dances recently. What about you?

The opening honours go to Hamburg’s bundle of joy, Ada who remixed her dear friend Heiko Voss. We feel that the outcome is clearly one of the most emotive, heartwarming pieces of music you’ll hear this year.

When Rhenish cheerfulness meets holiday anticipation, the result is something like this Hawaiian shirt turned music called “Chee-Caruso” by JÜRGEN PAAPE. No animals were tortured for this piece, even if it sounds like it.

Next up is one of this year’s Kompakt debutantes, a truly glamorous bird of paradise called DEER JADE. “Jukurpa” is a highly original, frolicsome house tune that has been moving crowds all over the planet.

As an integral part of the family, JONATHAN KASPAR is of course not to be missed. “Are You” celebrates the kind of early morning rapture that is commonplace at his new DJ venue, the brand new Cologne superclub FI. Everything is so colourful here.

If you’re ever in London and you need a great tune, we recommend calling HARDT ANTOINE. He’s firing from all cylinders lately and he’s god damn good at it. “I Will” holds the record of being the most played Kompakt track of the season. We salute you, Antoine! SASCHA FUNKE takes a bow to one of the greats of German showbiz with the trippy electro smasher “The Heck”. Born – like DJ Koze and Barnt – in Flensburg, died in Berlin in 2018 and wore glasses. More will not be revealed.

What takes a long time usually turns out well. Having admired TEE MANGO from afar for many years, our A&R Michael Mayer took heart and invited him to this year’s TOTAL. “So In Love” is in the best tradition of the KOMPAKT minimal funk of the early years. We are delighted to have this lovely Englishman on board!

Brazilian come Austrian come Berliner JOYCE MUNIZ has certainly become a household name with her intoxicating brand of uplifting pop house. Fittingly, she has joined our ranks and we’re happy to give you this collaboration with Sara Blum, “Beats & Lines”.

More Brazilian feel good vibes come in the form of GUI BORATTO’s “The Shell” which he conceived together with the former Underworld producer and legend in his own right, DARREN EMERSON.

We turn our attention to the realm of fauna, to London’s award-winning pedigree dog REX THE DOG. “Laika” is a heart-warming ode to the mongrel dog of the same name, who was the first living creature to make it from the streets of Moscow into space. She would have loved that bleep.

A little-known fact about MICHAEL MAYER is that he is one of the fastest crossword puzzle foxes on the left bank of the Rhine, always in a relentless rivalry with Wolfgang Voigt, who thinks he is even faster. The big battle is yet to come. Uninvited guest with five letters? “Urian”.

RAXON – these five letters mean business. Taken from his recent Speicher release “Beskar” showcases the Egyptian lover’s fascination for all things Starwars and his undeniable ability to churn out monster tracks.

DAVID HASERT & NICONÉ’s “Wasting My Time With You” is surely one of the most beloved Kompakt releases of 2024, so it can’t be missed on this compilation.

REINHARD VOIGT has always placed great emphasis on loving animals. On this track with the unsurprising title “Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)”, he lets whole hordes of different four-legged friends and poultry on the microphone. Hopefully the stench will dissipate from the studio.

More emotion, more love, more sing-along factor? Si, claro! ARGIA’s “Love Keeps You Running” masterfully combines groove and pop – a blend that sounds very familiar to us. She may be at home in Madrid, but there’s Cologne DNA in her somewhere. We’re sure of it.

Let’s meet the legends, the veterans! JÖRG BURGER is still in a psychedelic mood in 2024. That suits him, that’s where he needs to be, that’s where we want him to be. A parallel universe is conceivable in which such music is affectionately called Goa.

Before going to bed, the WASSERMANN reads us a fairy tale from the Arabian Nights. At the same time, we focus on a point between everything, but really everything, and absolute, stark naked nothingness. 3, 2, 1… Let go.

cLOUDDEAD's debut album, compiling six 10" EPs that appeared between 2000-2001, is aurally dense and obscured. A sprawling mass of miniature beat-suites and Dadaist lyrics, this strange and beautiful 3xLP would influence a myriad of sub-genres (cloud rap, hauntology, lo-fi hip-hop, etc.) in the two decades since its initial release.

Only the three members of cLOUDDEAD – Why?, Doseone and Odd Nosdam – can speak to the group's origins, but in the context of underground hip-hop towards the end of the 20th century, their arrival makes perfect sense. Cincinnati had a vital scene; home to Scribble Jam, an annual confluence of MCs, DJs, B-boys and graffiti artists. While the trio soon relocated to the Bay Area where they co-founded the Anticon collective, their Midwestern roots – in ramshackle basements of off-campus hovels, as the "cerberus of Southern Ohio" – would remain the atomic heart of their early recordings.

As Chris Martins writes in the liner notes, "The only reason we know their names today is because of how loudly and curiously they aired their insularity. They rewrote the entire world as they knew it through their own fucked perspective, and when those mysterious 10-inches started popping up in record shops, it wasn't just a puzzle to investigate: there seemed to be a whole cosmology hidden in those grooves."

Each side of the album represents one of those elusive 10-inches, each embodying a universe unto itself. Opening salvo "Apt. A" and "And All You Can Do Is Laugh" are perhaps most emblematic of the cLOUDDEAD experience. Why? and Dose create a new language through boundless non-sequiturs, sing-song non-choruses and call-and-response hooks, while Nosdam's dexterous production shifts from crackling ambience of Flying Saucer Attack to tight Ohio Players drum breaks and oblique film samples.

Taken all together, cLOUDDEAD is an original interpretation of hip-hop in the surreal Y2K glow – a bizarre meeting point between William Basinski's Disintegration Loops and MF DOOM's Operation: Doomsday. All it took was a Dr. Sample Sp-202, Tascam cassette eight-track and cheap RadioShack mic. There's truly nothing like it.

This edition has been faithfully restored by Nosdam. Comes with poster.