Zongamin O! Versions

Zongamin is back! The mastermind of one of the most underrated albums of the early 2000s, the XL released, self-titled classic. This release for Multi Culti has Zongamin expand upon those mutant disco / post-punk vibes and tapping into an EP worth of vivid, kaleidoscopic, cosmic tones! ESSENTIAL!

OUT NOW!

Soul Jazz Records new ‘Two Synths, A Guitar (and) A Drum Machine’ is a new collection of current D-I-Y post-punk bands shaped by the mutant sounds of no wave, punk funk and New York Noise bands from the late 70s and early 80s that collided with the world of underground dance music found at the Paradise Garage, Mudd Club in New York City (ESG, Arthur Russell, Bush Tetras, Talking Heads, Suicide, Liquid Liquid).

Other influences cited here include Manchester and Sheffield’s industrial post-punk sounds of the 1980s (Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire, Gang of Four) as well as the 1970s German electronic experimentalism of Cluster, Neu!, Harmonia and Can.

Featured artists from around the globe include Los Angeles D-I-Y band Automatic, New Fries from Toronto, artist/music collaborators Toresch from Germany, Susumu Makai from Japan/UK, Vex Ruffin from the Phillipines/California and Madmadmad, Gramme, Tom of England and other UK groups

That all the bands featured here manage to make distinctive contemporary music out of these 80s roots is testament to the wide range of other musics that are seamlessly absorbed into a modern melting pot of sound – hip-hop, the electronic European avant-garde, rave culture, and more.

The double vinyl comes in two editions:

1) Limited edition indies EXCLUSIVE heavyweight green double vinyl housed in bespoke individual inner sleeves with its own free pull-out fanzine on the groups featured.

2) Limited edition heavyweight black double vinyl housed in bespoke individual inner sleeves with its own free pull-out fanzine on the groups featured.

The album is also available as a CD and digital release

Jean-Gabriel Becker and Susumu Muka (aka the lynchpin of cult post-punk outfit, Zongamin and bass player in the Floating Points band) collude and release their first collaborative album! 'Time Very Near' fuses eccentric post-punk experiments with touches of dub and propulsive motorik rhythms! So good!

Jean-Gabriel Becker and Susumu Mukai (aka the lynchpin of cult post-punk outfit, Zongamin and bass player in the Floating Points band) are dub/tropical/post-punk duo Becker & Mukai. Key tracks from their Time Very Near album gets remixed from the likes of Jas Shaw of Simian Mobile Disco; Joe Goddard of Hot Chip and Mukai as Zongamin. Ace!

OUT NOW!

Soul Jazz Records new ‘Two Synths, A Guitar (and) A Drum Machine’ is a new collection of current D-I-Y post-punk bands shaped by the mutant sounds of no wave, punk funk and New York Noise bands from the late 70s and early 80s that collided with the world of underground dance music found at the Paradise Garage, Mudd Club in New York City (ESG, Arthur Russell, Bush Tetras, Talking Heads, Suicide, Liquid Liquid).

Other influences cited here include Manchester and Sheffield’s industrial post-punk sounds of the 1980s (Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire, Gang of Four) as well as the 1970s German electronic experimentalism of Cluster, Neu!, Harmonia and Can.

Featured artists from around the globe include Los Angeles D-I-Y band Automatic, New Fries from Toronto, artist/music collaborators Toresch from Germany, Susumu Makai from Japan/UK, Vex Ruffin from the Phillipines/California and Madmadmad, Gramme, Tom of England and other UK groups

That all the bands featured here manage to make distinctive contemporary music out of these 80s roots is testament to the wide range of other musics that are seamlessly absorbed into a modern melting pot of sound – hip-hop, the electronic European avant-garde, rave culture, and more.

The double vinyl comes in two editions:

1) Limited edition indies EXCLUSIVE heavyweight green double vinyl housed in bespoke individual inner sleeves with its own free pull-out fanzine on the groups featured.

2) Limited edition heavyweight black double vinyl housed in bespoke individual inner sleeves with its own free pull-out fanzine on the groups featured.

The album is also available as a CD and digital release

Zongamin is back! The mastermind of one of the most underrated albums of the early 2000s, the XL released, self-titled classic. This release for Multi Culti has Zongamin expand upon those mutant disco / post-punk vibes and tapping into an EP worth of vivid, kaleidoscopic, cosmic tones! ESSENTIAL!

Official super limited-edition bespoke independent press release of this SEMINAL and iconic, 1979, spiritual jazz classic!

Super-rare, spiritual jazz masterpeice from the legendary drummer Steve Reid with Brandon Ross on guitar and David Wertman on bass.

This stunning release includes a 20 page fanzine featuring an in-depth testimonial and interview with Brandon Ross, and an essay by Finders Keepers' Andy Votel, as well as archival photos, scores and reviews. ESSENTIAL!

This album was originally released on Steve Reid's own Mustevic Sound label in New York.

The hypnotic 'Empty Streets' featured on Soul Jazz Records' early Universal Sounds of America release. You may also recognise the cover art as the basis for our book/album project Freedom, Rhythm and Sound made with Gilles Peterson back in 2009.

This is a 100% essential purchase!

**Cherrystones rides again!**

Another exemplary selection of obscure, and from this moment on, highly covetable, gems from the spheres of new-wave, post-punk and minimal synth music. Utterly essential, folks!

This record is so heavy! An absolute bomb! 'Inside Out' is an AWESOME tune! - one of the heaviest bass lines of all-time, super tough Fender Rhodes keys and vocalist Steve Clisby sounds more like Gil Scott-Heron than well Gil Scott-Heron!

'Golden Ring' is like Jon Lucien meets Terry Callier before dropping in and out of wild jazz dance sections. 'Stuck on You' is an UNBELIEVABLY uplifting soulful tune!

This album is one of the most in-demand rare groove releases ever from a group that most people have never heard of.

Pre-order special limited edition GOLD coloured vinyl

SUPER- RARE deep jazz - First time in print for nearly 50 years! This is super laid back fender rhodes deepness - another essential Black Jazz rarity finally on vinyl!

Classic Black Jazz 1973 album release from keyboard player and producer, Gene Russell! Check the funky jazz cut 'Get Down' (what a bassline!) and an insane Fender Rhodes version of Coltrane's 'My Favorite Things'!

**First repress since 2002!**

Includes the singles ‘Mic Manipulator’ and ‘Rapperfection feat Mr. Lif’ - a hip-hop classic finally repressed! "A wild, weird, instantly left-field rap masterpiece from one seriously bugged-out, innovative loner."

The highly-anticipated album debut from London Afro-jazz troupe, Ezra Collective - Joe Armon-Jones on keys, Femi Koleoso on drums, TJ Koleoso on bass, Dylan Jones on trumpet, and James Mollison on saxophone. The album also features guest appearances from KOKOROKO, Loyle Career, and Jorja Smith.

Musical innovations are often a streak of good luck. What would today’s sessions sound like without Dub versions? These instrumental versions were invented by King Tubby, it all started when the vinyl for “On the Beach” by the Paragons was unintentionally pressed without vocals. That one mistake paved the way to more than 50 years of musical experiments. At O.B.F – Dubquake Records we don’t forget our roots. Since you can’t get your scoops shaking, we decided to provide you with the tunes to rattle your socially distanced house parties. Get ready to hear dub versions of some of the best tunes on O.B.F’s second album “Signz”. It’s not one, not two but five 12” and one 7” that follow up to number #1 of the series, Akouphène. Whether you prefer roots or steppas, the Signz Series showcases all flavours in reggae music! “Rebel Daawtaz” is a Jamaican roots vibe, “Drip Dub” and “Fight The Power Dub” are full on steppas, “Bubble Riddim” is on the digital reggae tip. These releases will wake up your inner MC. Icing on the cake, brand new tracks! “No War” with Junior Roy and “Mr Government”, the legendary reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse features on two tracks recorded at the Dubquake studio.

Selectors, get your sirens and delays ready!

**Deep, esoteric soundtracks with heavy, b-boy style breaks and bad trip electronics from the 70s - Cherrystones fans check!**

Four Flies Records returns with this ESSENTIAL release from the archives of composer Giuliano Sorgini. 'Occulto' unearths some of his darkest, eeriest and funkiest music that were composed in the mid-70s for some of the most infamous, low-budget horror movies ever made in Italy such as his scores for video nasty shocker 'The Beast in Heat' and the zombie classic 'The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue'!

A remastered, 45 reissue of Minnie Riperton’s iconic, majestic and much sampled classic, ‘Les Fleur’! Favoured by the likes of Jurassic 5, Damu The Fudgemunk & Cut Chemist, famously covered by 4hero and backed with the equally serene ‘Oh By The Way’. Essential.

RARE & HEAVY spiritual jazz from LA guitarist Calvin Keys - like a an early precursor to Horace Tapscott, and later Thundercat and the deep LA jazz scene! ESSENTIAL!

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Calvin Keys’s 1971 debut album for the Black Jazz Records label announced the arrival of a new star in the jazz guitar firmament. Keys had spent the ‘60s backing up the crème de la crème of jazz organists—Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Richard “Groove” Holmes—but for his first record as a leader, he was eager to play with a piano player instead. So he recruited one of the best—Larry Nash, who, besides being a member of the L.A. Express, played with everybody from Eddie Harris to Bill Withers to Etta James. Bassist Lawrence Evans, drummer Bob Braye, and flautist-songwriter Owen Marshall rounded out the group on Shawn-Neeq, which might remind some of Pat Metheny’s early work (Metheny acknowledges Keys as an influence), or Grant Green. But what gives Shawn-Neeq extra depth is that it comes from the heart; as Keys says in Pat Thomas’ liner notes, which feature an interview with the artist: “My thing was, I write about some of the experiences that I’ve had in my life.” Keys has since become a fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene; this is the album that started his journey.

Mills returns to his Axis label with an album of haunting, deeply atmospheric techno, describing it as "a metaphysical séance" and inviting his audience to listen "in a darkened, candle lit room. A silent space, free of outside noise, chatter or talking and other visual distractions. The album should be listened in full; from beginning to end.”

Classic, 90s NYC house music reissued! ESSENTIAL productions from the great Victor Simonelli on his LEGENDARY Big Big Trax label including the deep heartbreaker 'No More Weeping (VSMQ Underground Mix)' by Afrimerican Coalition and the sought-after classic mix of 'Don't You Ever Stop' by Fibre Foundation!

'Alfa Mist is one of the driving forces behind a young and vibrant scene of UK musicians, who've taken on jazz as their musical narrative. The producer, self-taught pianist and rapper takes us on a deep and meditative trip back to his beat-making past on the streets of East London, through the depth and musicality he discovered composing and playing jazz'.

KILLER rare funk and soul reggae LP from 1975 - covers of Kool and the Gang's FUNKY STUFF, Betty Wright's seminal 'I LIVE THE WAY YOU LOVE' + loads more. 100% ESSENTIAL REGGAE FUNK!

Wicked rare Black Jazz includes the MASSIVE 'Diswa' - big tune! + loads more deep stuff!

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Columbus, Ohio’s Rudolph Johnson drew comparisons to John Coltrane during his career; like the jazz legend in his later years, Johnson eschewed drugs or alcohol and spent his time every day either meditating and rehearsing on his horn. You can definitely hear a little bit of Coltrane in Johnson’s playing on this, his 1971 debut release for the Black Jazz label, the first of two he recorded for the imprint and the first he recorded as a leader after some sideman work (most notably for organist Jimmy McGriff); his ability to explore the upper registers and overtones of his tenor sax while retaining control is quite striking. Of course, this being a Black Jazz release, along with the bebop sounds of “Sylvia Ann” and the mid-‘60s Blue Note stylings of “Sylvia Ann,” there’s the soul jazz of “Diswa” and the groove funk of “Devon Jean,” all played by, as is typical on Black Jazz releases, by top-notch sidemen including drummer Raymond Pounds, who’s played with everybody from Stevie Wonder to Pharoah Sanders to Bob Dylan, and pianist John Barnes, whose work is very familiar to Motown fans (Supremes, Temptations, Marvin Gaye). Bassist Reggie Jackson, who appeared on the Walter Bishop, Jr. Coral Keys record we previously released, rounds out the quartet.

Great new shuffling ska from Holland, The Higher Notes have done a small pressing on 7" vinyl of two tracks taken from their CD only album Double Salute.

MONSTER debut from Peace Anthem with material from NY Graffiti whose 'imlookin4thedoor' joins the dots between On-U Sound, through to UR and classic early 90s hardcore/Reinforced records styles. Experimental club tools that are 100% DEADLY!

Batov's 'Middle Eastern Grooves' series has a new, funky, double-sided 7" addition titled Big Baglama by Satellites: a fun release that gives vintage Turkish beats a new spin. Big Baglama is a beautiful instrumental piece that captures the sound of an acoustic diwan saz - known as a baglama - integrating it in a series of riffs connected by a wild, funky groove!

Killer new release from France's Zulu Vibes... On the A side "Alpha & Omega" inspired by the anthem "Chant Away" by Carlton Coffee, the Zulu Vibe Riddim Section alongside Meekman their vision of the heartbeat style, a deep and mystical riddim, with a nyabinghi section. We can hear Jonnygo Figure on the lead vocal, rising reggae singer in New York and recently produced by Bent Backs Records (Brooklyn), singing us the importance of the balance between man & woman in life. Jr Roy, Twan Tee, Amelia Harmony and the Irie Mates on the backing vocals. On the B side, "Why Dem A Fight We Down" inspired by "Concrete Castle King" by Dennis Emmanuel Brown, a rockers played by the Zulu Vibes Riddim Section alongside Ifi on the percussions. Twan Tee, (who is also on the A side) gives us a powerful message about politic system and its abuses.

**C-L-A-S-S-I-C**

Deep, moody, dark, cosmic Chicago house music classic from the dream team of Chez Damier and Ron Trent! Mid-90s release on their own Prescription label FINALLY sees the light of day again. Seriously folks, this doesn't get any better - every track a winner!

ESSENTIAL REISSUE!

Athens Of The North reissue this funky US post-punk / new-wave obscurity from 1984!

Super-limited new 1000 copies special white vinyl edition!

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When the band Trees Speak, coming out of nowhere, released an exclusive one-off 100-pressing white label 45, described as CAN/NEU! meets LIQUID LIQUID, it sold out so quickly (in less than 30 mins - one for sale on Discogs now at £400!) that Soul Jazz Records decided to release their album almost immediately.

Here it is! And it's awesome!

Soul Jazz Records rarely release new music but found the music of TREES SPEAK’s album ‘OHMS’ so stunning and to have so many elements of music that they admired that they felt compelled to release it.

The group Trees Speak are from Tucson, Arizona and create new music that sounds like GERMAN KRAUTROCK meets NO WAVE/POST-PUNK and PSYCH ROCK – music for fans of CLUSTER, TANGERINE DREAM, CAN, NEU!, SILVER APPLES and early KRAFTWERK.

The album ‘OHMS’ sounds at times like a tripped out & moody JOHN CARPENTER/GOBLIN/MORRICONE soundtrack that seamlessly segues into propulsive, ‘motorik’ Krautrock instrumentals loaded with fuzzy, hypnotic mellotron, synths and analogue effects, as well as elements of ART ENSEMBLE free jazz, and all at times reaching a kind of post-rave psychedelia. More recent comparisons would include BEAK and GHOST BOX who draw upon similar themes and styles.

Trees Speak are Daniel Martin Diaz and Damian Diaz plus musicians from the Tucson, Arizona scene such as Giant Sand, XIXA and James Hunter. ‘Trees Speak’ relates to the idea of future technologies storing information and data in Trees and plants - using them as hard drives – and the idea that Trees communicate collectively.

Trees Speak - Ohms :

Album of the Month - Splintered Eye/50 Best albums 2020 - Pop Matters/Favourite albums 2020 -The Soap Company/Albums of the Year 2020 -Bear Tree Records/Independent Albums of the Year -Love Records/Albums of the Year -Concrete Islands

Cult Polish jazz group EABS have produced this awesome tribute to the great Sun Ra! Reimagining seven of his compositions across this deeply spiritual and funky jazz album!