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An intimate, vast, and mineral landscape, that's MaMaMa’s first album.

« Hier Sera Meilleur » (« Yesterday Will Be Better ») is the most personal project the musician has ever undertaken. It's an album of confessions and echoes. The echoes of the world within him, those of the past that haunt and drive the present, and also the echoes of the future that are already speaking to us.

Entirely composed, written, arranged, and mixed by Elliot, the tracks that make up this album blend organic recordings with synthetic productions. Euphonium, saxophone, clarinet, or a string quintet recorded in the studio coexist and intersect with various synthesizers and electronic plug-ins.

Ancient textures meet modern sounds. Black and white turns into color.

Everything changes and nothing is ever just what we perceive it to be, MaMaMa seems to tell us, however for the duration of a song, we are there. Yesterday will be better.

Over the course of her career, spanning three-plus decades, Laetitia Sadier has never shied away from the hard topics, or stopped advocating for the possibility of self determination and emancipation in the face of the powers that be, conscious or unconscious. This is an essential part of the foundation she co-built with Stereolab, showcasing her spiritual, scientific and sociopolitical inquiries. She’s continued this process with Monade and under her own name and as a writer/singer/and musician whose every album acts as a report on her journey of the self through time, space and the collective.

On Rooting For Love, the report is set alight by the heat of a turbulent world, collapsing institutions and Laetitia’s fully engaged process of expression as well as orchestration. The opening number, “Who + What” elucidates the central issue of the album: a call for a collective striving for Gnosis – an inquisitive outlook that will lend clues to the traumatized civilizations of Earth, allowing us to evolve away from millennia of alienation and suffering and towards the achievability of healing. The musical arrangements help to embody the layers of the issue, as with “Who + What”’s combination of organ, synths, guitar, bass, trombone, drum programming, vibraphone and zither, all working along intricate paths of chord and tempo changes. Leading from the inside is the implacable presence of Laetitia Sadier, herself interacting with a vocal assembly of men and women billed as The Choir. The regular reappearance of The Choir throughout Rooting For Love is a reminder of this music being one of a people in critical mass, in addition to an evolution that continues to deepen the rich harmonic fields in which Laetitia plays.

Past wounds are addressed again and again in the libretto, as the music provides a transformational balm to aid the healing process. The melodic funk of bassist Xavi Muñoz leads a Chic-adjacent slink to the occasional dance floor vibes and no-wave rockouts, while Hannes Plattemier and Emma Mario take turns in mixing the tracks and informing the far reaches of the material, with vibes, additional drum programming and synths alongside a talented cast of players and singers from Laetita’s Source Ensemble and beyond.

Whether drawing inspiration from Zen Shiastu training, or the lyrics of Véronique Vincent, (lyricist and singer for Aksak Maboul, and once upon a time, lead singer of the Honeymoon Killers), Laetitia faces the truth without flinching. The shadows, whatever stuff they are made of - individual and collective, present and ancestral - need to be recognized and acknowledged, because the more we heal within ourselves, the more undivided we become in the face of looming Neo-fascist/Neoliberal narratives polluting the inner and outer landscapes. As with the cover image of the winter tree mirrored by the word patterns of Rooting For Love, Laetitia maintains that how we heal the world that’s coming, and what we make of it, will be a co-creation. The quality of our imagination, the orientation we give our thoughts and the capacity to bring love to ourselves and the world are a first step.

Alongside of her collaboration with Modern Cosmology, last year’s incredible What Will You Grow Now?, as well as her continued tours with a reformed Stereolab, Rooting For Love finds Laetitia back in the world, once again urging all our grounded inner alignment and heart power to make us better equipped for creating what’s to come.

Déjàvu' is the debut solo album from Matthew Tavares, aka Matty. Originally released in 2018 as a digital only release, it now sees the physical release it rightly deserves. Produced by his good friend, the acclaimed producer / songwriter Frank Dukes, ' Déjàvu' emerged during a period of rest for Matthew after heavy touring schedules with his former band Badbadnotgood. As with many of the most fertile creative minds, continual reinvention leads to exploration of new sounds and styles. ' Déjàvu' sees a departure from the jazz of Badbadnotgood and a move into a more song-based storybook, with Matthew stepping up to the plate as lead-vocalist. As Matthew explains "I’ve always worked on my own stuff outside of Badbad, and I’ve made music that sounds like this since I was 16. But when Badbad started taking off, it was like “Ok, I can’t really make rock-y songwriter music anymore”. The inspiration for the album came after revisiting old favourites and classics such as The Zombies, The Beatles, shoegaze, and Krautrock records. It was also made in a difficult and reflective period in Matthew's life, with each song being a vignette to an individual. "I wrote each song about someone specifically, but then I realised very quickly afterwards that every song is about myself". Even though on the surface the record could be loosely categorized in the rock / indie camp, its dreamy psych-pop vibe evokes much richer musical inspirations. Elements of jazz, AOR, and the compositions of 'golden-era' Brazilian arrangers such as Arthur Verocai enrich the songs. For the Mr Bongo release of ‘Déjàvu' we have included the beautiful bonus track 'Verocai Pt. II’ which was a product of the same recording sessions and rounds off the record. Though a 'solo’ release, with its songwriting, content, and themes being very personal to Matthew, the record is backed by a cast of friends, family, including Badbadnotgood members.

Flute Boy is a harbinger of the forthcoming debut album Songs for Broken Ships by MD Pallavi and Andi Otto. The two tracks are physically exclusive to the 7“ single, but are in the digital package of the LP album.

Flute Boy is a folktronica lullaby, a cute waltz with traces of dub and acid in the finish. The B-side, Look Again, presents an almost neoclassical ballad with MD Pallavi's vocals floating expansively over a wonderful framedrum groove.

MD Pallavi & Andi Otto first crossed paths on a theatre stage in India ten years ago. They started collaborating instantly and in 2016 MD Pallavi's mesmerizing vocals for the downtempo raga Bangalore Whispers warmed hearts and ears. Their musical relationship flourished with artistic residencies in Bangalore and Hamburg, their respective hometowns, and a concert tour in Japan.

On their new recordings, MD Pallavi contributes songwriting for poems in her native Kannada, one of India's many languages. Andi Otto co-composed and produced the songs. The process took three years, and the results show an interwoven aesthetic vision of two artists with their contrasting musical backgrounds.

MD Pallavi is a singer, actress, filmmaker and performer from Bangalore, South-India, where she trained in Hindustani music and performed poetry since childhood. Andi Otto is a composer, cellist and DJ from Hamburg, Germany, known for his idiosyncratic and unconventional dance music productions for labels such as Multiculti, Shika Shika and Pingipung.

« With their vintage organs, synths and drum machines, there are touches of Sereolab but Grand Vermont’s main mode is stranger and folkier, like Piper-era Floyd and David Allen dreaming up early Beach House. » Uncut « It’s electronic-ey, it’s French, it’s brillant » Soho Radio "Sweet minimalist post-punk" Konbini "[...] wonderful piece of childhood. Everything seems simple at first. Everything is luminous. Guts of darkness "[...] somewhere between the synthetic forests of Broadcast and the kraut pop trail of Stereolab." Gonzaï

Hailing from Richmond, VA, Heartracer makes anthemic synthpop, combining modern production techniques with classic pop songwriting. Inspired by ’80s icons such as Duran Duran, a-ha, Peter Gabriel, The Outfield, and Springsteen, Heartracer’s sound is a nostalgic mix of dreamy synths, melodic guitars, and swooning vocals. On their new album The Feel, the band channels all of that inspiration and filters it through a fresh lens; the result is a retro-inspired modern pop masterpiece. Midnight Mannequin Records is proud to present Heartracer’s The Feel on deluxe white vinyl, complete with OBI strip.

Fresh and zesty with subtle tropical flavours, this is a delightfully listenable debut from Matthieu Beck on Growing Bin. Inspired by the lilting rhythms, jazzy instrumentation and slow listening gems found on his Love In The Afternoon radio show, the Frenchman has crafted a gorgeous collection of laid back sophisti-pop, perfect for long summer days or seasonally affected escapism. Any suggestion of sorrow in the album title is actually a mislead - this may be a solo LP, but Matthieu's surrounded himself with the musical friends he's made over the years, serving as composer and bandleader to a willing troop of collaborators. Longtime friend and former Metronomy bassist Gabriel Stebbing, Source Ensemble drummer Emmanuel Mario, and of course Laetitia Sadier herself, stepped in to lend their services and bring Matthieu's music to life, before Jérôme Caron (Blackjoy) expertly mixed it all down. Though the tracklist may read like a travelogue, these nine tracks all began at home with Matthieu sat behind a Fender Rhodes with a drum machine by his side. Soon live bass, saxophone and flute strolled into his unhurried arrangements, retaining the simplicity of his demos while expanding the emotion. Weighty synth drones and bubbling bass balance the airy elements of tracks like "California" or the dream-pop romance of "Rooftop Rome", while the mellow "Malika" and joyful "Retour De Plage" showcase the Frenchman's relationship with jazz. Elsewhere there's hints of digi-dub ("Island" and "Suede"), coastal boogie ("Tokyo Montana"), stripped back city pop ("California") and downtown nostalgia ("Dora"), before Beck arrives at the poetic, progressive but peaceful finale "Piano Fin", which recalls Air at their prettiest, without stepping outside Matthieu's well defined sound.

50 years following the release of his self-titled first solo album McCartney, featuring Paul playing every instrument and writing and recording every song, Paul McCartney will release McCartney III on December 11th. Paul hadn’t planned to release an album in 2020, but in the isolation of 'Rockdown,' he soon found himself fleshing out some existing musical sketches and creating even more new ones. Before long an eclectic collection of spontaneous songs would become McCartney III: a stripped-back, self-produced and, quite literally, solo work marking the opening of a new decade, in the tradition of 1970’s McCartney and 1980’s McCartney II. Recorded earlier this year in Sussex (UK), McCartney III is mostly built from live takes of Paul on vocals and guitar or piano, overdubbing his bass playing, drumming, etc. atop that foundation. McCartney III spans a vast and intimate range of modes and moods, from soul-searching to wistful, from playful to raucous and all points between — captured with some of the same gear from Paul’s Rude Studio used as far back as 1971 Wings sessions. And Paul's array of vintage instruments he played on the new album have an even more storied history, including Bill Black of Elvis Presley's original trio's double bass alongside Paul's own iconic Hofner violin bass, and a mellotron from Abbey Road Studios used on Beatles recordings, to name but a few. Just as McCartney’s 1970 release marked Paul’s return to basics in the wake of the biggest band break-up in musical history, and the 1980 avant-garde masterpiece McCartney II rose from the ashes of Wings, McCartney III finds Paul back on his own, turning unexpected circumstances into a personal snapshot of a timeless artist at a unique point in history.

Limited red edition of 300 copies of the 2LP version with 24 new songs

Andreas Dorau turns sixty for the first time on 19 January 2024. To mark the occasion, he is releasing his new album "Im Gebüsch". It contains 13 tracks on which various pop realities flash up like a kaleidoscope, for the first time also in English: "tourist English", as Dorau himself describes it, the record as a sightseeing tour of pop. Dorau embarks on a journey through various types of electronic music, with a cheerful sadness as his faithful companion. Guests such as the musicians Güner Künier and JJ Weihl (Discovery Zone, Fenster) and Brezel Göring (Stereo Total) were also recruited for this album. "Im Gebüsch" is modern, retro and postmodern at the same time. Only one can do that, only Andreas Dorau can do that!

Jarv IS... truly evolving. From its earliest recordings beginning in an actual cave, via the enticing hypnotics behind the mantra-likes tracks Sometimes I Am Pharaoh and Must I Evolve, the exquisite yet candid storytelling of Swanky Modes and timeless anthem-turned-inadvertent lockdown soundtrack, House Music All Night Long, the debut album of the Jarvis Cocker-led band Jarv IS... proved a standout swirl of creativity, invention and vision on its release last summer. Yet Beyond The Pale has continued to inspire long after the sessions for the record stopped. Despite being divided by the pandemic, audiences came together around the album, Jarvis and co made a live film based on the album with pioneering directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard entirely underground in a cavern, and intriguingly other musicians and producers have continued to be intrigued by the songs Cocker and his band created. The latter now has yielded an entirely new way of hearing Beyond The Pale, as for the first time in his career, Jarv is releasing a remix album based on one of his records. Boasting re-imaginings and re-stylings from the likes of David Holmes, Dennis Bovell and Greg Wilson among others, the record is a collaborative mix that offers new focus and insight on the music of one of this generation's greatest songwriters, while also allowing the remixers' own unique characters to take flight within Jarv IS... creative cave.

There is something magical about the synergy of the voices of a couple; they gel, they interweave, they lift each other. Remember classic duets sung by partners over the years; so much is said, more than just words. 'Warm You' is the collaboration between Mandaworld (aka Amanda Hicks) and partner Matthew Tavares (aka Matty of Badbadnotgood fame). It is a song about your lover getting out of bed in the middle of the night because they can't sleep and you telling them to come back to where it’s warm and safe and they’re loved. It was written in their Montreal apartment a few months after they moved in. Matty described the writing process "We just spontaneously decided to make music, and the idea came out pretty much immediately. I laid down some guitar and then Amanda played the synth line over it and I edited the guitar so the timing was more interesting. We worked on it for a few days getting the chorus and the verses to feel right and, for the most part, everything fell into place super intuitively. Amanda wrote the lyrics." This heartfelt, dream-pop song, with a mellow shoe-gaze sensibility, lets the pair trade verses whilst the instrumentation builds to a crescendo and the duo's voices finally combine. Lush, passionate and personal, a beautiful song, rich in evocative memories. On the ‘B-side’, Mandaworld takes centre stage. 'Spoonfeed' is a spacey synth bass-led ambient ballad with smokey hazy vocals, calming like a bubble bath. Produced with a timeless quality, the song leaves you with a sense of tranquility and a feeling of being submerged underwater. Like all the best music this 7" is deeply personal, yet these are universal themes that are relatable to any listener as they recognise their own experiences within the mood of the songs.

It’s time to deck the halls and put up the Christmas tree as the yuletide season is upon us. Christmas Collected is the brand-new compilation with both traditional and modern songs celebrating the festive season. Artist and groups including Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Band Aid, Paul McCartney, U2, The Teskey Brothers, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Mud and many more are featured on the 2LP. Christmas Collected is available as a limited edition on translucent green (LP1) and translucent red (LP2) coloured vinyl and includes an insert.

Second pressing (2022 black vinyl) of fourth album from Vancouver post-punk / death-rock outfit Spectres! This edition comes with a bonus insert and is a must-have for all fans of death-rock, gothic rock, post-punk, and alternative rock music! Formed in Vancouver by vocalist and founder Brian Gustavson, Spectres is a DIY death-rock outfit that mixes post-punk, the ethic of anarcho-punk, and an incredible knack for writing catchy songs. The band released three independent albums (all reissued by Artoffact in 2019) and are ready to stun audiences with their 2020 release Nostalgia. Nostalgia was produced by Actors' Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound. Emerging from the DIY Punk underground, Spectres wanted to blend the grassroots and independent ethic of anarcho-punk with the anomie and cold, modulated sounds of 1980's post-punk and death-rock genres. Though the band's output has matured with time to embrace a wider range of new-wave and shoegaze influences, their ethos remains rooted in DIY punk. The blending of these influences allows for the curious juxtaposition of 80's influenced pop sensibilities with lyrics that explore the alienation and cynicism of modern life. On the new album, Nostalgia, these influences are carried even further to create a wonderfully crafted suite of songs that evoke the primal sounds of Beastmilk with the melody of Soft Kill. Nostalgia was produced by Actors' Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound and will be released on Toronto-based Artoffact Records in March, 2020.

"After a gap of seven years, Jintana & Emeralds have returned to charm once again with their genre-hopping blend of doo-wop melodies and futuristic electronic productions. Across these ten tracks, the band seek out fragments of beach-pop, surf and soul of the sixties, and feed them into a Japanese built revival machine. P-vine is delighted to be bringing this album to vinyl format in what’s been a year of celebrating past and new for a band who continue to take life in their stride. The celebrations get underway without hesitation on album opener ‘Oh! Southern Wind,’ where hitomitoi’s spell-binding vocals pull down the covers, setting off a hall of swaying melodies and glistening strings as the corkscrews fly. ‘Love Again,’ with a guest appearance from Stones Throw Records’ almighty Los Retros, is an album highlight, and in the context of the record, his vocals take on peculiar likeness to Tetsuro Yamashita as the band deliver a dreamy modern-day city-pop classic.

Zaoui is the former leader of Therapie Taxi (over 500,000 albums sold, over 900m streams...). Today he unveils his first solo album, on which he worked for three years, after a first EP released in June 2022. The album features feelgood tracks, sunny pop and raw songs. He can sing deliciously provocative lyrics as well as words of abysmal depth. Zaoui is a human, and like all humans, he is multiple. He is Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, lightness and turmoil: at once a brat and a caring father. This is a modern album by a man who has torn off all his masks. And taken a lot of risks. A furiously lively record.

Mathis Kolkoz (Blind Delon’s alma mater) joins forces with Pablo Bozzi (renowned for his previous works as Imperial Black Unit and Soft Crash) and with Abu Nein’s voice Erica Li Lundqvist to release one of the most amazing synth-pop works listened in recent time. In between low beat electro, soft ebm and even modern new beat, Lost Highway sounds harsh but romantic with great rhythm patterns that make it impossible to stop dancing. This debut EP comes with three original tracks plus one blasting remix by our partner in crime Curses, a plastic bomb ready to fire up any darky dance floor. Comes presented in a one-off truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180gr. high quality solid black vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered for long cut vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios.

Dressed in a powder blue suit with the frilly shirt to match, DJ Yoda invites you to be his +1 for Prom Nite, his new album promising retro Americana full of daydreaming reverie, international megastar guests, trip hop acknowledging the likes of Morcheeba and Nightmares on Wax, and the turntable extraordinaire’s bread and butter of cuts, beats and rhymes.

Certainly no stranger to retro sounds having famously peppered his DJ and AV sets with the unexpected the world over, and his How to Cut n Paste mix series going all the way back to the 30s, Yoda’s harp-laden puppy love vibe spreads from the sweet and mellow sound of 2019’s Home Cooking, an album described as “boundary-breaking” by Mojo upon slotting nicely into the UK’s blooming jazz canon. Think deliciously harmonised doo-wop murmuring “Goodnight Sweetheart” with an eye for dreamboats en route to Makeout Point - on “My Energy”, Eva Lazarus takes the form of an earth angel, with Yoda on jukebox cut-ups, taking it back to starry-eyed, clean cut days of wonder (or more recently, Little Mix’s “Love Me Like You”).

Beginning enigmatically with the assistance of Hollywood A-lister (and former next-door neighbour) Lily James, “Breathe” demonstrate Yoda’s continued evolution as a musician (not to mention shrewd decision maker), with James’ vocal confidence - a little Lana del Rey to her breathiness - returning on the velvet-smooth “Airplane Mode.” It’s a smartly executed soundclash accentuated by LA rapper Choosey, the star of the album’s straightest hip-hop shooter “Harder I Rock”. Homeboy Sandman adds some kick to the prom punch with typical wordplay sent down “Coconut Grove”, and Liam Bailey is perfectly cast for the darkly cinematic sway of “Don’t Even Try It.”

On an album of many talking points, the LP’s crowning glory is opening single “Feel Like Home”: featuring the vocal comforts of the House Gospel Choir, it’s your go-to pick-me-up when the chips are down, targeting the hairs on the backs of necks like a softer focus version of Jamie xx’s “Loud Places.” Extended into an alternative, equally uplifting form by Beardyman’s “Don’t Mean Thing”, summer festival season already has its homecoming anthem. With tongues wagging, the twists and turns step away from Heartbreak Ridge when O Love tucks into the mouthwatering shopping list funk of “Way Home”; and “Lesson 1956”, featuring Jamie Cullum and DJ Woody, jauntily pays homage to classic Cut Chemist alchemy, Yoda’s celebrated turntable tomfoolery back in full effect and extending the flavours found in Home Cooking.

Magpie artwork supplied by London’s Endless, whose signature style has tagged Liberty and Lagerfeld as but two high profile clients, Yoda again maximises the experience and enjoyment gained from recording live instruments and prioritising songs over beats. His continued progress mixes risk-taking, elite musicianship, nostalgia brought bang up to date, and ultimately, good clean fun capable of stirring your soul, making Prom Nite a date to remember.

The second album from Cantaro Ihara is finally here!

Deftly weaving everything from 70’s soul to AOR to city pop into his sound, Cantaro Ihara makes pitch-perfect groove-forward pop music. With high praise from DJs both in his native Japan and abroad, this second album is sure to be killer! With a knowledge of music unbound by genre, recent years have seen Cantaro Ihara’s star steadily rising. Whether he’s compiling music for DJ Bars, providing commentary for international artists, or releasing 7-inches that sell out on pre-order, it’s clear that the young musician is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Japan’s indie music scene. In the two years since his first full album C, Ihara has leveled-up, and Portray makes the clear from beginning to end. From a Japanese-language cover of free soul legend Weldon Irvine’s “I Love You” (the original 7-inch led to intense bidding wars after heavy radio play in both Japan and abroad) and the Ihara original “Twiny”, the lead singles are already off to the races. Gripping the hearts of crate diggers worldwide, it seems predetermined that Ihara’s newest album would be funky, soulful, and mellow. Yet Portray manages to remain shockingly fresh, without any of the obvious tropes that have threatened modern soul. A feature from Japanese trumpeter Yusuke Sase on “Baby So In Love” catapults the song into neo-soul territory, bringing a new twist to a timeless sound. Meanwhile, a feature from Bialystocks keyboardist Go Kikuchi on “Yoru no Nagare” (The Flow of the Night) sees one of Ihara’s most instantly iconic melodies played with a gentle sophistication that could move you to tears in one moment, and have you two-stepping the next. With a history of selling out vinyl on pre-order and intense bidding wars, I’d say it’s clear that Cantaro Ihara is not just one of Japan’s most promising musicians, but one that continues to grip the hearts of record lovers everywhere. His second full length album Portray has everything there is to love about him. Mellow soul and funky grooves are aplenty - but I can’t say the same for stock! Make sure to get your copy of Portray on limited edition vinyl while stock lasts!

Limited to 1000 copies on curacao colored vinyl. Exclusive to HHV customers.

Vacation. Not only in Italy.

A backpack trip through Australia, a campfire in the allotment.

In the car with friends through the Lunenburg Heath or just a short holiday in your head, during the rainy lunch break or with a glass of spritzer on the balcony. And that includes music, music, music! Grooves that roll into the distance like an Intercity, Rhodes chords soft as the sand on the beach and synthesizers that sparkle like the reflections on the ocean. Music as colorful as a Hawaiian shirt and as warming as the morning sun. Welcome to Erobique's second album: "Erobique No.2"

Here, even the song titles are in holiday mood:

"Ahoj!" greets the young "Springinsfeld". The "Mantas" glide elegantly around the "Acquamarina". "Salut les Copines!" we call to the neighboring boat. "Come along to the 'Ravedave!'" it echoes back happily. "Riding Low" is the motto, and the "Arpeggiator" condenses the "Synaesthesia" of the foggy senses in a wonderful way. The "Italotape" in the cassette deck plays the "Hit Song of Both of Us".

That's all so nice "Verkackt", that sounds like "Future Music"!

Carsten Meyer released his debut album "Erosound" in 1998 under the name "Erobique". Exactly 25 years later, the now 50-year-old releases his second Erobique album on his own label A-sexy.

Thirteen varied tracks and songs between holiday disco and rhythm box rave, recorded and produced with many of his friends and companions.

25 years, that's pretty much how long it took disco to go from the legendary loft parties of pioneer David Mancuso to the awe-inspiring mass spectacles of Daft Punk performances.

Or from Meyer's birth to his first long-playing record. So why only now a second album as “Erobique”?

Meyer has been improvising performances in front of a dancing audience for years. Even his hits "Easy Mobeasy" and "Urlaub in Italien" aren't actually pop songs, but rather arose from spontaneous inspiration, in an adrenaline rush, in the middle of the party, right in the moment! Sang along and faded away again. Recorded live and released as is. Just don't repeat! Every Erobique concert is an attempt to turn the unforeseen, the unexpected and accidents into a unique moment of being there. "Mistakes are king" said the witty Knarf Rellöm once - and Carsten Meyer is the king of mistakes!

How are you supposed to conjure up such moments in the studio, without a party, without the energy that spills back onto the stage at a children's birthday party for adults?

Meyer remembered another Erobique hit and changed his title accordingly:

He collaborated with an overdose of joy!

Drummer Lucas Kochbeck (The KBCs, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band) who now also supports Carsten at his live gigs as well as neighbor and buddy Christoph M. Kaiser (former bassist with the Jeremy Days, now film music and pop strategist) layed down the Groove foundation with glowing tiles, like at the Trinity, Hamburg's legendary 80s disco.

Sophia Kennedy came over from the neighboring studio to sing and Lieven Brunckhorst dragged the entire wind section of Jan Delay's big band Disco No1 in front of the microphone.

Meyer recorded harps, xylophones and violins in his music room at the Hamburger Fischmarkt or with Tobias Levin in his Electric Avenue studio with a view of the Fleet.

Carsten went to Berlin where he met his hero Siriusmo to put some ideas through the electronic grinder. Nicola Rost of Laing stopped by and left incredibly dense choirs and wonderful songs.

Finally, all tracks were brought to Swabian Ludwigsburg where the Freundskreis DJ and disco expert Martin Welzer aka DJ Friction screwed the whole madness into an incredibly warm and dancefloor-friendly overall sound.

Back to the drawing board, like all A-sexy releases, the cover art is painted and designed by Meyer himself, after all his original career aspiration was to be a school book illustrator.

In the course of one summer, a musical chocolate box was created that will not only enrich the holiday playlist of his fans and listeners, but also made his archive of ideas and sketches, which is several quantum bytes deep, a little bit thinner. Outside of his disco fairs up and down the country, Meyer has not remained idle in the last quarter of a century:

Between 1998 and 2006 he developed hypermodern electronic soul with DJ Koze and Cosmic DJ as an international pony. Together with Jacques Palminger and Chris Dietermann, he supervised amateur songwriters in the project "Songs for Joy" at the Maxim-Gorki-Theater Berlin when they made pop music, which is how the secret hit "Wann Strahlst Du?" was created in 2007 with the great text by Barbara Stützel. In general, theatre: For the theater director Herbert Fritsch he arranged the hits by Gino Paoli and Hugo Wolff for crazy evenings at the Schauspielhaus Zurich (2016) and at the Residenztheater Munich (2015), for Stefan Pucher he shot the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen through the home organ wolf ( 2010). For the colleagues from Studio Braun, he brought the "Dorfpunks" to life at the Hamburg Schauspielhaus, and immediately afterwards he developed the authentic Neue-Welle sound for their mockumentary "Fraktus", which was released in cinemas in 2012.

So there we are with film and television music. Here, too, Meyer had a lot to do in recent years. The soundtrack for the popular TV series "Der Tatortreinigung" with Bjarne Mädel in the title role was the best. Incidentally, the "jack of all trades" (quote Peter Bursch) also released a few albums on his own label A-sexy: Rumpel-Funk as "Babyman", the finest chanson pop with Palminger and Yvon Janssen for "Yvon im Kreis der Liebe" and warm, modern Hammond jazz with the "Hamburg Spinners".

And now finally his anniversary album, the silver wedding with himself.
25 years Carsten and Erobique, together forever and happier than ever!

To the next… stop no. We don't want to wait that long!

Since forming in 2007, Icon For Hire (composed of singer Ariel Bloomer and guitarist Shawn Jump) have quietly amassed a legion of followers. Currently sitting at over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify, Icon For Hire are the sleeping giants of the modern rock scene, and are now ready to step into the forefront with new album ‘Amorphous’. Icon For Hire’s sound is one that effortlessly blends heavy riffs, elements of electronic production and soaring vocal lines into a powerful & bold sonic explosion.However, at the heart of Icon For Hire’s music is a message of positivity, self-love and personal empowerment from the painfully relatable and rousing lyrics of Ariel. For Amorphous, the band worked with Grammy Nominated engineer Romesh Dodangoda (known for his previous work producing the last Bring Me The Horizon album as well as acts such as Don Broco, Busted, and Kids in Glass Houses). The album has been completely funded by fans through Kickstarter. This success was achieved thanks to the band’s highly dedicated Icon Army fanbase that support them on Patreon and have been there for the band though thick, thin, litigation, addiction and more. Having overcome both personal and professional adversity, Icon For Hire are living proof that you can take control of your life—and that’s perhaps the greatest success anyone can hope to accomplish

The Malian singer's third studio album includes features from Damon Albarn, Roberto Fonseca (Buena Vista Social Club), -M-, Angie Stone, Yemi Alade and M.anifest.

One of the most outstanding voices in global pop, Fatoumata Diawara's music can be classified between Afro-pop, Afro-folk and Afro-futurism - in the midst of tradition and modernity. Always with a guitar in hand, she brings together the rhythms of Wassoulou and West African vocal techniques with contemporary sounds. On London KO, the singer, composer, musician and actress draws attention to contemporary conflicts through an alternation of avant-garde and tributes to her ancestors, and processes experiences of her native Mali, especially the role of women and children. Born out of a collaboration with Damon Albarn, London KO represents an imaginary continent that brings Europe and Africa closer together - specifically London and Bamako. The joint song "Nsera" was not only the first track of the upcoming album, but also testimony to a long musical bond between the two musicians*. In projects like Africa Express, Rocket Juice & The Moon, the Gorillaz track "Désolé" as well as numerous live performances they already worked hand in hand. The artist has received further prominent support from Cuban piano virtuoso Roberto Fonseca (Buena Vista Social Club), Nigerian Afropop singer and activist Yemi Alade, and French rock musician -M-, among others. The result is London KO, a versatile work that, true to the two-time Grammy-nominated singer's own style, combines traditional African music with facets of Afrobeat, jazz, pop, electro and hip-hop. With London KO, Fatoumata Diawara shows us a vision of Africa's versatility. She creates a place where it is possible to become the master of one's own destiny and thus positions herself as an important player in the future society. Fatoumata Diawara shows once again that she belongs in the first league of the great voices of Afrofuturism.

"Memento Mori" represents Depeche Mode's 15th studio album overall, while Gahan and Gore present the first long player with a two-piece lineup following the tragic death of band co-founder Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher in 2022. Produced by James Ford, with assistance from Marta Salogni, "Memento Mori" matured during the early stages of the worldwide Covid pandemic; a period that also had a thematic influence on the songs. The 12 album tracks bridge a variety of moods and musical textures - starting with the ominous opener and ending with the denouement at the end, the emotional spectrum spans from paranoia and obsession to psychic liberation and joy, as well as countless emotional interjections.

The single "Ghosts Again" precedes the album release of "Memento Mori" with an impressive harbinger. The song already represents nothing less than a flawless Depeche Mode classic: Dave Gahan's imagery-rich lyrics like "wasted feelings, broken meanings... a place to hide the tears we cry" combine over an uplifting, optimistic groove with a hypnotic guitar figure from Martin Gore.

"For me, `Ghosts Again` captures the perfect balance between melancholy and joy," Gahan says. "It`s not too often that we record a song that I can not only listen to over and over again - I`m also super excited to share it with the world," adds Gore.

The Amandawe, South Africa-based artist Desire Marea returns with his transformative second album, On the Romance of Being.

Immersed in the communal, ceremonial and healing qualities of music, this record is the next epoch from the multidisciplinary artist and follows his acclaimed solo eponymous debut. Recorded live with an ensemble of 13 musicians, On the Romance of Being consists of 8 movements that sonically sprawl across post-gospel, spiritual jazz, black classical and the ancient music of the Nguni and Ndau peoples and elicits a sincere conversation between the erotic and spiritual.

Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington return after announcing they were parting ways at a show in 2014 in the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Their debut album Psychic from 2013 was lauded as a modern classic almost immediately after release.

Since, Nicolas Jaar has been incredibly prolific releasing no less than four albums through his own Other People label including a soundtrack to cult classic Sergei Parajanov film The Color Of Pomegranates, created original soundtracks for 2015’s Dheepan and 2019’s Ema, co-produced tracks on FKA Twigs (Bleep album of the year 2020) Magdalene and worked on material under the A.A.L (Against All Logic) moniker with the likes of no wave legend Lydia Lunch.

Working with multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington on the DARKSIDE project, Nicolas Jaar’s production takes in heady psychedelic influences from prog and drone genres. Layering his entrancing vocals over the pulsating rhythm section on tracks such as ‘Lawmaker’ and ‘I’m The Echo’ that draw on the sun drenched psych of contemporary West Coast bands like Moon Duo and Wooden Shjips. Elsewhere we encounter the extended ‘Inside Is Out There’ with percussion heavily indebted to Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit and heavily treated vocals sat low in the mix. “From the beginning, DARKSIDE has been our jam band. Something we did on days off. When we reconvened, it was because we really couldn’t wait to jam together again”.

A harmonious return from the prolific duo, filtering an array of influences into their own expertly crafted sound.

„Sybilline“, „unique“ and „peerless“. These are some of the adjectives that were used to describe Everyone Is A Door – Panoram’s first full-length on Edinburgh’s Firecracker Recordings. Since then, the elusive producer, founded his own label Wandering Eye, produced automated piano music in Los Angeles (Thom Yorke Sonos playlist approved), composed synth lines underwater for Amen Dunes Freedom and toured two years with the band as well being involved in their collaboration with Sleaford Mods Feel Nothing and their upcoming album on SubPop. But Panoram can also hold its own very well. His debut on Running Back’s Incantations series lets you hear and experience that after the first few bars already. Acrobatic Thoughts is surreal, abstract, puzzling and urgent, yet filled with beautiful, slow-moving melodies and emotional passages. Eccentric humor meets serious soundscapes, acrobatic thoughts evolve around abstract key notes, while an out-of-time and out-place atmosphere surrounds a microcosmos that seems to be otherworldly and very natural at the same time. Panoram manages to build a house that can be as much of a home for ambient record collectors as for futuristic pop fans and all the ones in-between those poles. Or to describe it one sentence while quoting two titles of this enigmatic record: Seabrains controlled by beautiful engines. Short: Seabrains controlled by beautiful engines. Panoram’s new record Acrobatic Thoughts and his debut on Running Back is surreal, abstract, puzzling and urgent, yet filled with beautiful, slow-moving melodies and emotional passages. Eccentric humor meets serious soundscapes, acrobatic thoughts evolve around abstract key notes. One LP to make millions happy.

After 2 albums, September Boy is back with a brand new 5 track Ep titled "Forever Golden".This Ep remains oriented towards modern pop. Add to that 80's tones that will immerse you in an atmosphere with nuances of "Stranger Things" ("Down to the river", "80's space")It's on the tracks "Yellow sand" and "If only / If Only" that we can find in featuring, the amazing voice of Coralie Royer.It is worth noting that September Boy took his best pen to compose in French on the acoustic pop track "If only / If Only".The track "By Myself" is the dynamic, unifying track with catchy choruses that will put you in a good mood for the whole day!"Forever Golden" is a mini album for those who love pop and good mood tinged with folk.

With silent film cinematic aesthetics imbued with unique and 21st-century flair, Ukranian Coldwave Duo The Glass Beads invoke sorrowful sounds, both strange and sensual, on their debut LP Therapy, melancholic life stories focused on the search and struggle of trying to find your way as an individual way and to accept yourself. These themes explored on the record are filled with pain and anger as well as hope. The Glass Beads feature the talents of musicians Mark Arshynnikov and Morin Sane, a pair of musicians whose Slavic features construct an appearance that is altogether commanding, beautiful and timelessly Gothic, yet gracefully tempered with a modern and tasteful style woven between two eras of the centennial: 1920, and now. In collaboration, Mark and Morin conjure melodies that reverberate like footsteps through the hallways of an abandoned house, haunted by memories of love, sickness, and death. Their melodic music is interwoven with sighing keys, palpitating drum machines, sauntering basslines, and disaffected vocals like an eastern european version of Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico. It has been 4 years since the two made their debut with “Going”, a song that would two years later make itself part of The Glass Beads’ 4 track debut EP Phobia issued on cassette via Squall Records. For that release, The Wave of Things spotlighted the pair in their Sounds of Ukraine episode, Describing them as a cross between Lebanon Hanover and Drunken C, and highlighted their mesmerizing video for the title track “Phobia” where a blindfold vocalist Morin Sane drifts amongst a field of sunflowers in stark black and white.

Mr. Money With The Vibe is the debut studio album from Nigerian singer Asake. Following an impressive debut and meteoric rise in the music industry, Asake signed with Ybnl Nation, the label founded by one of the godfathers of modern Afrobeats, Olamide. The 12-track album features elements of traditional Nigerian fuji music, Afropop, and South African Amapiano and sees appearances from fellow Nigerian star Burna Boy and American rapper Russ. The results are an ethereal sonic oasis that clearly sets Asake apart from his peers. Includes the single, “Sungba (Remix),” “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY),” & “Terminator.” 1xLP, pressed on Bone Vinyl with Red Splatter.

The 1971 release by "Japan's first adult film actress" Reiko Ike is being reissued on clear purple vinyl.

Reiko Ike, known as "Japan's first adult film actress," is having her 1971 release reissued on clear purple vinyl. The album is notable for its "sexy jacket" artwork, a hallmark of the Japanese Groove record series. When you open the gatefold, it features photos from the Toei film ‘Modern Porno Tale: Inherited Sex Mania(現代ポルノ伝 先天性淫婦).’ Additionally, the reissue faithfully recreates the original "sexy poster," which can make a significant difference in value for collectors. The album is a sexy cover collection of Showa-era songs, featuring Masami Kawahara and the Exotic Sounds, along with Ike’s poetry and moaning. It's an album that can be enjoyed even at night!