New Releases for January 2008

Index of New Releases for January 2008

12K

Artist:	WILLITS + SAKAMOTO
Title:	Ocean Fire
Label:	12K
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	12K 046CD

"Christopher Willits and Ryuichi Sakamoto's new release, Ocean Fire, is a sublime soundtrack for the ocean. It is an intense and stirring wash of cascading tones and textured harmony. Willits + Sakamoto surprise with rare form in this collaboration, creating a sound world unlike anything they have produced previously. Each artist has gently pulled the other into new sonic territory. Sakamoto's gorgeous processed piano sound reflects Willits' beautiful shimmering clusters of notes, a new aspect of Willits' pioneering guitar/computer approach. Together, their sounds merge effortlessly, creating deep and seamless swells of gigantic melodic waves. Ocean Fire was recorded live at Sakamoto's studio in NYC in spring 2006. The improvisations found their final form through some further editing in the months to come, and final mastering by Clayx in Berlin. We hear the artists exploring their relationship to each other, new sounds, and the ocean's boundless force and importance. This release is dedicated to the healing and restoration of our fragile oceans. Sakamoto is a living legend in music. His numerous releases in YMO, and his Grammy award-winning solo work has inspired two generations of fans and artists. Christopher Willits is a young talented artist who has shown he can do just about anything. In the late-'90s Willits began integrating his guitar playing with unique custom digital processing, and has since been instrumental in redefining the sound palette of the guitar. Overlapping all forms of music, sound, and visual art, Willits' work defies genre and retains a presence of its own. 12k is proud to release this work that pairs one of its core artists with a legendary composer."

ALIEN8 RECORDINGS (CANADA)

Artist:	SHALABI, SAM
Title:	Eid
Label:	ALIEN8 RECORDINGS (CANADA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	ALIEN 074CD

"Sam Shalabi's third solo outing for Alien8, Eid, was written and conceived in Cairo, Egypt in 2006 while Shalabi was living there and further realized in Montreal and Vancouver during the first half of 2007. The album is a result of two separate ideas that slowly coalesced over a couple of years. The first was Shalabi's idea of composing songs for singers he knew and enjoyed. The second idea was that of creating a 'modern Arabic pop' record. It was during the time that Shalabi was living in Cairo that he came to the realization that Arabic pop music was much more wild, wide and weird than he had imagined and this also had a huge influence on this recording. Over time Shalabi became less interested in trying to make pop songs and more interested in allowing the material to take its own shape. Upon listening to Eid, it becomes clear how Shalabi was influenced by the wide breadth of Arabic pop music: each piece is stylistically its own and allowed to take its own shape. The recording opens with a beautifully played piece of Shalabi's solo oud playing that gives one the impression they are in store for a gentle acoustic journey. Gears shift drastically with the follow-up track 'Jessica Simpson,' which can also be considered one of the recording's most interesting and unusual selections. Guest vocalist Radwon Moumneh does an excellent job delivering his vocals over repetitious percussion; then a totally unexpected Guitar Hero-style solo slips in out of nowhere. Sam Shalabi enlists the help of far too many guests to list here, although among the standout contributions is that of singer/songwriter Lhasa de Sela who has a thriving solo career and has collaborated with the likes of the Tindersticks and Nick Cave. Constellation Records recording artist Elizabeth Anka Vajajick sings on 'Billy The Kid' and Katie Moore is absolutely stunning on 'Billy The Kid Pt. II.' This will mark our ninth release with Shalabi, not including his efforts in various projects as a guest or studio musician."

AMISH RECORDS

Artist:	HALL OF FAME
Title:	First Came Love, Then Came the Tree...
Label:	AMISH RECORDS
Format:	LP+CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	AMI 028LP

"New York City's Hall of Fame's second album First Came Love, Then Came the Tree... was recorded by Nicolas Verhnes on an island in Long Island Sound in 1998 at a time when the group was at the top of their form. The year after the release of their debut album saw the release of an Amish Records single and the band play shows with Tower Recordings, Ghost, The Major Stars and others. The album was originally released in 1999 on CD only (currently out-of-print) and Amish is pleased to offer (for the first time on vinyl) a limited edition deluxe LP version. The LP also comes with a bonus CD- R of a live set recorded at the short-lived Louisville venue, The Mercury Paw from 1998 right after First Came Love, then Came the Tree... was recorded."

ART-ERRORIST (GERMANY)

Artist:	FAUST & NURSE WITH WOUND
Title:	Disconnected
Label:	ART-ERRORIST (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	DIS 107CD

"Faust was among the most adventurous and creative German bands of the '70s, and after disappearing for a decade and a half, they reunited in the '90s and made several startlingly good albums. Today, drummer Werner 'Zappi' Diermaier and bassist Jean-Hervé Peron are the only original members, joined by Amaury Cambuzat from the band Ulan Bator. Nurse With Wound, formed three decades ago, is the brainchild of Steven Stapleton, now augmented with Colin Potter. NWW recordings are notoriously varied, often sprawling, haunting, and strange, with a love of musique concrète and disquieting sounds. Disconnected features four songs, each over ten minutes long. The opener 'Lass Mich' uses an audio collage technique, often employed by both bands, and it's closest in spirit to Faust's first self-titled album and The Faust Tapes, as ideas emerge and fade and sound snippets are juxtaposed with vocal samples. A drum beat starts with a heavy one-note bass line, and the track gradually gets more chaotic with squeaks, a looped drone of strings, and a mysterious voice asking, 'Hallo?' The tracks 'It Will Take Time' and 'Disconnected' are reminiscent of NWW's lengthy Soliloquy For Lilith, which featured modulating tones created by the hum of effects processors in a feedback loop; they're hypnotizing, zone-out songs. 'Tu m'entends?' is also trance inducing, but more elements are present, such as hand drums, faint echoing electronic squeals, and continually ramping tones. Overall, this is one of the least rock-oriented, and most bizarre Faust albums." Regular, non-limited version, with 4 tracks.

ASH INTERNATIONAL (UK)

Artist:	KABUKABU & KLEZMER CHIDESCH
Title:	The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland National Anthem #3 & 4
Label:	ASH INTERNATIONAL (UK)
Format:	7"
Price:	$7.00
Catalog #:	ASH 7.4EP

These recordings were regally made on October 21, 2006, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin at the opening of the Elgaland-Vargaland Embassy for Germany in the presence of the Kings, Michael I and Leif I, Consul Hans Ulrich Obrist (who made the inauguration speech) and the KREV Ambassador, Bernd M. Scherer. This 7" is the second in a series of vinyl acoustic versions of the National Anthems of Elgaland-Vargaland. "Kabukabu" is explosive Afro-beat, while "Klezmer Chidesch" is pure, heart-moving Klezmer.

BE AS ONE (ISRAEL)

Artist:	ABRIL, GEL
Title:	Very Wrong
Label:	BE AS ONE (ISRAEL)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	BAO 004EP

"Gel Abril is making a name for himself in all things freaky and twisted. Chosen by Israel talent Shlomi Aber as his official remixer for his latest OVUM best-selling release, Gel produced this new single especially for Shlomi's imprint Be As One. Gel brings us into a twisted atmosphere with 'Very Wrong,' an amazing track with an obscure, relentless bass line sustaining a tripped-out melody line; an astounding piece of tech-house at its best, already destined to be one of the anthems of this summer 2007. On the flip-side, Cocoon rising star Chaim gives a different twist to the tune, bringing it into techno territories and pumping grooves. After the collaboration with his Israeli compatriot Guy Gerber and his hit 'Genesis' on Cocoon, we have no doubt about the quality of the products coming from Chaim's studio. Completing the B-side is Patrick Zigon, another rising talent whose portfolio already features releases on labels such as Cocoon, Traum, Trapez, Missive and others. Patrick's mix delivers a perfect German interpretation of the original and keeps the legs shaking with the melody line, smartly adapted to a more minimal groove. A perfect closer for this release that tries to appeal to many different tastes, from the-tech house lovers to the more minimal/techno-oriented DJs."

BECAUSE MUSIC (FRANCE)

Artist:	LES RITA MITSOUKO
Title:	Variety Remixes
Label:	BECAUSE MUSIC (FRANCE)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	BEC 5772136

"Les Rita Mitsouko get lifted! On the A-side, Kap Bambino (duo formed by south of France-based Orion Bouvier and Caroline Martial) add to the catchy pop song 'Ding Dang Dong' some incisive rhythms, defying classification. On the flip, Daniel Wang (Balihu/Environ) on the remix duty (for the song 'So Called Friend') focuses on melody and texture rather than trendy production techniques or uninspired samples. His remix as always strongly echoes disco from the 1970s and '80s, Mr. Wang's modern touches added. An instrumental version of his remix is included too, for those who think French lyrics cannot fit dancefloors. This is a nice & worth-the-money package, much more than just a LTD700 collector!"

Artist:	SYD MATTERS
Title:	Everything Else EP
Label:	BECAUSE MUSIC (FRANCE)
Format:	10"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	BEC 5772184

"The Parisian Jonathan Morali, alias Syd Matters, came from nowhere to make a big impression with his first two spellbinding albums. Syd has since won over both critics and the general public. Syd experiences a strange sense of joy, feels incredibly present and at the same time as if he were floating. Since the very beginning, what has been so astonishing is the artistry of his songwriting, his airy, dream-like, dense style, and his unique touch that you recognize immediately. Putting it differently, we could say Syd Matters belongs to a European middle class in decline, and this would explain why he is so melancholic. But he is also part of an active minority that has chosen to distance itself from society's greedy, empty show. A minority that prefers the desire of abstinence to forced orgasms. This is Syd Matters' path to a bright future -- and it starts right here."

BEDROOM COMMUNITY (ICELAND)

BELOW (GERMANY)

Artist:	KREON
Title:	Shake N Make EP
Label:	BELOW (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BELOW 016EP

"Kreon, still known for his hi-quality output on such labels like Resopal or Bechosen, now with another outstanding track on our label Below. In the CD players and proofed by our friends, this is a rocksolidpeaktimekillyourbrainfreakoutsuperdupasexmachine track and we think as soon as the horn starts to play everybody on the dancefloor should have a margarita in his hand -- hasta luego. Reboot, our man from Havana, switches the original in a remix with this typical long building up hands in the air atmosphere, where every sound takes the crowd to another euphoric moment -- yes, it's groooooovy."

BPITCH CONTROL (GERMANY)

Artist:	KLOCK, BEN
Title:	October
Label:	BPITCH CONTROL (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	BPC 165EP

Cold, dark seasons may come, but Ben Klock has the remedy: forcing you onto the dancefloor until sweat drops down your forehead. "October" houses a groovy beat that pounds constantly for 9 minutes, until the hi-hats come in to give some relief. "Similarity" features a bass line that slowly purls into the 7-minute long tune. The hi-hat pushes everything forward and forward. This track is a must on every MP3 player while going downhill on icy slopes.

BUREAU B (GERMANY)

Artist:	VA
Title:	Achtung! German Grooves
Label:	BUREAU B (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	BB 008CD

...20 Instrumental Dancefloor Killers from the 60s and 70s. The rehabilitation of German popular musicians continues with this new compilation from the Bureau B label, Hamburg's purveyors of quality music. Achtung! German Grooves brings together wild rare grooves, slick funk workouts, sleazy soul beats, wah-wah guitars, Fender-Rhodes, Hammond organs, meaty drum breaks, snappy horn sections -- everything the easygoing '60s and '70s had to offer. Although many of these musicians' first love was jazz and traditional big band, earning some pocket money demanded they create some kicky burners for the groovy dancefloor crowd. Alongside orchestral greats like James Last, Max Greger, Peter Thomas and Ambros Seelos, a number of lesser-known, but nonetheless exciting musicians take a deserved bow. Other artists include: Ady Zehnpfennig, Gerhard Narholz, Hans Haider, Don Kelly Band, Kai Warner And His Orchestra, Theo Schumann Combo, Henry Arland, Heinz Kiessling, Orchester Günter Gollasch, Pete Jacques, Hans Ehrlinger And His Orchestra, Catch Up, Helmut Zacharias, Roberto Delgado, Berry Lipman and Orchester Walter Kubiczek.

Index of New Releases for January Next Page

Artist:	SAMAMIDON
Title:	All Is Well
Label:	BEDROOM COMMUNITY (ICELAND)
Format:	LP
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	HVALUR 004LP