SDBAN ULTRA - Forced Exposure

$15.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/31/2025

With their new album, Black Flower delves into the transformative power of rhythm and motion. Each groove, rhythm and pulse channels raw energy, acting as a disruptor that drives transformation. When the mind feels stuck -- cemented in patterns, rigid in its views, overwhelmed by obstacles -- Kinetic serves as a reminder that the body's motion can be the force to shatter those confines. To move is to adapt, evolve, and transform. The album embodies a philosophy of flowing with change rather than resisting it, offering a bold, dynamic statement on breaking free from life's limitations. Kinetic is a call to dance through life's chaos and to harness the power of movement as a tool for liberation. The album showcases Black Flower's signature blend of Ethio-jazz, oriental influences, dub, and afrobeat. The jazz combo, hailed by tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, The Gaslamp Killer, and Lefto Early Bird, has performed live sessions on BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM. Their previous albums earned widespread acclaim, with glowing reviews from prestigious publications such as MOJO, Stereogum, Q Magazine, and Uncut Magazine. The band has toured extensively across Europe, building a strong fanbase. Featuring Meskerem Mees.

$28.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/31/2025

LP version. With their new album, Black Flower delves into the transformative power of rhythm and motion. Each groove, rhythm and pulse channels raw energy, acting as a disruptor that drives transformation. When the mind feels stuck -- cemented in patterns, rigid in its views, overwhelmed by obstacles -- Kinetic serves as a reminder that the body's motion can be the force to shatter those confines. To move is to adapt, evolve, and transform. The album embodies a philosophy of flowing with change rather than resisting it, offering a bold, dynamic statement on breaking free from life's limitations. Kinetic is a call to dance through life's chaos and to harness the power of movement as a tool for liberation. The album showcases Black Flower's signature blend of Ethio-jazz, oriental influences, dub, and afrobeat. The jazz combo, hailed by tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, The Gaslamp Killer, and Lefto Early Bird, has performed live sessions on BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM. Their previous albums earned widespread acclaim, with glowing reviews from prestigious publications such as MOJO, Stereogum, Q Magazine, and Uncut Magazine. The band has toured extensively across Europe, building a strong fanbase. Featuring Meskerem Mees.

$34.00 IN STOCK

Double LP version. Lefto Presents Jazz Cats is back with Volume 3 and still doing what it does best: putting you in the front row of what the thriving Belgian jazz scene currently has to offer and revealing a melting pot of the musical talent coming out one of the smallest countries in Europe. Although you expect the compilation to be talking jazz, Volume 3 explores a broader array of styles, genres, and sounds than ever before, arriving at a point where the "young cats" of today don't bother no more. From the empowering and bittersweet voices of Oriana Ikomo and Adja, over the more acoustic-electronic productions of Moodprint, Ciao Kennedy, Kassius, and echofarmer. It's even expanding the Jazz Cats universe to dub and bass-heavy tracks with Kin Gajo and Le Ministère, Ethio-jazz from Azmari, while sending you back to earth with bodies' swirling sax and drums. That saxophone still rings in your ears when you end up in the orbit of the march-like drums of Bodem, Orson Claeys' piano testing your ability to follow him, slamming the breaks to go smooth cruisin' with HONEY, to crashing in a raging tempo on that last track of Bruno x Soet x Moene. Tastemaker, selector, curator, DJ and producer, these words often get mentioned when Lefto's name pops up in discussions. And rightly so. If you've ever had the pleasure to listen to one of his incredible Boiler Room sets or one of his many radio shows, you'll know why. Famed for his gloriously eclectic taste on the decks, he switches effortlessly between hip hop, funk, breaks, neck-snapping beats, future bass, South-American influences, bruk riddims, some wild African rhythms and of course, jazz.

$14.50 IN STOCK

Lefto Presents Jazz Cats is back with Volume 3 and still doing what it does best: putting you in the front row of what the thriving Belgian jazz scene currently has to offer and revealing a melting pot of the musical talent coming out one of the smallest countries in Europe. Although you expect the compilation to be talking jazz, Volume 3 explores a broader array of styles, genres, and sounds than ever before, arriving at a point where the "young cats" of today don't bother no more. From the empowering and bittersweet voices of Oriana Ikomo and Adja, over the more acoustic-electronic productions of Moodprint, Ciao Kennedy, Kassius, and echofarmer. It's even expanding the Jazz Cats universe to dub and bass-heavy tracks with Kin Gajo and Le Ministère, Ethio-jazz from Azmari, while sending you back to earth with bodies' swirling sax and drums. That saxophone still rings in your ears when you end up in the orbit of the march-like drums of Bodem, Orson Claeys' piano testing your ability to follow him, slamming the breaks to go smooth cruisin' with HONEY, to crashing in a raging tempo on that last track of Bruno x Soet x Moene. Tastemaker, selector, curator, DJ and producer, these words often get mentioned when Lefto's name pops up in discussions. And rightly so. If you've ever had the pleasure to listen to one of his incredible Boiler Room sets or one of his many radio shows, you'll know why. Famed for his gloriously eclectic taste on the decks, he switches effortlessly between hip hop, funk, breaks, neck-snapping beats, future bass, South-American influences, bruk riddims, some wild African rhythms and of course, jazz.

$15.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 4/19/2024

Emerging from the heart of Brussels, the captivating five-piece Azmari presents Maëlström. For Maelström, the follow up to their acclaimed debut album Samā'ī, the group has delved into uncharted musical territories creating a mesmerizing "azmarian" identity and melding intricate jazz textures with intoxicating oriental influences, otherworldly ethio grooves, enigmatic dark funk, and the pulsating beats of dub music. For the creation of Maëlström, Azmari embarked on an intensive one-week recording journey. During this time, they meticulously honed the sound of their instruments, blending the nostalgic notes of old-school clavinet keyboards with cutting-edge synth sounds, resulting in a distinct and alluring atmosphere. Enriching their traditional instruments with balanced pedal effects and special amplification, the band added new flavors to their sound. Founded in the vibrant musical haven of Brussels in 2015, Azmari have been crafting a truly unique tapestry of musical exploration. Azmari defies conventional labels to weave a narrative of sonic innovation and artistic liberation. Influences range from an eclectic array of artists, including Okay Temiz, Heliocentrics, Whitefield Brothers, Surprise Chef, Antibalas, and Sons of Kemet. From the band: "For the third part of our musical journey, we dug into a deeper creative process. We literally immersed ourselves in deep waters during a unique two-week aquatic residency. The tracks on this album are thus directly imbued with distinctive underwater frequencies, the sounds of abyssal creatures, and the beauty of the seabed. Convinced by this creative experience, and guided by captain (and producer) Frederik Segers, we brought this album back to the surface and reveal a resolutely scaly, sandy, and deep soundscape."

$28.50 IN STOCK

LP version. Emerging from the heart of Brussels, the captivating five-piece Azmari presents Maëlström. For Maelström, the follow up to their acclaimed debut album Samā'ī, the group has delved into uncharted musical territories creating a mesmerizing "azmarian" identity and melding intricate jazz textures with intoxicating oriental influences, otherworldly ethio grooves, enigmatic dark funk, and the pulsating beats of dub music. For the creation of Maëlström, Azmari embarked on an intensive one-week recording journey. During this time, they meticulously honed the sound of their instruments, blending the nostalgic notes of old-school clavinet keyboards with cutting-edge synth sounds, resulting in a distinct and alluring atmosphere. Enriching their traditional instruments with balanced pedal effects and special amplification, the band added new flavors to their sound. Founded in the vibrant musical haven of Brussels in 2015, Azmari have been crafting a truly unique tapestry of musical exploration. Azmari defies conventional labels to weave a narrative of sonic innovation and artistic liberation. Influences range from an eclectic array of artists, including Okay Temiz, Heliocentrics, Whitefield Brothers, Surprise Chef, Antibalas, and Sons of Kemet. From the band: "For the third part of our musical journey, we dug into a deeper creative process. We literally immersed ourselves in deep waters during a unique two-week aquatic residency. The tracks on this album are thus directly imbued with distinctive underwater frequencies, the sounds of abyssal creatures, and the beauty of the seabed. Convinced by this creative experience, and guided by captain (and producer) Frederik Segers, we brought this album back to the surface and reveal a resolutely scaly, sandy, and deep soundscape."

$14.50 IN STOCK

Two and a half years after their acclaimed last release Less Is Endless, De Beren Gieren ("The Bear Vultures") have finished their seventh full album. What Eludes Us is an ode to what escapes listeners and what they consciously want to look away from. For this new full album, the band left aside the unimaginable beauty of the Norwegian fjords and crawled into a dusty recording studio in Bergen harbour. They did so with the celebrated and mysterious producer Jørgen Træen (a.o. Jaga Jazzist), who silently watched over the imperfections and interference as a guiding force behind the adept playing of the electro-acoustic jazz trio. The result turns out to be compelling music with deceptive rhythms, clear melodies and uninhibited electronics in a way that also managed to surprise them themselves. With De Beren Gieren, it is clear that there is still gold to be struck from the classic jazz piano format. Instead of changing direction, the band resolutely chooses to dig deeper.

$27.00 IN STOCK

LP version. Two and a half years after their acclaimed last release Less Is Endless, De Beren Gieren ("The Bear Vultures") have finished their seventh full album. What Eludes Us is an ode to what escapes listeners and what they consciously want to look away from. For this new full album, the band left aside the unimaginable beauty of the Norwegian fjords and crawled into a dusty recording studio in Bergen harbour. They did so with the celebrated and mysterious producer Jørgen Træen (a.o. Jaga Jazzist), who silently watched over the imperfections and interference as a guiding force behind the adept playing of the electro-acoustic jazz trio. The result turns out to be compelling music with deceptive rhythms, clear melodies and uninhibited electronics in a way that also managed to surprise them themselves. With De Beren Gieren, it is clear that there is still gold to be struck from the classic jazz piano format. Instead of changing direction, the band resolutely chooses to dig deeper.

$15.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

John Ghost (Ghent, Belgium) is the sextet led by guitarist/composer Jo De Geest. As a group, they draw influences from jazz, rock, and contemporary classical music. Minimalism, electronics, and an overall cinematic quality characterize their instrumental sound. The ensemble's sound can be described as a symbiosis of Hidden Orchestra, Portico Quartet, and James Holden. After the critically acclaimed Airships Are Organisms, John Ghost is back with Thin Air . Mirror Land. For this album, they continued their fruitful collaboration with legendary producer Jørgen Træen, known for his work with Jaga Jazzist, Electric Eye, Kaizers Orchestra, and numerous projects on the Hubro Record Label. The result is an album with a slightly more somber tone, focusing on a broader range of instruments and an emphasis on percussive elements. Thin Air . Mirror Land unfolds as an aesthetic refuge in stormy times. It is a musical urge for introspection in a chaotic reality, and a longing to reconnect with a natural environment. During the creative process, Jo drew inspiration from the music of artists such as Hans Zimmer, György Ligeti, Magma, The Residents, Disasterpeace, James Holden & The Animal Spirits, Do Make Say Think, William Basinski, and Jóhann Jóhannsson. The album title Thin Air . Mirror Land and the song titles are driven by a fascination with the artwork of Edvard Munch. Jo found inspiration in Munch's painting "The Storm" (1893) as a catalyst for the writing process, exploring a dystopian backdrop and the intriguing interplay between comfort and unrest. Heavily inspired by the music, Jaak De Digitale created the gloomy artwork for the album.

$28.50 IN STOCK

LP version. John Ghost (Ghent, Belgium) is the sextet led by guitarist/composer Jo De Geest. As a group, they draw influences from jazz, rock, and contemporary classical music. Minimalism, electronics, and an overall cinematic quality characterize their instrumental sound. The ensemble's sound can be described as a symbiosis of Hidden Orchestra, Portico Quartet, and James Holden. After the critically acclaimed Airships Are Organisms, John Ghost is back with Thin Air . Mirror Land. For this album, they continued their fruitful collaboration with legendary producer Jørgen Træen, known for his work with Jaga Jazzist, Electric Eye, Kaizers Orchestra, and numerous projects on the Hubro Record Label. The result is an album with a slightly more somber tone, focusing on a broader range of instruments and an emphasis on percussive elements. Thin Air . Mirror Land unfolds as an aesthetic refuge in stormy times. It is a musical urge for introspection in a chaotic reality, and a longing to reconnect with a natural environment. During the creative process, Jo drew inspiration from the music of artists such as Hans Zimmer, György Ligeti, Magma, The Residents, Disasterpeace, James Holden & The Animal Spirits, Do Make Say Think, William Basinski, and Jóhann Jóhannsson. The album title Thin Air . Mirror Land and the song titles are driven by a fascination with the artwork of Edvard Munch. Jo found inspiration in Munch's painting "The Storm" (1893) as a catalyst for the writing process, exploring a dystopian backdrop and the intriguing interplay between comfort and unrest. Heavily inspired by the music, Jaak De Digitale created the gloomy artwork for the album.

$15.50 IN STOCK

KAU (previously KAU trio.) is an instrumental trio based in Brussels. Representing various European backgrounds, the Belgian capital and melting pot proves to be a never-ending source of inspiration for the band. Taking influences from jazz, groove and dance music, their aim is simple but straightforward: to make your heads bob. The formula they use to do so has been the same since their early days: improvisation, never ending jam sessions and an open-mindedness towards various genres and styles. This gives their music an organic and vibrant feel. Furthermore, the three boys' long-lasting friendship is at the heart of it all, always relying on what brings them together: their love for music. The KAU cycle is bound to repeat itself and to birth something new -- over and over again. The Cycle Repeats is KAU's debut album, due on September 22 on SDBAN Ultra, the home of ECHT!, Black Flower, Glass Museum, STUFF, and more. It represents a milestone in the band's musical journey: it's their firm decision to present a strong and unified trio playing music that stands out through the combination of '80s synths, acoustic drums and electric bass. Moreover, the album succeeds in capturing the energy of their infectious and legendary live shows. Highlights are album opener "Kampala," which has a throbbing bassline, jazzy synths and heavily modified arpeggiators at its core. The album's first single "Little Steps" starts with a strong hip hop groove, morphing into Herbie Hancock-style chords. "Amulet" is inspired by breakbeats, fast paced grooves and pentatonic bass lines. Both "Kautokeino" and "Alaska" are an invitation to travel to the utmost remote places of this earth, using intense sequencing and suffocating subbasses into an epic finish, probably demonstrating the trio in its most sincere form. In short: with André Breidlid on drums, Matteo Genovese on bass and Jan Janzen on synths, KAU are a trio of childhood friends with a pan-European identity, whose music reflects the city they grew up in: unapologetic, richly diverse and with a spontaneous groove underlining it all. With their new album The Cycle Repeats they directly aim for your dancing shoes and souls.

$30.50 IN STOCK

LP version. KAU (previously KAU trio.) is an instrumental trio based in Brussels. Representing various European backgrounds, the Belgian capital and melting pot proves to be a never-ending source of inspiration for the band. Taking influences from jazz, groove and dance music, their aim is simple but straightforward: to make your heads bob. The formula they use to do so has been the same since their early days: improvisation, never ending jam sessions and an open-mindedness towards various genres and styles. This gives their music an organic and vibrant feel. Furthermore, the three boys' long-lasting friendship is at the heart of it all, always relying on what brings them together: their love for music. The KAU cycle is bound to repeat itself and to birth something new -- over and over again. The Cycle Repeats is KAU's debut album, due on September 22 on SDBAN Ultra, the home of ECHT!, Black Flower, Glass Museum, STUFF, and more. It represents a milestone in the band's musical journey: it's their firm decision to present a strong and unified trio playing music that stands out through the combination of '80s synths, acoustic drums and electric bass. Moreover, the album succeeds in capturing the energy of their infectious and legendary live shows. Highlights are album opener "Kampala," which has a throbbing bassline, jazzy synths and heavily modified arpeggiators at its core. The album's first single "Little Steps" starts with a strong hip hop groove, morphing into Herbie Hancock-style chords. "Amulet" is inspired by breakbeats, fast paced grooves and pentatonic bass lines. Both "Kautokeino" and "Alaska" are an invitation to travel to the utmost remote places of this earth, using intense sequencing and suffocating subbasses into an epic finish, probably demonstrating the trio in its most sincere form. In short: with André Breidlid on drums, Matteo Genovese on bass and Jan Janzen on synths, KAU are a trio of childhood friends with a pan-European identity, whose music reflects the city they grew up in: unapologetic, richly diverse and with a spontaneous groove underlining it all. With their new album The Cycle Repeats they directly aim for your dancing shoes and souls.

$14.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

Dishwasher_ are the latest disciples of yet another new wave of talent in the fertile Belgian groove and jazz scene. It would, however, be a shame to limit them to the constraints of any given musical style. Ever since their formation in 2019, the Ghent-based trio have been experimenting with all possible genres to create a contemporary sound they can now rightfully call their own. With their self-titled debut album, to be released in April 2023 via Sdban Ultra, they are closing off an impressive first chapter, delivering a unique and diverse yet coherent collection of groove-driven cuts. While labeling Diswasher_ as a jazz band wouldn't do them enough justice, it is a fact that improvisation and a certain free approach turn out to be key in the creation and performance process of the album's tracks. Werend, Louise, and Arno specifically aim to capture their live energy and synergy on the album by experimenting with structures and textures, playing with song lengths and implementing influences from various other styles -- electronic music in the first place, but as well traces from (Middle-)Eastern and Balkan music, next to dance, hip-hop and even metal. As a result, the record tends to be a pure and honest representation of Diswasher_'s musical identity and artistic quest over the past years -- both as individual musicians and as a band. Saxophones drenched in effects, diverse layers of synthesizers, a bass guitar hopping from fingerpicking licks to deep and drone-like bass tones, drums can sometimes sound like drum computers, and sometimes as subtle rhythmic chords: it's pretty clear how deep this trio have dived to search and find something totally fresh and new. Members of the band are Arno Grootaers, Werend Van Den Bossche, and Louise van den Heuvel. Their debut album is coming out via Sdban Ultra.

$28.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

LP version. Dishwasher_ are the latest disciples of yet another new wave of talent in the fertile Belgian groove and jazz scene. It would, however, be a shame to limit them to the constraints of any given musical style. Ever since their formation in 2019, the Ghent-based trio have been experimenting with all possible genres to create a contemporary sound they can now rightfully call their own. With their self-titled debut album, to be released in April 2023 via Sdban Ultra, they are closing off an impressive first chapter, delivering a unique and diverse yet coherent collection of groove-driven cuts. While labeling Diswasher_ as a jazz band wouldn't do them enough justice, it is a fact that improvisation and a certain free approach turn out to be key in the creation and performance process of the album's tracks. Werend, Louise, and Arno specifically aim to capture their live energy and synergy on the album by experimenting with structures and textures, playing with song lengths and implementing influences from various other styles -- electronic music in the first place, but as well traces from (Middle-)Eastern and Balkan music, next to dance, hip-hop and even metal. As a result, the record tends to be a pure and honest representation of Diswasher_'s musical identity and artistic quest over the past years -- both as individual musicians and as a band. Saxophones drenched in effects, diverse layers of synthesizers, a bass guitar hopping from fingerpicking licks to deep and drone-like bass tones, drums can sometimes sound like drum computers, and sometimes as subtle rhythmic chords: it's pretty clear how deep this trio have dived to search and find something totally fresh and new. Members of the band are Arno Grootaers, Werend Van Den Bossche, and Louise van den Heuvel. Their debut album is coming out via Sdban Ultra.

$15.50 IN STOCK

Futuristic Brussels based four-piece ECHT! are set to release their sophomore album Sink-Along on the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. ECHT! takes the best of Jonwayne, DJ Rashad, J Dilla, Ivy Lab, Tsuruda, and Aphex Twin, resulting in an unrivalled sound. In a society geared almost exclusively toward the technological, ECHT! forges a different path, one that instead replaces the mechanical with the human. At the heart of their creative process made up of actual skin and bone, the influences of trap, bass music, jazz, and hip-hop burst forth through their expert playing of instruments. Sink-Along showcases a rawer and more straight-forward approach than their debut. Whether on the bass-heavy opener "Glide" or the beat-to-beat sounds of "Cheesecake" and "Bryan Brains", ECHT! confirms its taste for deep, dark beats pushed to the extreme. No one can remain indifferent. A more luminous universe is brought to the fore on the introspective "Vault-A" and "Dawn In Duden" but at the core of Sink-Along, the common denominator is a warm and organic groove, evident on the inventive "Rouf-rouf" and "Mtwk part2". "For this album we wanted to make strong and opposite emotions coexist a dark and intense apocalyptic tendency, and a life and dance impulse that runs through everything. A paradox that is reflected in the wordplay of the title Sink-Along." Releasing their debut EP DOUF in 2019, the following year, ECHT! finished third in Red Bull Elektropedia's "Fresh on The Scene" category and the EP was nominated for "Best EP". ECHT! released three sublime live studio sessions titled the BREWmixes in 2021, which received support from tastemakers worldwide. Their debut album INWANE soon followed (SDBANU 021RE-LP). Echt means "vrai de vrai" -- "true" or "real" in Brusseleir (Brabantian dialect of Brussels). The name is a direct reference to the fact that their sound transmission is "real", performed with conventional musical instruments as opposed to computer music which the production might suggest. It also relates to the fact that none of the members of the band are originally from Brussels -- bassist Federico Pecoraro is from Italy, keyboardist Dorian Dumont is from France, and drummer Martin Méreau and guitarist Florent Jeunieaux are both from the Mons region on Belgium. LP version comes on orange vinyl; includes printed innersleeve.

$29.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

LP version. Orange vinyl; printed inner sleeve. Futuristic Brussels based four-piece ECHT! are set to release their sophomore album Sink-Along on the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. ECHT! takes the best of Jonwayne, DJ Rashad, J Dilla, Ivy Lab, Tsuruda, and Aphex Twin, resulting in an unrivalled sound. In a society geared almost exclusively toward the technological, ECHT! forges a different path, one that instead replaces the mechanical with the human. At the heart of their creative process made up of actual skin and bone, the influences of trap, bass music, jazz, and hip-hop burst forth through their expert playing of instruments. Sink-Along showcases a rawer and more straight-forward approach than their debut. Whether on the bass-heavy opener "Glide" or the beat-to-beat sounds of "Cheesecake" and "Bryan Brains", ECHT! confirms its taste for deep, dark beats pushed to the extreme. No one can remain indifferent. A more luminous universe is brought to the fore on the introspective "Vault-A" and "Dawn In Duden" but at the core of Sink-Along, the common denominator is a warm and organic groove, evident on the inventive "Rouf-rouf" and "Mtwk part2". "For this album we wanted to make strong and opposite emotions coexist a dark and intense apocalyptic tendency, and a life and dance impulse that runs through everything. A paradox that is reflected in the wordplay of the title Sink-Along." Releasing their debut EP DOUF in 2019, the following year, ECHT! finished third in Red Bull Elektropedia's "Fresh on The Scene" category and the EP was nominated for "Best EP". ECHT! released three sublime live studio sessions titled the BREWmixes in 2021, which received support from tastemakers worldwide. Their debut album INWANE soon followed (SDBANU 021RE-LP). Echt means "vrai de vrai" -- "true" or "real" in Brusseleir (Brabantian dialect of Brussels). The name is a direct reference to the fact that their sound transmission is "real", performed with conventional musical instruments as opposed to computer music which the production might suggest. It also relates to the fact that none of the members of the band are originally from Brussels -- bassist Federico Pecoraro is from Italy, keyboardist Dorian Dumont is from France, and drummer Martin Méreau and guitarist Florent Jeunieaux are both from the Mons region on Belgium.

$14.50 IN STOCK

Belgian junk jazz trio schroothoop (which translates as "junk yard") bring together multi-instrumentalists Rik Staelens (wind and string instruments), Timo Vantyghem (bass and thumb piano) and Margo Maex (percussion). Their new album called MACADAM will be out via Sdban Records, home of many strongholds in the lively contemporary Belgian jazz and groove scene. In 2020, schroothoop first emerged with their much-acclaimed and infectious debut album Klein Gevaarlijk Afval (Small Hazardous Waste). On their second album, schroothoop explore the vast sounds of discarded objects found on the macadam streets of Brussels. Wooden crates turn into guitars and lyres. Scrap metal becomes a thumb piano, a cimbalom, or percussion bells. Their compelling collection of semi-improvised songs is born out of several fruitful residencies and live performances during which Margo Maex, Rik Staelens, and Timo Vantyghem dive deeper into the possibilities and unique timbres of their DIY instruments. The junk jazz trio find inspiration in traditional Afro-Cuban and North-African rhythms, New Orleans second line grooves, and Arabic Hijaz scales. On MACADAM, the band also explore the realms of electronic music, not shunning hints of drum and bass, dub riddims and ambient soundscapes, using pitch shifting delays or gauzy reverbs. The album delivers a mesmerizing trip through the most diverse capital of Europe, mixed and post-produced by none other than sound wizard Dijf Sanders. The trio originally met in the Brussels street orchestra scene. One night they found themselves jamming on trash cans, buckets and other illegally dumped materials. Soon after, they started building their own DIY instruments from street trash. Imagine flutes made out of PVC pipes, a scrap metal drum kit, thumb pianos made out of old kitchen knives, a tin can violin, worn-out cutting discs as gongs, and a washtub bass. Delivering their own brand of "junk jazz", schroothoop literally gives junk a second life by immortalizing a whole range of lost and found objects through music. The Brussels-based group effortlessly incorporates jazz, Northern African music, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, resulting in a danceable and hypnotic trip through the city's melting pot.

$28.00 IN STOCK

LP version. Belgian junk jazz trio schroothoop (which translates as "junk yard") bring together multi-instrumentalists Rik Staelens (wind and string instruments), Timo Vantyghem (bass and thumb piano) and Margo Maex (percussion). Their new album called MACADAM will be out via Sdban Records, home of many strongholds in the lively contemporary Belgian jazz and groove scene. In 2020, schroothoop first emerged with their much-acclaimed and infectious debut album Klein Gevaarlijk Afval (Small Hazardous Waste). On their second album, schroothoop explore the vast sounds of discarded objects found on the macadam streets of Brussels. Wooden crates turn into guitars and lyres. Scrap metal becomes a thumb piano, a cimbalom, or percussion bells. Their compelling collection of semi-improvised songs is born out of several fruitful residencies and live performances during which Margo Maex, Rik Staelens, and Timo Vantyghem dive deeper into the possibilities and unique timbres of their DIY instruments. The junk jazz trio find inspiration in traditional Afro-Cuban and North-African rhythms, New Orleans second line grooves, and Arabic Hijaz scales. On MACADAM, the band also explore the realms of electronic music, not shunning hints of drum and bass, dub riddims and ambient soundscapes, using pitch shifting delays or gauzy reverbs. The album delivers a mesmerizing trip through the most diverse capital of Europe, mixed and post-produced by none other than sound wizard Dijf Sanders. The trio originally met in the Brussels street orchestra scene. One night they found themselves jamming on trash cans, buckets and other illegally dumped materials. Soon after, they started building their own DIY instruments from street trash. Imagine flutes made out of PVC pipes, a scrap metal drum kit, thumb pianos made out of old kitchen knives, a tin can violin, worn-out cutting discs as gongs, and a washtub bass. Delivering their own brand of "junk jazz", schroothoop literally gives junk a second life by immortalizing a whole range of lost and found objects through music. The Brussels-based group effortlessly incorporates jazz, Northern African music, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, resulting in a danceable and hypnotic trip through the city's melting pot.

$15.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

As rookies in the thriving Brussels scene, jazz fusion quartet LũpḁGangGang have been making waves the last couple of years. After the EPs Stalingrad and Urban Detox, they are now releasing their debut album Dopamine Overdose via Sdban Ultra. Lyrically the inspiration for the album comes from growing up in a digital world and the constant dopamine everyone has to deal with because of that. Musically their sound is rich, diverse and hard to pin down, looking at Yussef Dayes, BADBADNOTGOOD, and even Black Country, New Road for inspiration. LũpḁGangGang started out as a jazz/funk cover band in 2017. Anton, Miel, Lena, and Rob all met at a jam session summer camp while still in school. Over time, the band started writing their own songs and released two EPs to critical acclaim. Due to the band's desire for creative expansion over genres, they have been able to perform on various Belgian stages for the past three years including Ancienne Belgique to Flagey, Gent Jazz and Handelsbeurs in support of label mates, Black Flower. The album title Dopamine Overdose is a quote from the track "Dada Data", a track about the influence social media tends to have on our lives. The album's recurring theme is definitely the struggle with today's hyper virtual society and the overwhelming influence tech is having on society. With unbridled enthusiasm the band tackle relevant themes and combine striking observations with a highly contagious and very diverse sound. From "Out the Light", a smooth track about being stuck in the image we all try to create of ourselves, to "Wanderer", a jazzy tune about the road to self-acceptance, and from "Candy", combining a punk attitude with infectious hand claps, to 'Time Faded', about the difficulty of finishing your artistic work, LũpḁGangGang constantly showcase their genre-defying versatility. As a whole, the album is a very balanced collection of tracks, ranging from brooding atmospheres to punky explosions with a constant drive, social criticism and an indomitable energy binding it all together. A promising debut, indeed. LP version includes printed innersleeve.

$28.00 IN STOCK

LP version. Includes printed innersleeve. As rookies in the thriving Brussels scene, jazz fusion quartet LũpḁGangGang have been making waves the last couple of years. After the EPs Stalingrad and Urban Detox, they are now releasing their debut album Dopamine Overdose via Sdban Ultra. Lyrically the inspiration for the album comes from growing up in a digital world and the constant dopamine everyone has to deal with because of that. Musically their sound is rich, diverse and hard to pin down, looking at Yussef Dayes, BADBADNOTGOOD, and even Black Country, New Road for inspiration. LũpḁGangGang started out as a jazz/funk cover band in 2017. Anton, Miel, Lena, and Rob all met at a jam session summer camp while still in school. Over time, the band started writing their own songs and released two EPs to critical acclaim. Due to the band's desire for creative expansion over genres, they have been able to perform on various Belgian stages for the past three years including Ancienne Belgique to Flagey, Gent Jazz and Handelsbeurs in support of label mates, Black Flower. The album title Dopamine Overdose is a quote from the track "Dada Data", a track about the influence social media tends to have on our lives. The album's recurring theme is definitely the struggle with today's hyper virtual society and the overwhelming influence tech is having on society. With unbridled enthusiasm the band tackle relevant themes and combine striking observations with a highly contagious and very diverse sound. From "Out the Light", a smooth track about being stuck in the image we all try to create of ourselves, to "Wanderer", a jazzy tune about the road to self-acceptance, and from "Candy", combining a punk attitude with infectious hand claps, to 'Time Faded', about the difficulty of finishing your artistic work, LũpḁGangGang constantly showcase their genre-defying versatility. As a whole, the album is a very balanced collection of tracks, ranging from brooding atmospheres to punky explosions with a constant drive, social criticism and an indomitable energy binding it all together. A promising debut, indeed.

$14.50 IN STOCK

Hailing from Brussels, Bandler Ching is a creation of musical ideas from composer and saxophonist Ambroos De Schepper (Kosmo Sound, Azmari, Mos Ensemble). Flawlessly blending contemporary jazz, electronics, trap, hip-hop, and global beats, the sound is based around the freedom of expression and improvisation and performed with astounding conviction. With the help of Alan Van Rompuy (Azertyklavierwerke), Federico Pecoraro (ECHT!), and Olivier Penu (Kel Assouf), the four idiosyncratic artists come together to express their musical identity to dazzling effect. After a period of exploration, the quartet release their debut album Coaxial via the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. A hypnotic trip through each band members' musical fantasies, the band have their roots in jazz. "We start from jazz and we give it our own attitude with improvisation and a lot of freedom and eventually mix it with influences such as electronics, beats, hip-hop etc.," says De Schepper. From the free-spirited beauty of "You Call It" and pulsating, loose beats of "Awpril" to the luminous "Dag na Naamdag" inspired by warm winter memories and wild summer dreams, De Schepper gives the sax a new place in its musical sphere. The album title refers to the band members' various musical influences that coalesce around one artistic center. That center is Coaxial -- a distinct sound with a clear identity, yet versatile and difficult to categorize. Elsewhere, the bass-heavy "RoodGroen" features Vieze Meisje (singer Maya Mertens) while the sonoric mayhem of "Smooch" mutates without border -- mischievous, dynamic and unpredictable at the same time. "Rave Fever" is rich cataclysm of sound and rhythm while the intriguing "You Have Got Me" and album closer "Kitsune" showcase the magnetic soundings of Bandler Ching.

$29.50 IN STOCK

LP version. Hailing from Brussels, Bandler Ching is a creation of musical ideas from composer and saxophonist Ambroos De Schepper (Kosmo Sound, Azmari, Mos Ensemble). Flawlessly blending contemporary jazz, electronics, trap, hip-hop, and global beats, the sound is based around the freedom of expression and improvisation and performed with astounding conviction. With the help of Alan Van Rompuy (Azertyklavierwerke), Federico Pecoraro (ECHT!), and Olivier Penu (Kel Assouf), the four idiosyncratic artists come together to express their musical identity to dazzling effect. After a period of exploration, the quartet release their debut album Coaxial via the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. A hypnotic trip through each band members' musical fantasies, the band have their roots in jazz. "We start from jazz and we give it our own attitude with improvisation and a lot of freedom and eventually mix it with influences such as electronics, beats, hip-hop etc.," says De Schepper. From the free-spirited beauty of "You Call It" and pulsating, loose beats of "Awpril" to the luminous "Dag na Naamdag" inspired by warm winter memories and wild summer dreams, De Schepper gives the sax a new place in its musical sphere. The album title refers to the band members' various musical influences that coalesce around one artistic center. That center is Coaxial -- a distinct sound with a clear identity, yet versatile and difficult to categorize. Elsewhere, the bass-heavy "RoodGroen" features Vieze Meisje (singer Maya Mertens) while the sonoric mayhem of "Smooch" mutates without border -- mischievous, dynamic and unpredictable at the same time. "Rave Fever" is rich cataclysm of sound and rhythm while the intriguing "You Have Got Me" and album closer "Kitsune" showcase the magnetic soundings of Bandler Ching.

$27.00 IN STOCK

2023 repress; released in 2021. ECHT! -- an instrumental, futuristic four-piece inspired by the concepts absorbed in electronic music and musical production. Taking inspiration from artists including Jonwayne, DJ Rashad, Deantoni Parks, J Dilla, Dorian Concept, and Aphex Twin, ECHT! combine electro, hip-hop, trap, funk and futuristic jazz, resulting in a distinct and unique sound. ECHT! release their highly anticipated debut album INWANE via the groove-obsessed, Ghent-based label Sdban Ultra. Releasing their debut EP DOUF in 2019, the Brussels quartet has not stopped working, recently releasing three sublime live studio sessions titled the BREWmixes which received support from tastemakers including LEFTO, Worldwide FM, and Belgian national radio station Studio Brussel (StuBru). Echt means "vrai de vrai" -- "true" or "real" in brusseleir (Brabantian dialect of Brussels). The name is a direct reference to the fact that their sound transmission is "real", performed with conventional musical instruments as oppose to computer music which the production might suggest. It also relates to the fact that none of the members of the band are originally from Brussels -- bassist Federico Pecoraro is from Italy, keyboardist Dorian Dumont is from France and drummer Martin Méreau and guitarist Florent Jeunieaux are both from the Mons region on Belgium. "For our first album, we wanted to go into deeper beats. We were listening a lot to trap, gritty hip-hop and bass music, and we tried to emulate those kinds of beats on our instruments. The darkish mood of those music genres was fitting for us with this strangest year of 2020. But we also wanted to give a contrast with some brighter parts, where the human feeling is more present. This duality continued in the mixing process by pushing or destroying some sounds, adding electronic textures and effects, but also keeping some sounds really acoustic and organic. The result is for us a mature album: the feeling of electronic music emulated on instruments is confirmed but the human vibe stays central." From the abstract patterns of "Permanent" and melodic atmospherics of "Dunes" to the futuristic funk of "Charlier", ECHT! look to emulate the producer's off-beats, the compressor's swell, the repeating samples or the DJ's transitions. Elsewhere, the trap-heavy sounds of "500 gr." and subby bass stylings of "Champi" push things forward, before the scatter rhythms of "Kiekebiche" and weighty rumblings of "Drache" integrate the inhuman heritage of electronic music and "re-humanize" it.

$13.50 IN STOCK

Stellar Legions is four experienced space cadets from the Antwerp interstellar legion, led by Captain Andrew Claes (STUFF., BRZZVLL, Internal Sun). With a sound rooted in jazz, improv, hip-hop, dub, and electronic music, brace yourself for an intergalactic trip through colorful musical worlds and allow yourself to be carried away to indefinable, otherworldly but always hospitable beacons. Alongside Claes, the delegates on duty are all heroes from the Allied star: Bram Weijters (Raymond Van Het Groenewoud, Crazy Men), Klaas De Somer (Tourist Lemc, Selah Sue), and Fre Madou (ex-DAAU, Namid). With them, come stories and artifacts from the multidimensional cosmos to our beloved mother planet Earth and they passionately present their first omnibus Stellar Legions via the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. The album consists of eight tracks recorded in the studio and live, resulting in one big cosmic experience that exhilarates down to every last arrangement. From Claes's twisted sax on the semi-electronic ecstatic dream world that is an "An Arp in Tunisia" to the jazzy snatches of "Wessel" where De Somer's hurried drum patterns and Weijters's frenzied keyboard solos catch light, Stellar Legions unites the adventure and improvisation of jazz with contemporary sounds. At the core of the Stellar Legions sound is a rhythm section Sly & Robbie would have approved of: loose and sticky, grinding and unwinding: De Somer's drums fizz with expectation while the relentless bass strokes from Madou provide the beating pulse. It's fresh, it's raw and it keeps us listening, grooving and wanting more. Elsewhere, "Odyssey" is a cataclysmic mix of feverish sounds and melodies that take you to an extra-terrestrial place, while the live recording of "Alcyone", basks in a spatial mix of futuristic grooves and ethereal soundscapes before album closer "Covix", results in a spacious and wonderfully atmospheric affair. Electronics wizard Andrew Claes has recorded music in a wide range of styles ranging from free jazz outfit Chaos of the Haunted Spire (duo with Teun Verbruggen) to techno icon Marco Bailey and new wave hero, Marcel Vanthilt. In addition, he has collaborated with Zach Danziger, Zap Mama, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Hermes Ensemble, Mauro Pawlowski, Josse De Pauw, and many others and released music with the electro-jazz collective AAN/EOP and his solo project, Internal Sun. Claes is also a teacher of "Live Electronics" at the Conservatory of Antwerp and a doctorate in the arts, where he is currently investigating the possibilities of an electro-acoustic saxophone. He also regularly gives workshops on the Belgian synthesizer microcontroller platform, Axoloti.

$26.00 IN STOCK

LP version. Stellar Legions is four experienced space cadets from the Antwerp interstellar legion, led by Captain Andrew Claes (STUFF., BRZZVLL, Internal Sun). With a sound rooted in jazz, improv, hip-hop, dub, and electronic music, brace yourself for an intergalactic trip through colorful musical worlds and allow yourself to be carried away to indefinable, otherworldly but always hospitable beacons. Alongside Claes, the delegates on duty are all heroes from the Allied star: Bram Weijters (Raymond Van Het Groenewoud, Crazy Men), Klaas De Somer (Tourist Lemc, Selah Sue), and Fre Madou (ex-DAAU, Namid). With them, come stories and artifacts from the multidimensional cosmos to our beloved mother planet Earth and they passionately present their first omnibus Stellar Legions via the groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra label. The album consists of eight tracks recorded in the studio and live, resulting in one big cosmic experience that exhilarates down to every last arrangement. From Claes's twisted sax on the semi-electronic ecstatic dream world that is an "An Arp in Tunisia" to the jazzy snatches of "Wessel" where De Somer's hurried drum patterns and Weijters's frenzied keyboard solos catch light, Stellar Legions unites the adventure and improvisation of jazz with contemporary sounds. At the core of the Stellar Legions sound is a rhythm section Sly & Robbie would have approved of: loose and sticky, grinding and unwinding: De Somer's drums fizz with expectation while the relentless bass strokes from Madou provide the beating pulse. It's fresh, it's raw and it keeps us listening, grooving and wanting more. Elsewhere, "Odyssey" is a cataclysmic mix of feverish sounds and melodies that take you to an extra-terrestrial place, while the live recording of "Alcyone", basks in a spatial mix of futuristic grooves and ethereal soundscapes before album closer "Covix", results in a spacious and wonderfully atmospheric affair. Electronics wizard Andrew Claes has recorded music in a wide range of styles ranging from free jazz outfit Chaos of the Haunted Spire (duo with Teun Verbruggen) to techno icon Marco Bailey and new wave hero, Marcel Vanthilt. In addition, he has collaborated with Zach Danziger, Zap Mama, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Hermes Ensemble, Mauro Pawlowski, Josse De Pauw, and many others and released music with the electro-jazz collective AAN/EOP and his solo project, Internal Sun. Claes is also a teacher of "Live Electronics" at the Conservatory of Antwerp and a doctorate in the arts, where he is currently investigating the possibilities of an electro-acoustic saxophone. He also regularly gives workshops on the Belgian synthesizer microcontroller platform, Axoloti.