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close to NM

1979 reissue. The lamination of gatefold sleeve is coming off.

Writing on cover.

Gold vinyl version!

Neon orange vinyl version!

Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.

As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.

But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.

It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.

Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...

Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.

"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.

Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.

"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.

As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Japanese pressing without OBI!

Vinyl has scuff marks.

Magic in Threes are back with a mind mending, strings-laden disco masterpiece, "Liquid Start Duster". On the flipside we have "Sippin' After Midnight", an auditory tale of late night shenanigans. These two majestic bangers make up a hard hitting 7" 45 out on G.E.D. Soul Records.

Small punch hole in cover.

Promo / Radio station copy.
Vinyl has scuffs and some light scratches.

Sampled by Das EFX, Gangstarr & Lootpack. Vinyl has some light scratches. Track C2 has a scratch, otherwise vg++. Cover is a bit used and lamination peels off.

Japanese pressing without OBI!

No Obi, with insert. Overall close to NM.

Introducing a new lineup from the series "K-ALT," which showcases the Korean alternative scene with artists like Jiselle, Glen Check, and swimrabbit. Otis Lim is one of the most talked-about new singers in Korean R&B right now, and his debut album features a pop and mellow sound that fans of Jaden and Kevin Abstract will surely enjoy. Led by Peakboy, who has collaborated with BTS's V, this album features a stellar cast of guests, including Jay Park, Giriboy, and Kid Milli, all of whom are making waves not just in Korea but globally. The latest track, "Summer," is included as a bonus track, and the LP will be released on limited edition translucent orange vinyl.

Japanese pressing without OBI!

Still in shrink but opened. Cover and vinyl are close to NM.

Why you'll love it...
Recorded inside a geodome at upstate New York's The Outlier Inn, Gently Powerful is a live reimagining of Anna Wise's debut solo LP, As If It Were Forever (and includes one track, ‘’Balance In All'' from Wise's earlier release, The Feminine: Act II). Almost exactly one year to the date of its release, Wise and some of her closest collaborators safely gathered to celebrate As If It Were Forever with these intimate live recordings.

All tracks on Gently Powerful feature performances by Anna Wise (vocals, loops), Jon Bap (drums, vocals, samples, guitar), Joy Morales (keys, synthesizer, vocals) and Juuwah (bass), recorded and mixed by Steve Vealey, and mastered by Kevin Moo. The arrangements heard on these recordings were originally conceptualized as part of Re/Birth, Wise’s February 2020 residency in Los Angeles produced in partnership with Gxrlschool.

Wise first gained recognition with her band, Sonnymoon, and through collaborations with Kendrick Lamar. Wise won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance for her collaboration on Lamar's ‘’These Walls,'' and she has appeared on each of his projects since good kid, m.A.A.d. city. In 2016, Wise independently released The Feminine: Act I, her first solo EP, and followed it up in 2017 with The Feminine: Act II. The studio version of As If It Were Forever saw a return to collaboration, featuring Little Simz, Jon Bap, Nick Hakim, Denzel Curry, Pink Siifu and more. Recently, Wise has also collaborated on records from Durand Bernarr, Mndsgn and L'Rain.

Japanese pressing, no Obi.

Japanese pressing without OBI, with insert. Vinyl closer to NM

Japanese pressing with damaged OBI, with insert. Promo copy with white labels

Promo copy with white labels

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

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

PPU providing yet again with 10 more selections from the archives of estonian funk front man!