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Recent Best Sellers
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WWSLP 114LP
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Wewantsounds presents Ayam El Disco, a new selection of Egyptian 1980s disco and boogie cassette tracks curated by Egyptian DJ Disco Arabesquo, following his highly acclaimed Sharayet El Disco. Most tracks make their vinyl debut in this set. A journey through the funky sounds of 1980s Egypt, Ayam El Disco ("Disco Days") features Ammar El Sherei, Al Massrieen, and other underground artists from Cairo's vibrant cassette culture. The audio has been remastered for vinyl by David Hachour at Colorsound Studio in Paris, and the LP features artwork by Egyptian graphic designer Heba Tarek, along with a two-page insert showcasing the original cassette artwork and insightful liner notes by Moataz Rageb. Based in Amsterdam, the Egyptian DJ has spent years collecting rare tapes from the 1980s and early 1990s -- a period that transformed Egypt's musical landscape and shaped his own listening experience. By the 1980s, the cassette format had become a revolutionary medium in Egypt. Affordable and easily duplicated, tapes allowed artists to work independently while absorbing global influences such as disco, funk, and synth-pop through imported and bootleg recordings. Rather than mirroring Western club culture, these sounds were adapted to local contexts. Disco entered everyday life -- played at home, in cars, at weddings, beaches, and family gatherings - resulting in a distinctly Egyptian interpretation rooted in Arabic musical traditions. Ayam El Disco reflects this era through a carefully curated selection ranging from smooth disco and boogie to funkier instrumentals and early proto-Jeel sounds. Also featuring Firkit Americana Show, Firkit Hany Shenoda, Mostafa El Sakka, Hamid El Shaeri, Firkit El Pharana, Omar Fathy, Ammar El Sherei, Medhat Saleh, Aida El Ayoubi, and Ahmed Adaweya.
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ZORN 085LP
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First time reissue of Japan/US free jazz rarity. Old-style gatefold LP with rare photographs and liner notes by Ed Hazell. Edition of 1000. The 1970s were Marion Brown's most searching decade, a period during which he sought to move beyond the free jazz of the previous era and find more personal approaches to structuring improvisation and composition. After leaving New York for Europe in 1967, Brown began reshaping his music into what he described as "a more deliberate kind of music that had more structure to it," pacing it so that moods and modes could develop over time. Albums such as In Sommerhausen, Afternoon of a Georgia Faun, Geechee Recollections, and Sweet Earth Flying trace this evolution: rhythmic structures moved to the foreground, harmony receded, and composition became a matter of orchestrating interlocking rhythmic parts as one would polyphonic lines. Released in 1976, Awofofora is an overlooked but crucial entry in that sequence. At the time, its use of funk and reggae beats, electric guitars, and grooves drawn from contemporary Black popular music led some to misread it as a jazz-rock detour. In retrospect, it is entirely consistent with Brown's methodology. As he admired in the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the stimulus comes from within the community. Here Brown filters Afro-Caribbean rhythms and funk through his own sensibility, abstracting their structural qualities rather than adopting surface style. "La Placita," making its first recorded appearance, layers distinct rhythmic phrases in a manner reminiscent of African drum ensembles, over which Brown and trumpeter Ambrose Jackson spin extended improvisations. The standard "Flamingo" is reshaped through diasporic rhythm and lyrical soloing, while "Pepi's Tempo" and "Mangoes" harness crisp funk and reggae grooves to generate what Brown called a "manifestation of community" through collective improvisation. Even the overdubbed solo feature "And Then They Danced" reflects his structural thinking, ingeniously re-voicing a duet composition for two alto saxophones performed by one player. This was the only recording by a short-lived band that briefly polarized audiences during festival appearances in 1976. Yet Brown consistently sought unity across change: different sounds, same principles -- rhythm as structure, melody as architecture, collective improvisation, and above all, the primacy of tone. Awofofora stands not as a departure, but as a vivid synthesis of the elements he had been refining since the late 1960s, its grooves and golden alto lines conveying a sound drawn, in his words, "from life and from the world of experience."
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2LP
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BEC 5772110
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2026 repress. Justice's highly-acclaimed debut album from 2007. French-only vinyl version, in deluxe gatefold sleeve. Retreating to their underground post-nuclear shelter/studio, French duo Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay worked on their first album as if their lives depended on it. The result is a mind-fuck of an album that proves that Justice's unique talent is to be found where least expected. Take for example "Let There Be Light" and its strident, angry electro, driven by a jabbing bassline; "D.A.N.C.E," a pure piece of vicious house sung innocently by a choir of children; "Newjack," a funky parody of the opulent times of the French Touch; "Phantom," taking over where "Waters Of Nazareth" left off to drift towards "Phantom Pt. II" and its head-swirling disco violins; "Valentine," an erotic, melancholic nursery rhyme, like a tribute to Vladimir Cosma and "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy," a pure electro-funk track where the sexy Uffie plays more than ever the cheeky Lolita. Justice have thrown established rules out the window (the notion of good and bad taste, the thin line between underground and pop music, the pigeon hole labeling between rock and electro, etc.) with a fantastic talent for synthesizing and mixing their influences with total candor, be it the cosmic disco of Larry Levan or Vladimir Cosma's panty-wetting romantics, Camel's prog rock or the anxious theme of Goblin for Dario Argento, to the flashy funk of the Brothers Johnson or "ABC" by the Jackson 5. Cross isn't a collection of random dancefloor singles. Cross is for listening at home or in clubs. Cross is a link between pop at its purest and experimental music. Cross brings together hardcore elements and cheese. Cross makes the Goths link arms with the rave kids. A generational manifest, ideally positioned on the side of the dancefloor, Cross, insolent with youth, is a testimony that the French electro scene is healthier than ever.
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BEWITH 200LP
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Gap Mangione's monumentally influential Diana In The Autumn Wind. They said it could never be done. And with good reason. Be With has spent the past 12 years trying to license this legendary 1968 recording from Gap and, after much work, it's finally here. Remarkably, this is the first ever vinyl reissue of Gap Mangione's Diana In The Autumn Wind, produced with the full and extensive participation of Gap. An exceedingly rare album, it's been coveted by funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop sample fiends for decades. It's unarguably the most sought-after album for J Dilla/Madlib sample collectors. It has also been brilliantly sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Large Professor, Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar, and Talib Kweli. But this record is so much more than a sample-spotters curio. It's solid gold throughout. Bursting with killer funky-jazz grooves and tracks adorned with warm electric piano, the release is notable for featuring some extremely significant players at the very outset of their careers; Tony Levin, at 21, whose superb playing on both acoustic and electric bass was the harmonic mainstay of the trio and Steve Gadd, at 23, one of the greatest drummers of his generation. Gap's story is told in his words alongside rare photos across a sumptuously designed two-page insert and, to augment this deluxe edition further, it's all wrapped up in a beautiful, no-expense-spared luxury tip-on sleeve, as per the original hens-teeth release. The tracks are short but complex, with that extraordinary rhythm section backing the beautiful piano, organ and electric piano work of Gap. It's a stunning blend of the vibrant, driving music of the Gap Mangione Trio coupled with the sensitive composition and superb orchestration of Gap's legendary brother, Chuck Mangione, who helmed an amalgam of seemingly disparate elements -- rock, big band jazz, solo improvisation and "classical" music -- into a spectacularly cohesive whole that has aged wonderfully well. As Gap himself notes in the liners, "with this group I was able to explore and add new and exciting elements from rock, Brazilian and then-current pop music." Under the watchful eye -- and extremely attentive ears -- of Gap Mangione himself, the audio for Diana In The Autumn Wind has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, with a few much-needed tweaks here and there, according to the artist's wishes. At the prestigious Abbey Road Studios, 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 the always stellar Record Industry in Holland.
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WWSLP 024LP
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2026 repress. LP version. Wewantsounds present a reissue of Ryuichi Sakamoto's first solo album Thousand Knives Of, originally released in 1978 on the sought-after Better Days label. Save for a small-scale release in 1982, this is the first time the album is being released on vinyl outside of Japan. 1978 was a key year for Japanese music. Haruomi Hosono, one of the country's most innovative musicians had just formed Yellow Magic Orchestra pursuing the sonic experimentation he had started with his solo album Paraiso. The album, recorded between December '77 and January '78, featured both Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. Hosono quickly invited both musicians to form YMO but before the group could release their first album, Sakamoto entered the Nippon Columbia studios in April 1978 with a plan. Sakamoto had become an in-demand session musician after studying composition at the Tokyo University of Art and had played on many key albums of the time, such as Taeko Ohnuki's Sunshower (1977) and Tatsuro Yamashita Spacy (1977). This led to an invitation by Hosono to feature on Paraiso. A penchant for avant-garde and improvisation had gotten Sakamoto interested in electronic music early on, and with Thousand Knives he decided to get Hideki Matsutake on board as he had mastered the art of synth programming following a stint with Electronic Music pioneer Isao Tomita. Thousand Knives took several months to record as Sakamoto would be busy during the day with his session work and would only record at night. Named after Belgian-born poet Henri Michaux's description of a mescaline experience, the album is a reflection on how synthesizer technology might come to change the face of music. The first side conceived as a long suite opens with the title track and a recitation of the Mao Zedong poem "Jinggang Mountain" filtered through a vocoder, before morphing into a mid-tempo synthpop instrumental. It is followed by "Island Of Woods", a ten-minute track buzzing with insect-like synth sounds. Side one ends with "Grasshoppers", a beautiful acoustic piano melody underlined by a subtle synthesizer soundscape. Side two opens with "Das Neue Japanische Elektronische Volkslied", acknowledging the influence of the German sound spearheaded by Kraftwerk. The track features a mid-tempo metronomic beat skillfully intertwined with a Japanese folk sounding melody. The album ends with two catchy up-tempo synthpop tunes in the form of "Plastic Bamboo" and "The End Of Asia", which both became staples of YMO's and Sakamoto's live shows. YMO's sound included various influences from its three members but there is no denying Thousand Knives paved the way for the group's Computer Music sound. Remastered from the original tapes by renowned producer and engineer Seigen Ono.
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BELA 009-1002LP
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Electrifying heavy sessions recorded in 1997 featuring the classic Mainliner + Musica Transonic lineup of Nanjo Asahito (High Rise), Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mother) and Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins) driving into new divergently fried terrain(s). Here, Nanjo and co. are on a quest to find new directions, and while the sessions were for an abandoned Mainliner album, a good portion of Solid Static hews more closely to the moment-to-moment deconstructions of Musica Transonic. The propulsive ten-minute opening title track is a lost gem in the canon of Japanese psychedelia and rock and roll -- beginning with one of Mainliner's bludgeoning motor-psycho riffs, it veers off into auratic space, Kawabata's snake-charming guitar weaving around Nanjo's buzz-fire bass and Yoshida's multi-limbed drumming. Musica Transonic's improvised and jazz-informed take on psychedelic rock is writ across the distended rhythms and arcing bass and guitar lines that scrawl across "Prosecutor" and "Topsy Turvy," or the slurry of distorted tone that rolls through "Rot Way." Available for the first time on LP or any physical form aside from a clutch of CDR's sold at a few live dates in the late '90s. Housed in a custom die-cut, "Uni-Pak" style gatefold with metallic ink, spot finishes and matching La Musica inner sleeve.
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ABDT 063LP
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Alan Bishop's solo persona appears again from his now 15-year-old home of Cairo where it was recorded in and around many other projects over the past few years. And unlike his more recent singer/songwriter material, Malarial Dream drifts closer to latter day Sun City Girls (Mister Lonely/Funeral Mariachi) amidst a melodic Middle Eastern and beyond psych-warped folk setting. Mostly instrumental and, except for two obscure covers, original compositions that feature a cast of extraordinary players: Adham Zidan, Aya Hemeda, Cherif El Masri, and Morgan Mikkelsen (The Invisible Hands), Maurice Louca and Sam Shalabi (The Dwarfs of East Agouza), Amelie Legrand, Asher Gamedze, Eyvind Kang, Hana Al Bayaty, Huda Asfour, and Sammy Sayed. LP Limited to 500 copies. Produced by Alvarius B. and Adham Zidan.
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WWSLP 064LP
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2026 repress. Wewantsounds present a first-time vinyl reissue Fairuz's classic album Kifak Inta produced by her son Ziad Rahbani in the late '80s and only released on cassette and CD in 1991. Composed and arranged by Rahbani, who had already produced Wahdon (1979) and Maarifti Feek (1987), Kifak Inta features his usual blend of jazz, funk, and Arabic music, spiced up with Brazilian influences serving Fairuz's beautiful voice. Fairuz is a living legend and one of the greatest divas of the Arab world. She came to prominence in the '50s crossing path with the Rahbani Brothers (Assi and Mansour) an encounter that turned into a fruitful collaboration that would last until the '70s, spawning countless classics in the process. Fairuz's marriage with Assi produced a son, Ziad, who would start a brilliant career as a cutting-edge playwright, musician, and producer in the early '70s. When Assi Rahbani became ill in the mid-70s and the couple separated, Ziad took over as Fairuz's musical director and started to add elements of jazz, funk, and bossa nova to her music. The collaboration started in 1979 with Wahdon which included the funky cult classic "Al Bosta". They worked together again in 1983-84 on the album Maarifti Feek which was released in 1987 and continued their collaboration with Kifak Inta a few years later. The album was released on the Lebanese label Relax-in in 1991 on cassette and CD only, but, although there are no recording dates listed, the track "Ouverture 87" indicates it was recorded around that year. The album follows the same pattern as previous Ziad Rahbani productions for his mother and mixes traditional Arabic music ("Farewell Song", "It's Not a Problem"), jazz-funk ("Ya Leili Leili Leili"), and bossa nova ("Indi Thika Fik"), all featuring Ziad's superb orchestrations and slick arrangements. The jewel in the crown is the album's title track, "Kifak Inta" (And You, How Are You?), a ballad written and composed by Ziad Rahbani. The song is sung by a woman opening her heart to her childhood sweetheart, now married to another woman, and confessing she still loves him. The subject was controversial and created quite a stir when the song came out in the still conservative Lebanese society of the time. The track "Prova" which closes side one is a fascinating studio rehearsal of "Kifak Inta" featuring both Ziad and Fairuz. Remastered audio by Colorsound Studio in Paris. Includes new liner notes (French/English) by Mario Choueiry (Institut Du Monde Arabe).
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WWSLP 036LP
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2026 repress.. Following the reissue last year of Fairuz's classic 1979 album Wahdon (WWSLP 022LP), Wewantsounds pursue their exploration of great Lebanese music with the first vinyl reissue of Fairuz's highly sought-after LP Maarifti Feek, originally released in 1987. Recorded in Beirut around 1983-84, the album features the diva's superb voice combined with Ziad Rahbani's jazz and funk orchestration, making it one of the most in-demand albums on the Arabic funk scene. One of the greatest singers of the Middle East, Fairuz started her career in Lebanon in the '50s and quickly established herself as the most renowned Diva in the Arabic world, playing the most prestigious venues in the world. At the end of the '70s, Fairuz was at a turning point both professionally and personally. Her husband Assi Rahbani, who, with his brother Elias, had penned her biggest successes, has suffered a stroke a few years earlier. This setback ultimately led to both the demise of their marriage and the end of their professional partnership. Enter Ziad Rahbani, Fairuz and Assi's son, a young musician, playwright, and producer who had cut his teeth writing a handful of Fairuz's song -- including her 1973 hit "Sa'alouni El Nas" -- at just seventeen. Ziad Rahbani swiftly took over from his father and uncle as the singer's musical director and composer and this fruitful association, which started in 1979 with the album Wahdon, broke many new grounds for Fairuz with funkier rhythms and edgier lyrics. It was recorded at the same time as Rahbani's own 12" Abu Ali (WWSLP 027LP) which became a sought-after disco classic in its own right. The association between the two continued with a second album, Maarifti Feek ("Our Encounter"), recorded between 1983 and '84 in Beirut but only released in 1987. The album was another groundbreaking mix of influences ranging from the traditional arrangements of "Oudak Rannan" and "Ma Kdirt Nseet" to the Brazilian flavor of "Version 1" via the synth funk of "Ouverture 83" and its follow-up "Reprise 83". Also featured on the album is a beautiful remake of Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez" in the form of a tribute to the Lebanese capital, "Li Beirut." This blend of Oriental grooves with jazz and funk orchestrations by Ziad Rahbani is a unique document of Fairuz's career development in the '80s and explains why Maarifti Feek is such a sought-after album. Remastered from the original tapes.
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LP
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ZORN 098LP
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First time reissue of free jazz rarity, pre-Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai group. Old-style gatefold LP with rare photographs and liner notes by Alan Cummings. Limited edition of 500. The single album self-released by the quartet Shūdan Sokai in 1977 is one of the most vital documents of mid-seventies Japanese free jazz, documenting Tokyo's free scene at the precise moment when it began to shift to a handful of tiny venues on the western fringes of the city. In free jazz in Japan, Teruto Soejima identifies the extant venue Aketa no Mise in Nishi-Ogikubo as the pioneer of this decamping from the center: a cramped basement beneath a rice shop, seating just 20 people. Among the most active of the new venues was Alone in Hachiōji, nearly an hour from Shinjuku, in a district shaped by universities, lower rents, and a thriving counterculture. Originally opened in 1973 as a jazu kissa, Alone was unusually spacious and equipped with a stage, grand piano, and drum kit. Around 1974, Junji Mori and Yasuhiro Sakakibara began working there, booking free jazz players on weekends and establishing the venue as a crucial hub. Mori recalls early appearances by figures including Kazutoki Umezu, Toshinori Kondo, and others who would define the scene. In early 1976, Umezu and pianist Yoriyuki Harada -- recently returned from New York's loft jazz environment, where they had played with musicians such as David Murray and William Parker -- formed Shūdan Sokai with Mori and drummer Takashi Kikuchi. The name, meaning "mass evacuation," pointed to their self-chosen exile in Hachiōji. With Alone as their home base, the quartet developed a music characterized by an infectious sense of enjoyment and a willingness to integrate free jazz with elements of song structure. Harada switched between piano and bass; the group experimented with rap-like vocal pieces, jabbering nursery rhymes over bass rhythms. They returned to Alone on December 24 to record Sono zen'ya (Eve), releasing it on their own Des Chonboo Records, partially funded by advertisements from local businesses printed on the rear cover. Alone closed in September 1977, and Shūdan Sokai soon dissolved, later morphing into the expanded Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai Orchestra. What remains is a recording rooted in a specific place and moment: a fiercely independent scene sustained by small rooms, close listening, and collective commitment.
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BELA 003-002LP
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Anonymous transmissions from a spectral, dead-of-night mystery zone. Recorded in 1996 and originally release by Japan's enigmatic La Musica Records label on limited cassette. A group that deconstructs and liberates the chance nature of contemporary classical and noise music enough so that their boundaries blur. Available for the first time on vinyl and digital. Recorded in 1996 and released without any identifying credits in an essentially private cassette edition, Bibiotheca Hermetica's sole release, One, was only the second by the Japanese La Musica label and remains one of its more obscure and enigmatic entries. The group works in spaces adjacent to contemporaneous outfits like Nijiumu and Toho Sara though its non-idiomatic improvisations and decentered, free sound explorations call back to seminal collectives such as the Taj Mahal Travellers and the East Bionic Symphonia. The music constantly shuffles and sifts filled with hypnotic clatter and clamor, rattling percussion, toughly scraped strings, gurgling bass tonalities and pirouetting winds. An anonymous transmission from a spectral, dead-of-night mystery zone. Housed in a custom die-cut, "Uni-Pak" style gatefold with metallic ink, spot finishes and matching La Musica inner sleeve. La Musica Records was a label founded by Asahito Nanjo in Tokyo during the 1990's. It released nearly 200 cassettes and CD-Rs, all handmade in micro-editions sold at shows. The catalog featured artists and recordings largely of obscure, often completely unknown origin, sanctioned and "grey-area" documentation of the Tokyo psychedelic underground.
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2CD
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IMPREC 519CD
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These stunning recordings combine the great strengths of Pauline Oliveros on her Roland V-Accordion, Issui Minegishi, Ichigenkin master and great-great granddaughter of the founder of the Seikyodo Ichigenkin tradition and Miya Masaoka on her 21 string Japanese Koto. Together, these masterful improvisors create a beautiful and fascinating world of instrumental communication. This trio of legendary artists establish a sonic zone so compelling that you'll never want to leave. This double CD preserves the original session edits chronologically in order to preserve the emotional flow of the recordings. Disc one presents the first day of sessions and disc two presents the second day. Hence the title, Two Days In Dreamland. Recorded at Dreamland Studios in Hurley, New York. Mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance. Pauline Oliveros, composer and accordionist, was a central figure in the development of post-war experimental and electronic music. She was a founder of the San Francisco Tape Music Center along with Ramon Sender and Morton Subotnick and she also served as its director. Minegishi Issui is the great-great-granddaughter of Tokuhiro Taimu, founder of the Seikyodo Ichigenkin tradition. She received her earliest training from her great-grandmother, Matsuzaki Issui, who was the third hereditary head of Seikyodo and who was also designated by the Japanese government as official guardian of the Ichigenkin tradition, as one of the country's Intangible Cultural Treasures. Miya Masaoka is an American sonic artist, composer and performer. Her work explores bodily perception of vibration, movement and time, while foregrounding complex timbre relationships. She has created a body of work that encompasses scores for orchestras and ensembles, sculpture works instigating new modes of listening, interactive media. Among her awards are the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright, the American Academy Rome Prize, the Doris Duke Artist Award and the United States Artist Award.
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SF 132LP
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Recorded live on location, this is a style of music unlike anything you have ever heard before and the first album of the Himba people's music ever released from northwest Namibia. From the album's producer and recordist, Ian Brennan: "The Namib desert is the oldest in the world. Therefore, the driest. Italian-Rwandan photographer, Marilena Umuhoza Delli and I had come to record with possibly the most photographed people on earth, the Himba -- to listen rather than gaze at them as if on display. To share their voices as a counter to their visual objectification, particularly the inappropriate eroticization of the women who customarily go topless throughout daily life. We had to stress multiple times that we did not want the musicians to don touristic tribal costumes -- quite possibly the first music project in history that urged performers to cover-up rather than pleading with artists to expose more flesh. But it was to no avail. When the assigned hour arrived, the men all ditched the baseball caps and soccer jerseys that they routinely wear. And for the women, the reality is that they almost without exception keep their torsos bare, even in winter. We had to acquiesce. Forcing the issue would have only been the flipside of inauthenticity. The featured, traditional instrument is the Cattle Gun. It's rarely found these days and therefore, costly. Made from the lengthy horn of an Oryx and coated in mud, it is blown, resulting in a breathy, rattled tone. Via the use of live looping on three of the album's tracks, psychedelic vocal tapestries were created as if snatched from the ever-shifting skies that enshrined the valley from all sides. But even more esoteric results arose from members cupping hands over mouth to create chorusing and flanging effects sans electricity or gear. Rather than 'primitive' or traditional, the Himba music making is imbued with innovation and timelessness.' Limited edition pressing of 500 vinyl copies with four-page color insert including photos of the musicians and liner notes by Grammy-award winning producer and author, Ian Brennan.
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WWSLP 096LP
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2026 repress; LP version. Wewantsounds presents the release of one of Japan's most coveted albums of the '70s, Mangekyou by singer-songwriter Yoshiko Sai. Produced in 1975 by Master musician Yuji Ohno, the album features Yoshiko Sai's superbly crafted songs and crystal-clear voice over Ohno's lush, funky sound and breezy arrangements. A strong buzz has been growing around the album over the years and original copies now change hands for large sums of money. This is the first time Mangekyou is available outside of Japan, featuring remastered audio, original artwork and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Paul Bowler. Yoshiko Sai holds a unique status in the Japanese music landscape. The Japanese singer songwriter made a strong impression with her blend of ethereal melodies, poetic lyrics and crystalline singing. A private, almost enigmatic artist, Sai only made four highly praised albums during the '70s and all but retired from the music industry in 1979, which adds to the mystic surrounding her persona. Only thanks to the persistence of Japanese guitarist Jojo Hiroshige from the noise group Hijokaidan did she come out of retirement to record new material in the 2000s. She was originally noticed by key record labels and swiftly signed to Black Records/Teichiku. This led to the recording of Mangekyou ("Kaleidoscope"), in the Spring of 1975. While she penned all the material for Mangekyou, the arrangements were assigned to Ace producer Yuji Ohno, one of the top arrangers in Tokyo at the time. Ohno helped craft the album's superb funk sound and also played keyboards. The album displays Sai's unique craftmanship when it comes to songwriting and alternates between mid and up-tempo songs such as "Yoru No Sei" (Night Spirit) and "Fuyu No Chikadou" (Winter Underpass) and more atmospheric ballads such as "Tsubaki Wa Ochita Kaya" (Did The Camellia Fall?) or "Yukionna" (Snow Woman). It's worth noting Ohno blended his rich arrangements with elements of Japanese traditional music, with the use of such instruments as the Shakuhachi (bamboo flute), Tsuzumi (hand drum), and Biwa (wooden lute), giving the music its unique twist. All in all, listening to Mangekyou is a unique experience and it's easy to see why the album and Yoshiko Sai garnered such a cult following over the years.
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WRWTFWW 017LP
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2025 repress. We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records present the first ever official vinyl pressing of the soundtrack for Mamoru Oshii's critically acclaimed and all around legendary science fiction anime film Ghost In The Shell (1995), adapted from Masamune Shirow's groundbreaking manga series of the same name. The haunting score is composed by Kenji Kawai, one of Japan's most celebrated soundtrack composers alongside Joe Hisaishi and Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose work includes Hideo Nakata's Ring (1998) and Ring 2 (1999), Death Note (2006), Hong Kong films Seven Swords by Tsui Hark (2005) and Ip Man by Wilson Yip (2008), and countless others. Kawai's compositions see ancient harmonies and percussions uncannily mesh with synthesized sounds of the modern world to convey a sumptuous balance between folklore tradition and futuristic outlook. For its iconic main theme "Making Of Cyborg", Kawai had a choir chant a wedding song in ancient Japanese following Bulgarian folk harmonies, setting the standard for a timeless and unparalleled soundtrack that admirably echoes the film's musings on the nature of humanity in a technologically advanced world. Ghost In The Shell is widely considered one of the best anime films of all time and its influence has been felt in the work of numerous movie directors, including James Cameron's Avatar (2009), the Wachowskis's The Matrix (1999), and Steven Spielberg's AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001). For fans of anime, manga, movie soundtracks, science fiction, ambient, folklore, Japan, Akira (1988), artificial intelligence, Midori Takada. Cut from the original master reels at Emil Berliner Studios (formerly the in-house recording department of renowned classical record label Deutsche Grammophon).
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BELA 005-045LP
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A collection of intimate songs traced from the spectral darkness by Nanjo Asahito, the notorious leader of some of Japan's key underground psychedelic units (High Rise, Mainliner, Musica Transonic, Toho Sara, etc) Recorded between 1980 and 1988 and previously only available in a cassette micro-edition released by his La Musica Records label in the mid-1990s. Remastered and available for the first time on vinyl and digital. From the original La Musica cassette notes: "A compilation of secret projects recorded over a period of twenty years. Deeply personal music that achieves a strange balance between beat folk balladry and off-key mumbling. Suggestive self-celebratory music conceived as a confirmation of existence." A lesser-known side of Nanjo Asahito -- if all you know of his work is the overloaded, intensified psych-rock and free-sound of his group projects then the solo songs on M gently redraw the contours of Nanjo's private universe. There's something gem-like in the way these five songs are formed, even as they accrue grit and dirt while drifting out of the speakers. Here, Nanjo grabs handfuls of gentle chord changes, allows them to rotate in the air, suspended in reverb, flickering in half-light, as he murmurs drowsy melodies. The closing "Eucharist" pushes everything through a thin layer of distortion; elsewhere, tinkling piano, from guest Matsuoka Takashi, who also performed with Keiji Haino's Nijiumu, disturbs dust molecules to dance through hazy air. LP is housed in die-cut "Uni-Pak" style gatefold with metallic gold ink and soft touch finishes with printed inner sleeve. Vinyl pressed at RTI.
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CD
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WWSCD 121CD
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Hot on the heels of the Tokyo Bliss and Funk Tide sets, Tokyo-based DJ Notoya delivers Tokyo Pulse, a new juicy selection of funk and modern soul recorded in Tokyo in the '70s and '80s. Most tracks here are making their debut outside of Japan and the album, like its predecessors, has been designed by Manuel Sepulveda (Optigram) and is annotated by DJ Notoya. The audio has been newly mastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia Records and remastered for vinyl by Colorsound in Paris. Tokyo Pulse's lush funk selection open with the nocturnal groove of Naomi Chiaki's "Yoru E Isogu Hito," recorded in 1978. The track perfectly sets the mood with its laid-back tempo and late-night atmosphere. From there, Yumi Murata's "Ranhansha" (1979) brings a funkier touch, before the mellower funk of L-E-V-E-L's "Bagdad No Atari Nite" signals the stylistic shift toward the early 1980s. Side one closes with GAM's "Lake In The Forest," an elegant reggae-inflected piece from 1980, played by several musicians from the cult Arakawa Band. Side two opens with a leap into the late 1980s via Nami Shimada's "Mitsumeteirunoni," a superb mid-tempo electro-funk track. This is followed by the earthy folk-soul of Bread & Butter's "Memory," originally released in 1974 on Blow Up Records, and featuring a who's who of Japanese music, including Haruomi Hosono, Ray Ohara, Tatsuo Hayashi, and Shigeru Suzuki. Keyboardist Minoru Koyama's instrumental "After Image" adds a cinematic, fusion-leaning dimension, while Chikara Ueda & The Power Station's "Island Cuckoo," released in 1979 on Denon, injects a cool dose of Brazilian-tinged funk energy. The compilation closes with Higurashi's superb funk-folk track "Anata Wa Doko Ni Irundesuka," a reflective 1974 recording that brings the journey to a quietly emotional conclusion. Taken as a whole, Tokyo Pulse offers a vivid snapshot of Tokyo's evolving groove landscape, embracing a wide diversity of sounds that move fluidly between funk, modern soul, folk, reggae, electro, and jazz-inflected pop. Carefully curated by DJ Notoya, the album captures the subtle shifts in style, production, and mood that defined nearly fifteen years of Japanese music and stands as a new addition to Wewantsounds' ongoing series exploring Japan's rich musical heritage, reaffirming Tokyo's place as a city with a uniquely refined and forward-thinking musical pulse.
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LP
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RRS 121LP
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2026 repress. Adventurous southern California punk trio Agent Orange was the first band to mix surf rock with punk. The group was formed in1979 in Placentia, a small town close to Fullerton and Anaheim, by front man Mike Palm on guitar and lead vocals, Steve Soto on bass, and Scott Miller on drums. That early line-up recorded the classic version of "Bloodstains" in 1979 as a demo produced by Daniel R. van Patten (of the group Berlin). A year later it was included on the seminal Rodney On The Roq compilation album released by Posh Boy Records. Meanwhile, James Levesque had replaced Steve Soto (Adolescents) and the new line-up released their own self-produced and self-released 7" EP in 1980. A year later, the group signed with Robbie Fields' Posh Boy Records for their debut LP, Living In Darkness, co-produced by Fields and former Simpletones guitarist, Jay Lansford. The album was recorded at Brian Elliot's store front studio in North Hollywood (a few years before Elliot struck gold writing Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach"). A milestone in California punk rock history. Includes five bonus tracks. Black vinyl.
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LP
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WWSLP 109LP
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LP version. Wewantsounds presents the first vinyl reissue of Disappointment-Hateruma, the 1976 ALM Records release by percussionist Toshi Tsuchitori and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The album is notable as Sakamoto's first recording issued under his own name and represents one of the few occasions he explored fully improvised music during the 1970s. It provides a vital document for understanding Sakamoto's early development as a composer and performer, capturing a period when he was experimenting with ambient soundscapes and textured improvisation. This edition features original artwork, audio remastered by Heba Kadry and new liner notes by Andy Beta. Ryuichi Sakamoto is widely recognized as one of the most important artists of his generation. At the time of Disappointment-Hateruma, he was still a student at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and active in Shinjuku's experimental music circles. He was busy contributing to Transonic Magazine, performing with the multimedia group Gakushudan, and working with musicians pushing the boundaries of jazz, free improvisation, and contemporary composition. On his side, revered Japanese percussionist Toshi Tsuchitori, who had recently returned from New York, brought influences from Milford Graves' approach to drumming, including African rhythms, ritualized performance, and a holistic approach that combined music, movement, and philosophy. Sakamoto and Tsuchitori had previously played together in Gakushudan, but neither considered those early encounters definitive. This recording captures one of the rare moments when Sakamoto's exploratory piano work met Tsuchitori's distinct rhythmic language in a studio setting. The album, originally released in 1976 on producer Yukio Kojima's highly influential ALM Records imprint, is structured across four tracks, with the first, "綾 (Aya)," filling the entirety of Side 1 on the LP, while Side 2 contains three shorter pieces, each exploring different combinations of instruments and sound sources. The recordings employ a wide array of textures, from prepared piano, bells, marimba, and gongs to EMS synthesizer and voice. Together, the tracks create hypnotic, ethereal soundscapes and rich sonic textures that highlight the interplay between Sakamoto's experimental piano work and Tsuchitori's percussive expertise. Remastered by renowned sound engineer Heba Kadry, this new edition highlights the detail, range, and clarity of the original album, making the ultra-rare Disappointment-Hateruma available worldwide for the first time. It stands as a key early document of Sakamoto's work and situates the recordings within the broader context of his formative years and Tokyo's mid-1970s cutting-edge music scene.
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WWSLP 120LP
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LP version. Wewantsounds continues its Yoshiko Sai reissue program with the release of Mikkou, the Japanese singer-songwriter's second album released in 1976 on Black Records. The album, produced by ace arranger Isamu Haruna, keeps the same formula as Mangekyou (WWSCD 096CD/ WWSLP 096LP, 2025) with Yoshiko Sai's beautiful songs and dreamy vocals over cool funky arrangements, this time featuring legendary guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. This is the first time Mikkou is widely available outside of Japan, with remastered audio, original artwork and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha who interviewed Yoshiko Sai for this special occasion. Yoshiko Sai holds a singular place in Japanese music history. Since her 1975 debut Mangekyou, the Japanese singer-songwriter has captivated listeners with her ethereal voice, poetic lyrics, and enigmatic presence, earning a devoted cult following that endures decades later. Mikkou represents a bold broadening of her artistic palette, drawing inspiration from the Silk Road and the rich cultural heritage of her native Nara. Sai's compositions on Mikkou explore themes of femininity, freedom, and the passage of generations. Tracks such as "Kaasama no Uta" ("Mother's Song") and "Tenshi no Youni" ("Like an Angel") blend blues, jazz, and folk sensibilities with evocative instrumentation including tabla, sitar, and dulcimer, reflecting the album's Silk Road influences. The title track, "Mikkou" ("Secret Passage"), captures the sense of a hidden journey -- both literal and imaginative -- mirroring the adventurous spirit threaded throughout the record. Sai also created the album's artwork, inspired by her reflections on historical Persian travelers and the interconnected flow of cultures along the Silk Road. As Sai remarked in conversation with Hashim Kotaro Bharoocha about the title track, "That idea of sneaking off somewhere felt exactly right for the mood at the time -- it was like approaching everything in life as if you were stowing away along every path." This Wewantsounds release marks the first time Mikkou is available outside Japan, offering a rare glimpse into the fragile, dreamlike universe of Yoshiko Sai.
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CD
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IMPREC 518CD
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Triple Point, featuring Pauline Oliveros, Doug Van Nort, and Jonas Braasch, was an improvising trio with a core instrumentation of soprano saxophone, greis/electronics, and V-accordion. The name refers to the point of equilibrium on a phase plot, which acts as a metaphor for the group's improvisational dialogue. Triple Point's musical interaction was centered around an interplay between acoustics, physically-modeled acoustics (v-accordion), and electronics. Van Nort captured the sound of the other players on-the-fly, either transforming them in the moment to create blended textures or new sonic gestures or holding them for return in the near future. Oliveros changes between timbres and "bends" the intended factory sound models through her idiosyncratic use of the virtual instrument, while Braasch explores extended techniques, including long circular-breathing tones and multiphonics. This mode of interaction has resulted in situations where acoustic/electronic sources are indistinguishable without very careful listening, while other times, this becomes wildly apparent. This continual, fluid morphing is a product of Deep Listening and listening in the moment. The tracks were recorded by Jonas Braasch during a week-long residency at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), Troy, NY, August 2012. Mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance.
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CD
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MR 493CD
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With only six singles released between 1965 and 1966, and from an apparently remote place such as Lima, Peru, Los Saicos created a raw, wild and visceral sound, the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of the garage rock that was coming out of the US North West at the same time. Theirs is the same DNA shared by The Sonics, Rocket From The Tombs, The Cramps and Black Lips. This release compiles all their recordings, including some later rarities available here on CD for the first time, and tells their amazing story.
"I'd never heard Los Saicos until a few days ago but had experienced the Wau y Los Arrrghs!!! version of 'Demolición.' Whilst appreciating the inherent wildness, I never for a minute considered that the original could have been even more deranged. More importantly, this snarling maelstrom of nihilism was cut in Lima when the rest of the world was wetting itself over The Beatles. I hear direct links to both The Stooges and The Cramps here and several more equally enthralling combos. The latter spawned several generations of individuals who would dig deep to previously (mostly) unheard seams of music and other forms of culture that have since become part of the mainstream fabric. The unhinged nature of the song titles is one thing but after you become acclimatized to the inherent strangeness, other aspects become apparent. The rhythms and the way the guitars chime and twang to offset the howling are no mere approximations or interpretation. Chemistry is by far a more important factor in the gestation of sound than proficiency or ability. There's a point where nature takes over and kicks in the call of the wild. The individuals have no other option than to just go with it. Primitive to the point of primordial, Los Saicos are an important benchmark. Not were. Who ever thought there could be a combo out there in Peru that would make The Sonics sound like Simon and bloody Garfunkel? There is quite possibly some other music out there, someplace, that could well make us re-address this consideration, but until then, cherish this short course of Saicotherapy." --Lindsay Hutton
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LP
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WWSLP 050LP
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2026 repress. Wewantsounds present the first ever vinyl release of Ziad Rahbani's Houdou Nisbi recorded in 1985 and only released on cassette and CD in 1991. One of Rahbani's most praised albums, released on the sought-after Lebanese label Relax-in. Mixing Arabic music with funk, jazz, boogie and a touch of Brazilian music, it is considered a classic among Oriental groove fans, DJs and collectors around the world. Curated by Lebanese DJ and Journalist Ernesto Chahoud. Ziad Rahbani is one of the giants of Arabic music and a cultural icon in the Middle East. The musician, pianist and producer is also a celebrated playwright and a political activist. Coming out of an illustrious artistic dynasty (his father, famous composer and musician Assi Rahbani, was in The Rahbani Brothers and his mother is the legendary Lebanese diva, Fairuz), Ziad Rahbani released a string of key albums in the '70s that have since become cult among DJs and collectors. Heavily influenced by Western music, Rahbani brought these influences to traditional Arabic music early one. 1978 saw the release of two key Rahbani albums, the disco 12" Abu Ali and Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou? (WWSLP 044LP). Serving as musical director to his mother Fairuz, he produced some of her best albums including Maarifti Feek recorded in 1984 at his Beirut studio, By Pass, bringing his blend of modern influences to her traditional sound. At the very same time, Rahbani started recording his own album at By Pass with the cream of Lebanese musicians including saxophonist Tewfic Farroukh, guitarist Paul Dawani, and percussionist Emile Boustani. Bringing funk, boogie, jazz funk fusion and Brazilian music to the mix, Rahbani created a landmark album, Houdou Nisbi now considered one of the best jazz funk albums from the Middle East. Featuring such cult tracks as "Rouh Khabbir", a remake of the Crusaders' "Soul Shadow" sung by Rahbani himself, the modern soul of "Bisaraha" and the Brazilian flavored "For Sure", the album is both effortlessly groovy and steeped in Oriental music. Houdou Nisbi, which means "relatively calm", an expression used by news anchors on Lebanese TV to describe the mood during cease-fire in the civil war that went on between 1975 and 1990. The cassette artwork has faithfully been reproduced for vinyl release. Remastered. New liner notes by Lebanese DJ and curator Ernesto Chahoud in English/French.
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3LP
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WRWTFWW 122LP
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WRWTFWW Records presents The Gentle People's Soundtracks for Living (Expanded Edition), the ultimate lounge/chill out classic from 1997, reborn! Available as a limited-edition white vinyl 3LP in heavyweight 3-panel gatefold sleeve. When The Gentle People first glided into the mid-'90s on clouds of strings, sugar and sine waves, they sounded like visitors from another, more glamorous planet. Signed to Richard D. James and Grant Wilson-Claridge's cult label Rephlex, this multinational "E-Z-Core" lounge unit took the aesthetics of '50s/'60s easy listening and exotica and gently smuggled them into 1990s club culture. Soundtracks for Living was their defining statement: an album that "takes the lounge scene and runs away with it entirely -- blissful and heavenly," as one contemporary review put it. The Gentle People -- Dougee Dimensional, Laurie LeMans, Valentine Carnelian and Honeymink -- began in early-'90s Brixton, throwing dress-up theme parties before taking their audio-visual universe into the studio. For them, music was "a way of life": soothing to the ear, rich in pop hooks, and pitched somewhere between the playfully idiotic and the hyper-intelligent. This expanded edition of Soundtracks for Living finally gives this glambient lounge-pop milestone the treatment it has always deserved. Spread lovingly across 3LP, it features new mastering from the original sources, allowing every harp glissando, string swell and analog squiggle to float in high-fidelity widescreen. The core album is complemented by a bonus 12" of unreleased and rare material, offering a deeper dive into the Gentle world: alternate takes, lost interludes, and secret soundtrack cues for lives not yet lived. Crucially, "Journey" appears here in its original version, "Gentle Instrumental" and the cult Aphex Twin remix, reuniting band and labelmate in one place and underlining the quietly radical nature of the project: this was lounge music that could sit next to braindance, acid and IDM and still steal the scene. Pressed on limited edition white vinyl, Soundtrack for Living (Expanded Edition) invites long-time fans and new listeners alike to step back into The Gentle People's universe -- a place of fondue parties, bubble chairs, star-lit elevators and endlessly rewinding sunsets, where "the pathway to the stars" is never quite out of reach.
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LP
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CT 115LP
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2026 restock.. Originally issued in 1973, Blackboard Jungle Dub is considered a milestone in the history of dub. Tracks include "African Skank" -- based on Junior Byles' "A Place Called Africa" -- and "Dreamland Skank", "Moving Skank" and "Kaya Skank" which are dub versions of Wailers" "Dreamland", "Keep On Moving" and "Kaya".
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LP
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CT 805LP
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2025 restock. Reissue of Ital Dub, originally released in 1975. This is Augustus Pablo's first collaboration with King Tubby.
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2LP
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VLG 012LP
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On a Sunday in the early '70s in South LA one could easily find themselves experiencing the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra doing what they do for the community, performing incredible music. Live at Widney High December 26th, 1971 is a previously unreleased PAPA recording. It finds director Horace Tapscott conducting the band at Widney Career Preparatory and Transition Center, a special-education magnet high school in Los Angeles. The band played shows here between 1970 and '72, often sharing the bill with contemporaries John Carter and Bobby Bradford's group, and at one point the Sun-Ra Arkestra. These weekend shows were free and meant for the surrounding Black community. On this date the PAPA performed a range of compositions from the Ark's expansive songbook, including arrangements of tunes by Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane. The album's first single, Tapscott's arrangement of Coltrane's "Equinox," is one of many Coltrane compositions the Arkestra performed, as the most forward-thinking jazz player of the time was a consistent inspiration for the Ark. It's second single, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" demonstrates Tapscott's simplicity along with the band's fiery pace and feeling. The track list is completed by traditional spiritual "Motherless Child," and a medley of two compositions by Herbert Baker, one of the Arkestra's young pianists who passed in a car accident at age 17; "Little A's Chant," with lyrics written and sang by Linda Hill, and the hypnotic "Flight 17".
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LP
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VAMPI 352LP
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Drummer, bandleader and activist Bubbha Thomas had toured America with R&B revues, served as a session musician for peacock and back beat records, and played straight ahead jazz with legends before the political and social upheaval of the late 1960s led him to a path first charted by Coltrane. Free As You Wanna Be, his first album with his band The Lightmen, predates the deep-set, maverick jazz issued by the likes of Tribe and Strata East: this album is a harbinger of the collective voice of resistance to the musical and cultural status quo that emerged in the 1970s jazz underground. Most of the tracks remain strongly groove-based with a clear sense of cohesion, but a few of the performances push further out than you might expect from later Lightmen releases, revealing the band's deep roots in avant-jazz. This lineup includes a very young Ronnie Laws sounding noticeably removed from the jazz-fusion style he'd adopt in the late '70s. Alongside Thomas on drums, the ensemble is rounded out by Doug Harris on tenor sax, Carl Adams on trumpet, Kenny Abair on guitar, and Joe Singleton on trombone.
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2LP
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SF 131LP
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This double LP of instrumental Hindustani, Carnatic and folk 78rpm shellac records from India comes with a full color 12-page insert of gramophone record ephemera, shops, labels, manufacturing details and graphics. The LPs feature over 25 artists recorded between 1904 and 1959 playing a panoply of instruments: jalatarang, dilruba, sarod, clarionet, pakhawaj, violin, been, kazoo, shehnai, tabla, sarangi, sitar, vina and more. Artists include Imdad Khan (the first sitarist ever recorded), Ahmedjan Thirkhawa, Bundu Khan, Amir Hussain, Allauddin Khan (who taught Ravi Shankar), and others both forgotten and revered. The Indian classical instrumental tradition is one of incredible proficiency and expressiveness using instruments and techniques created over generations that seem to perfectly and uniquely compliment Indian culture, landscape and tradition. Sympathetic strings resonate inside sitars and sarangis to manifest shimmering reverberant spiritual spaces; horns, reeds and flutes extend the range, volume and melodic inventiveness of the voice; a mind-boggling array of elaborately turned percussion instruments allow for rhythms as complex or as simple as the flowing Ganges River. Classical music in India was perhaps at its height during the 78rpm period as the raj era was ending and the world was globalizing. 2LP gatefold with 12-page full color booklet insert. Produced by Robert Millis (Climax Golden Twins/Victrola Favorites) and features never reissued recordings and is the long-anticipated follow up to the Indian Talking Machine book/CD (Sublime Frequencies 099), which was also produced by Millis from his collection of 78rpm records and ephemera.
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LP
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VL 900051LP
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2025 restock. Although Warhol, who was listed as producer on the album, allegedly gave the Velvets free reign over their sound, it was on his insistence that Nico performed on this album. However, this does not detract from the fact that when this album was made the Red Sea parted, and the Velvet Underground crossed into the Promised Land. Deluxe gatefold jacket with peeling banana and "Chelsea Girls" bonus track on B5
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LP
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WRJ 002LP
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2026 repress. "Regular edition" on 140 gram vinyl. We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records' new sister-label) present the official reissue of criminally overlooked Japanese jazz gem Mellow Dream by Hokkaido pianist wunderkind Ryo Fukui, originally released in 1977. Released in conjunction with the its legendary predecessor 1976's Scenery (WRJ 001CD/LP/LTD-LP). Firmly standing on the foundation he laid down with Scenery, Ryo Fukui continues his exploration of modal, bop, and cool jazz sounds with meticulous grace and absolute mastery. As its title suggests, Mellow Dream ventures into slightly mellower, more soulful, and sometimes more contemplative territories (the Bill Evans-reminiscent "Mellow Dream" and "My Foolish Heart") while still packing the commanding punch Fukui's work is loved for, as heard on the amazingly bombastic "Baron Potato Blues" or the gigantic McCoy Tyner/John Coltrane-influenced "Horizon" which sees each member of the trio -- Satoshi Denpo is on bass and Yoshinori Fukui is on drums -- demonstrating their virtuosity for nine exhilarating minutes. With his sophomore album, Ryo Fukui swings from melancholy to vibrant joy with ease, and reminds you that jazz is best served with a pinch of blues, and displays an immensely rare combination of pure talent, unique personal approach and focused discipline. The man undeniably deserves a spot in the pantheon of all-time great jazz pianists. After releasing the outstanding Scenery and Mellow Dream back-to-back, Ryo Fukui worked on developing his live skills, often performing at Sapporo's Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui), and even releasing two live albums. He sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that all jazz lovers should explore. Sourced from the original masters. Mastered at half speed; 140 gram vinyl; includes sticker.
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LP
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MR 498LP
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For some strange reason -- surely related to the country's extreme conditions, its high altitude, and the influence of huayno -- Bolivian recordings are truly unique and fascinating. A multitude of bands sprang up under the influence of groups -- mainly British -- that dominated the international charts. From the ashes of two of Bolivia's most important seminal bands, Los Black Byrds and The Turtles, two new groups fundamental to the history of Bolivian rock would be born: the mythical Climax and the legendary Loving Darks. Los Amantes Oscuros brings together for the first time on vinyl the recordings this band made between 1968 and 1969, originally released across three EPs on the local Lyra label. Their repertoire is packed with covers such as "El Adivino," a sped-up reinterpretation of "Fortune Teller," or even "Algo de títere," a reworking of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." They also adapt the classic "Call Me" by Tony Hatch and "Toad" by Cream, from whom they borrow the cover of one of their most iconic albums for the artwork of their EP Complicado. In fact, "Complicado" -- a proto-punk version of the Rolling Stones' "Complicated" and their signature track -- is a perfect example of how a Bolivian band could outdo the British giants in attitude and power. Their importance lies in having paved the way for new sounds, styles, and aesthetics within a still-emerging scene. This compilation is a joint release with the Peruvian label Rey Record and includes an insert with notes on the band's history. First time vinyl reissue.
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LP
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LR 130LP
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2026 repress. The undisputed leaders of the early gothic scene, and a seminal band that contributed to the rise of British post-punk, The Cure recorded their debut album Three Imaginary Boys at London's Morgan Studios and released it in May 1979. After touring for almost all of 1977, the band changed their name to The Cure and rearranged their line-up with the sacking of Porl Thompson, giving birth to an unusual power trio. This line-up lasted only for their first album, making it unique in its essentially minimal sound. The year was now 1978, and the three (imaginary?) boys soon signed to Chris Parry's Fiction Label.
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DOC 144LP
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2025 repress. Akira Ifukube's mighty score to the legendary monster movie that started it all, Godzilla! Ifukube's visionary music is super dark reflecting the horror of Ishiro Honda's film. This incredible score music alternates between brass and strings as we witness the death and destruction that comes in Godzilla's wake.
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2LP
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AU 1001LP
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2026 restock. "The compilation that started the renaissance. In 2002 Audika Records entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the estate of Arthur Russell to compile and issue previously unreleased and out of print material from Arthur's vast archive. This first album Calling Out of Context, features 12 previously unreleased tracks of Buddhist Bubblegum Alt Disco Pop recorded during Arthur's prime years 1985-90."
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CD
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AX 060CD
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A major milestone in the history of electronic music, Jeff Mills' legendary Live at Liquid Room, recorded in 1995 in Tokyo, is widely regarded as one of the greatest DJ mixes of all time. A true techno anthology, this set made history with its boldness and intensity, inspiring generations of DJs and producers around the world. To celebrate the album's 30th anniversary, Jeff Mills presents this reissue of the iconic live recording. Featuring Surgeon, Joey Beltram, Millsart, DJ Funk, DJ Joe T. Vanellis, Csilla, Wicked Wipe, Circuit Breaker, iO, Joey Beltram, Club MCM, Claude Young, The Advent, Rhythim Is Rhythim, Ken Ishii, Damon Wild, X-102, H&M, The Shadow, Dan Morgan, and Hell & Jonzon.
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LP
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AKENAT 006LP
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Volume 2 of this series focused on the amazing sonic treasures Bollywood music has to offer. This second volume is centered on the incredible instrumental gems that populate Hindi cinema soundtracks. 14 tracks of pure Bollywood instrumental genius to continue the dive into the mind-blowing world of Hindi cinema music. Covering a time span of three decades, this compilation mixes well-known names with lesser-known talents from the endlessly thrilling vaults of Hindi movie soundtracks and throws a couple of delicious covers for a truly unforgettable sonic experience. Includes liner notes. Featuring Charanjit Singh, R.D. Burman, Sapan & Jagmohan, Raghunath Seth, Chic Chocolate, S. D. Burman, Van Shipley, Kalyanji Anandji, O.P. Nayyar, Govind Naresh, Usha Khanna, S. Hazarasingh, Babla & His Orchestra, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
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LP
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BE 1011LP
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For more than three decades, Go Hirano has developed a quietly enthralling sound world on the peripheries of the Japanese underground. Emerging in the 1990s, Hirano released three albums with the revered PSF Records label and established himself as an artist with a unique sense of melody and atmosphere that was both entrancing and intimate. His work, largely recorded at home and in the field, de-emphasized technical perfection in favor of an unvarnished immediacy that imbued the quiet moments of daily life with a dreamlike splendor. On The Habit, Hirano brings together recordings that span decades of his playing the piano and other instruments on a daily basis. The core of the album was recorded in 2020 at Pianola Records in Tokyo, while other pieces draw from recordings dating as far back as the late 1980s. Through this span of years, a coherent vision emerges, marked by patient, subtle engagement with repetition, space, and resonance. Hirano works with a restrained palette -- piano, pianica, wind chime, percussion, and synthesizer -- to develop simple melodic figures that gradually shift in harmony and texture. Spacious piano chords expand through soft synthesizer tones. Near-imperceptible rhythmic frameworks intertwine with tranquil phrases that drift and merge with the sounds of the world around them. This synthesis of music and the environment in which it is created is critical to Hirano's approach. Rather than isolating the music from its surroundings, he embraces the atmosphere of the moment, the room in which each piece is played, capturing the subtle sounds and artifacts of the artist's daily experience and the surrounding natural world. For Hirano, these "imperfections" are pathways to vibrant, living expression. While he may share affinities with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Yoshimura, and even Brian Eno, Hirano's dedication to "initial, unadorned expression" and processing the environment through his own particular filter sets him apart. The Habit reveals a meditative, melodic language unfolding over the decades and within the many spaces of a life in music marked by a unique warmth and beauty. Co-released with Conatala label, Japan. Mastered by Makoto Oshiro. Lacquers cut by Rashad Becker, Clunk Studio, Berlin. Pressed at Optimal Media, Germany. Artwork by Yukiko Ikeda. Design by Rob Carmichael, SEEN. Produced by Peter Kolovos, Conatala, and Rie Hirano.
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2LP
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OP 031LP
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2026 repress. Pomegranates -- Nicolás Jaar's unofficial/alternative soundtrack to Sergei Parajanov's 1969 film The Color of Pomegranates -- was first released in 2015, and to highlight the 10-year anniversary Other People is reissuing the album on vinyl, with the first edition (a collaboration with the label Mana) having long been out of print. Longer and slower-releasing than his other albums, Pomegranates often parallels the cinematic epic on which it's based, with ideas pursued over long timelines and across dark landscapes, assembling elements and moods from the aesthetic and folkloric landscapes of Armenia. Jaar's identity is perceived within this, folding in his heritage as Palestinian and Chilean as he attempts to build a musical architecture outwards that frames as much of the mess and sprawl of life as possible; using a language that investigates the movement and fluctuation of his own artistic career and character similarly to the film's tracing of the coming of age of the young poet, Sayat-Nova. At times, Pomegranates feels profoundly intimate, as though looking through the archive of a friend's music and discovering the accent and common currency that lives within each of these tracks. Much of Jaar's most elegant and touching melodic work is nestled here, its power residing in its simplicity and willingness to speak to the heart and not the mind of the listener. In the text document included in the first freely distributed version of the album in 2015, Jaar writes that the album was conceived during a moment of change, and that the pomegranate became an icon that heralded that passage of time. The physical publication of Pomegranates closes one door whilst opening another, keeping promises and marking a significant point in the career of an artist who restlessly reinvents himself, with a document that illustrates a common language of lyricism, freedom, and emotional resonance linking his many paths and projects.
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2LP
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JIAOLONG 034LP
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Double LP version. Daphni's fourth studio album Butterfly at first picks up where his last album, 2022's Cherry left off. Though a sizeable gap for Daphni releases, between Cherry and Butterfly however of course sits Honey, the latest Caribou album and one that saw the more instantaneous and dancefloor leaning traits of Daphni peaking through the cracks more than ever before. This blurring of the lines leads to an intriguing collaboration in Butterfly's lead single "Waiting So Long" (feat. Caribou). An unlikely duo -- in that both artists are the same man, Dan Snaith -- it is not so much an identity crisis, ego trip, or the result of a chemical spill in the Snaith laboratory. It's simply a track that Snaith felt for the first time belongs to both aliases, and might appeal to fans of both. Daphni music has always been Snaith's way of hitting directly to the core of the dancefloors he spends so much of his time playing to, and those dancefloors have been steadily expanding as his name grows, with the music following suit. This album however also draws from further back with a definite kinship to the very first Daphni album, the invigorating bag of ideas that was Jiaolong. Butterfly is a showcase of the wonderful variety and surprising twists and turns that made that album such an exciting new prospect and that still to this day make Snaith such an intriguing DJ. There are more heavy hitters here, tracks that fill those dancefloors better than anyone, like "Clap Your Hands" which picks up the energy of "Sad Piano House" and flips it, exposing the gritty and intoxicating underbelly of Snaith's hitmaking side, while retaining the playful urgency that runs through all of his work of late. Meanwhile "Hang"'s comic-strip horns are unpinned by gleeful force, unrelenting and thrillingly unshakeable. Elsewhere though comes a clutch of other tunes that might creep out somewhere more off the beaten path, a path Snaith has never stopped seeking in amongst his larger billings. "Lucky" is squirmy and elusively intoxicating, "Invention" skitters down meandering, inviting corridors, "Talk To Me" grumbles and broods in the murk, and "Miles Smiles" could roll on endlessly, so confident in its groove. Right from the inception of the Daphni alias, the thrill of trying stuff out, pushing at the boundaries has always been there and on Butterfly is present in all its twists and turns.
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LP
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GUESS 287LP
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Part-time farmer/musician Oliver Chaplin is the person behind one of the rarest private pressings from the UK. His cult masterpiece Standing Stone was recorded in early 1974 at a remote farm in Wales, using a portable 4-track Teac reel-to-reel machine. Helped by his brother Chris at the controls (an experienced BBC engineer who had worked on Syd Barrett sessions), surrounded by animals and "smaller winged creatures," Oliver sang and played acoustic and electric guitars filtered through tape echo, distortion and multi-tracking, creating a very unique sound, a kind of DIY mutant-psychedelic-blues (think Captain Beefheart) which sounded years ahead of its time. Despite the lo-fi nature of the recording, the sound quality is amazing and timeless. Only 250 copies of the album were pressed and it even caught the attention of the Virgin label, who were interested in distribution but Oliver finally refused their offer. Musicians like JJ Cale expressed interest in Oliver's music, inviting him to a jam session but in the end, Oliver decided he was not interested in the music business and left Wales to travel around Europe. He remains a kind of a mysterious figure and Guerssen now offers a new, long-awaited reissue of Standing Stone, sanctioned by the artist.
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2LP
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KYNEX 005LP
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Legendary dub techno artist Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) presents this new collaborative album, marking ten years of Kynant Records. Building on the success of Paul St. Hilaire's landmark solo album for Richard Akingbehin's label Kynant in 2023, w/ The Producers switches up the formula to pair St. Hilaire's with a different producer on each track. Referencing fellow dub techno pioneers Mark Ernestus & Moritz von Oswald's acclaimed album w/ The Artists as Rhythm & Sound, St. Hilaire flips the concept to feature as the lone vocalist. Over the album's nine tracks, St. Hilaire offers a range of conscious song-writing and headtop musings, such as the spoken-word dread of "What's This" or the sparse call-to-action of "Send Them On." The record weaves through all shades of contemporary dub evolutions, showing the vocal range and versatility of St. Hilaire. w/ The Producers is yet another essential record in St. Hilaire's unmatched discography. w/ The Producers finds Kynant Records bridging the original voice of dub techno with the genre's new wave. It's a statement of intent from the label, which began with deep, hypnotic techno and has veered gradually towards more dubwise sounds.
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LP
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MR 329LP
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2026 restock. LP version with a 12-page full-color booklet with extensive notes and unseen photos. "With only six singles released between 1965 and 1966, and from an apparently remote place such as Lima, Peru, Los Saicos created a raw, wild and visceral sound, the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of the garage rock that was coming out of the U.S. Northwest at the same time. Theirs is the same DNA shared by The Sonics, The Cramps and Black Lips. This release compiles all their recordings and tells their amazing story. This snarling maelstrom of nihilism was cut in Lima when the rest of the world was wetting itself over The Beatles, direct links to both The Stooges and The Cramps here and several more equally-enthralling combos. The latter spawned several generations of individuals who would dig deep to previously (mostly) unheard seams of music and other forms of culture that have since become part of the mainstream fabric. Another strong case of the same kind of happenstance to my mind is that which preceded the much-vaunted 'punk' explosion of the '70s." --Lindsay Hutton
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LP
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AALP 2784LP
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Sugar Minott -- a Jamaican artist who came on the scene in the late '60s who impacted the blueprints for the rise of the dancehall style music worked for Studio One, Exterminator, and many others. An artist who was affiliated with many labels. Here he is, produced by P. Burrell. Fine yardstyle dubs and melodies. Personnel: Dean Fraser - horns; Robbie Shakespeare - bass; Sly Dunbar - drums; D Dennis - keyboard; Stephen "Cat" Collin's - guitar.
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CD
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CSR 362CD
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The first time on any format for Pier Paolo Pasolini's controversial 1975 vision of the Marquis De Sade's 120 Days Of Sodom, featuring beautiful and discordant classical compositions, in stark contrast to the shocking and cruel events unfolding onscreen. Three weeks before the scandalous release of Salò, or The 120 Days Of Sodom, Pasolini was brutally murdered in Ostia, Italy. In the wake of the tragedy, legendary composer Ennio Morricone wrote "Addio a Pier Paolo Pasolini" (Goodbye to Pier Paolo Pasolini) for the late filmmaker, included in the final edit. Following the narrative of one of Pasolini's defining cinematic moments, the soundtrack opens with Ennio Morricone's "Son Tanto Triste," descends into the melancholic minor chords of Bach, Chopin, Orff, Puccini, and Graziosi, incorporates sinister renditions by the cast, and includes Morricone's own somber tribute to the director. Disgusted by the flood of crass sexploitation movies which filled the space opened up by his Trilogy Of Life, Pasolini turned to the most nihilistic thinker in European history for what became his final film. His version of De Sade's 120 Days Of Sodom, amplified with motifs from Dante's Inferno, confronts the ultimate implications of fascism in a series of sexual and moral atrocities. CD comes in matt-laminate gatefold ecopak. Limited LP edition of 500 copies on blood red vinyl in gatefold matt-laminate sleeve (CSR 362LP).
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LP
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WWSLP 092LP
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2026 repress. LP version. Wewantsounds presents Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic LP Coda, issued in Japan in 1983 as a solo piano version of the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence soundtrack. The album, which has never been released outside of Japan until now, sees Sakamoto on acoustic piano reinterpreting fascinating versions of his famous soundtrack including the classic theme and "Germination," which was later used in the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack. This reissue has been remastered by Seigen Ono's Saidera Mastering studio in Tokyo and boasts the original artwork plus a four-page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta. When the film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence hit the cinema in Summer 1983, it was a worldwide instant success, due in no small parts to its renowned director, Nagisa Oshima, and to its superb cast including David Bowie, Takeshi Kitano, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The latter, fresh from his success with Yellow Magic Orchestra and a thriving nascent solo career, was also enrolled to compose the score of the film. The soundtrack was released at the same time as the film in summer 1983. It became equally successful and made the Japanese composer a global icon as the instrumental theme became an instant classic all around the world and also Sakamoto's signature track from then on. That same year, his Japanese label decided to release an exclusive cassette book as the format was getting popular in Japan. The project, called Avec Piano, featured an audio cassette together with a beautiful 80-page book including illustrations and texts by various designers and writers. As for the music, Sakamoto re-recorded the Merry Christmas soundtrack on solo piano at the Onkyo Haus studio in Tokyo. This version of the theme which Sakamoto would re-record many times, is therefore the first ever recorded solo piano version of the composition. The cassette book's success led to an LP release a few months later under a new title, Coda, and with a different artwork by Japanese designer Tsuguya Inoue. The original orchestrated theme "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" was dropped, replaced by two new tracks, "Japan" and "Coda," recorded a couple of years earlier in 1981 and featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto's blend of ethereal ambient soundscapes and modern electronics. Coda is quintessential Ryuichi Sakamoto and an essential album in the Japanese composer's discography.
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LP
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CT 085LP
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2026 repress; reissue of the 1976 historic collaboration between producer instrumentalist Augustus Pablo and dub engineer King Tubby.
"If you had to pick one album that best represents the pinnacle of the art of dub, you'd cull the candidates down pretty quickly to ten or 12, and it would get very difficult after that. Few would fault you for ending up with this one, though, which stands as perhaps the finest collaboration between two of instrumental reggae's leading lights: producer and melodica player Augustus Pablo and legendary dub pioneer King Tubby. Among other gems, this album offers its title track -- a dub version of Jacob Miller's 'Baby I Love You So'-- which is widely regarded as the finest example of dub ever recorded. But the rest of the album is hardly less impressive. 'Each One Dub', another cut on a Jacob Miller rhythm, possesses the same dark and mystical ambience, if not quite the same emotional energy, as 'King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown,' and the version of the epochal 'Satta Massaganna' that closes the album is another solid winner. Pablo's trademark 'Far East' sound (characterized by minor keys and prominent melodica lines) is predominant throughout, and is treated with care and grace by King Tubby, who has rarely sounded more inspired in his studio manipulations than he does here. Absolutely essential." --Rick Anderson, All Music
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2LP
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BJR 120LP
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Double LP version. Following Léve Léve Vol. 1, this second volume continues a long-term exploration of the popular music of São Tomé and Príncipe, with a clear focus on rhythm, movement and dancefloor energy. Curated by Tom B., Léve Léve Vol. 2 brings together emblematic recordings from the 1970s and 1980s, carefully restored and remastered, designed as much for close listening as for DJ use. The compilation deepens and completes the first volume by returning to key groups such as Sangazuza, Conjunto Equador, Africa Negra, and Pedro Lima, while also unveiling previously unreleased or hard-to-find tracks. Across the record, puxa and socopê rhythms unfold with remarkable intensity, capturing these bands at the height of their powers: tight arrangements, driving grooves and a strong sense of collective momentum. Beyond celebration, Léve Léve Vol. 2 also reflects a precise cultural and political context. Several songs reference Luso-African independence struggles, spirituality, love and everyday life, anchoring this music in a history shaped by resistance, circulation and hybridization. Recorded in São Tomé, Luanda or Lisbon -- often with the involvement of key figures from the Lusophone diaspora -- these tracks reveal a modern musical landscape that has long remained under-documented. Conceived as a living record rather than a static archival object, this compilation speaks equally to DJs and curious listeners. It once again affirms Bongo Joe's approach: bringing powerful, popular and complex music back into circulation, without nostalgia or exoticism, and making it fully present today. Also featuring Sum Alvarinho, Tiny das Neves e Conjunto Sol d'África, Conjunto Mindelo, Bulawê N'Guli Fala, Quinta das Palmeiras, and Os Úntuès.
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LP
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BEWITH 158LP
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2025 repress. Known principally as a smooth titan of blue-eyed soul, Bobby Caldwell transcended genre tags with consummate ease; he was a musical icon of real class and versatility, cherished the world over. His double platinum self-titled album from 1978 is a timeless masterpiece of sophisticated jazzy soul brilliance and is strictly canonical. Whilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as "Mr California", native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been "Mr AOR" to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted. Bobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of his eponymous album will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans -- and soul music enthusiasts worldwide -- can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest quality at Record Industry in Holland.
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LP
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WWSLP 081LP
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2026 restock; LP version. A stylish selection of jazz-funk from Japanese label Electric Bird, selected by DJ Notoya and featuring Yasuaki Shimizu, Shunzo Ohno, Bobby Lyle, Toshiyuki Honda, Mikio Masuda, David Matthews, and Ronnie Foster. Following the success of the Tokyo Glow compilation, Wewantsounds once again teams up with Japanese Tokyo-based DJ Notoya to dig the rich Electric Bird catalogue and come with a versatile selection of sunny jazz-funk gems recorded between 1978 and 1987 for the label. Most tracks make their vinyl debut outside of Japan and the album has been designed by Optigram/Manuel Sepulveda and is annotated by DJ Notoya. Audio newly remastered in Tokyo by King Records. A sub-label from the venerable Japanese label King Records, Electric Bird was set up in 1977 to cater for the booming Nippon jazz funk audience that King -- as the Japanese licensee for such US jazz labels at Blue Note or CTI -- had grown for years. Taking advantage of their experience and the many contacts King had garnered through their American partners, Electric Bird, headed by in-house producer Shigeyuki Kawashima, decided to apply the same formula to their new label. Kawashima began signing a new wave of jazz musicians from Japan, putting them in state-of-the-art Tokyo or New York studios and backing them with the best American and Japanese players in order to shape the slick, sun-drenched jazz funk sound that would be Electric Bird's signature sound. With Funk Tide, DJ Notoya aimed at showcasing the diversity of the label's output, from the funky opener "In The Sky" by Trumpeter Shunzo Ohno to the sunshine mid-tempo groove of sax player Toshiyuki Honda's "Living in a City" featuring Paulinho Da Costa on perc via Mikio Masuda's Fender Rhodes-infected "Let's Get Together." One of Funk Tide's highlights is certainly Katsutoshi Morizono's "Space Traveller" from 1978, a remake of James Vincent's eponymous cult classic recorded two years before with some of Earth Wind And Fire's musicians and which has since become a favorite on the groove scene. Faithful to Vincent's beautiful laid-back, breezy original, Morizono's rendition add its own spice to it, and ending Notoya's skilled selection of the cutting-edge Electric Bird label on a perfect note.
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