Germany

First released in 1992, available for CD only and out of print for many years, Addis 1988 is now remastered and available as limited edition on vinyl for the first time, a stunning reissue 180 grams for audiophiles and collectors.Addis 1988 is the document of a moment in time when Mulatu Astatke was not yet the global Ethiojazz superstar he is today, but a change was gonna come for him, and for the whole world. In Ethiopia, the Derg had started to tumble and fall, Europe saw the wall between East and West gain more and more holes until it came down, Southern Africa witnessed Apartheid taking its final lap before Nelson Mandela was finally set free. With Ofra Haza's Yeminite Songs and Mory Kanté’s ‘Yéké Yéké’ high on the international charts, music of the wider world finally entered the house of Western pop, giving high hopes and deep inspirations for many musicians who were previously excluded. Fuelled by Mulatu Astatke as artistic director, composer, arranger and collaborating musician, Ethio Stars and Tukul Band's Addis 1988 recordings vibrantly sustain the innocence of these musical originators, yet hold up to modern standards with timeless aplomb. The album also helps to fill a gap: the period when Mulatu and his music were largely forgotten outside of his homeland. First released in1992, available for CD only and out of print for many years, Addis 1988 is now remastered and available as limited edition on vinyl for the first time, a stunning reissue 180 grams for audiophiles and collectors.QUOTES: »A fascinating album with a disarming blend of soul, jazz, funk, rock ,reggae and carefully plotted tracks. Great stuff!« fRoots (Aug 1992) »Innovative musicians that deserve greater exposure. The Ethio Stars and Tukul Band work strikingly diverse variations on Ethiopian popular music by performing xperimen-tal sonic surgery on traditional styles and instruments.« SPIN (Feb 1993) »Quality music, capturing the energy and passion of the soul-influenced traditional Ethiopian sounds.« CMJ (Aug 1992)- Mulatu is featured as artistic director, composer, arranger and collaborating musician- Helping to close the gap in Mulatu’s discography between 70s and 90s- A classic – high on the European World Music Charts in 1992- Two very different bands – Ethio Stars & Tukul Band - that emerged out of the cultural melting point Addis- Released for the first time on vinyl- High-quality reissue and remaster for collectors on 180 gram vinyl- Download code included- Released for the first time digitally on all download and streaming services

After two incredible EPs, Wayne Snow — the Nigerian-born, Berlin-based vocalist and songwriter — now presents his debut album on Tartelet Records.Freedom TV is the natural sequel to the Max Graef-produced tasters Red Runner (2014) and Rosie (2015), a project marinated in Afro-Caribbean, soulful grooves and topped by Wayne’s effortless falsetto acrobatics.As the title suggests, Freedom TV is an album with themes of liberty, struggle and creative identity pumping through its veins. Within ten tracks, Snow fluently meanders between musical styles: from low-tempo soothers like album opener “Cooler” and “Fall” to the syncopated bruk of “The Rhythm” and cosmic funk escapades found on “Nothing Wrong”.Production comes from three varied and solid sources. The tag-team between Snow and fellow Berliner, Max Graef — which started on Graef’s 2014 debut Rivers of the Red Planet — is in full effect. The result is six tracks (“Cooler”, “Still In The Shell”, “Drunk”, “Red Runner”, “Rosie” & “Fall”) anchored by Graef’s now-signature brew of warm-to-the-touch boom-bap, soul, jazz and house. Elsewhere, trips to see the French capital and Neue Grafik yielded three stormers: “The Rhythm”, “Freedom R.I.P” and “Nothing But The Best”.Naples-formed, Berlin-based duo Nu Guinea also lend a hand on “Nothing Wrong”, an uptempo jam which will receive remix treatment from Francis Inferno Orchestra as well as the pair themselves. The works of criminally overlooked, Zimbabwean guerilla fighter-poet, Freedom Nyamubaya (?1958-2015), bind everything together. It’s her verses, which occupy the end of soul-searching, Peven Everett-esque joint “Freedom R.I.P” and provide a regular referential touchpoint. More than anything, Freedom TV is the soundtrack for anyone seeking a wholesome exploration of groove.Smooth and contagiously danceable at points, Wayne Snow has arrived in album territory with an assured cool.

James Dexter's star has been rising for a while now - the young Brit turning out killer tracks regularly on the back of hugely well received DJ sets. On his second outing for Dessous Recordings, Dexter does what he does best - four slices of deep, funky and vibing house music for the floor. Lead track 'Drift' is typical of Dexter’s flair for subtle, edgy sounds, wrapped inside a warm and inviting groove. Elements come and go, but the shuffling, infection feel runs throughout. 'Take Me' is a more upfront vibe with a seriously bumping groove - Dexter clearly well versed in the roots of house music from Chicago. 'Whose Rules ?' is a snappy, bright and lively production, with a sub bass that will troubler some of the world's best club systems in the coming months. The light, jazzy vocals offsets the groove perfectly - sure to be a big tune for a wide variety of DJs.The last track of the release is 'Disco Deep' - and it pretty much does exactly what it says - a swung, groovy feel punctuated by disco claps and balearic flourishes that will sound as good on the beach as in the basement.

ATKR with his debut on Ta-ku's & Repeat Pattern's 10inch label BRRWD. BRRWD is a label collaboration between Ta-ku/ repeat pattern & Jakarta Records. AKTR (pronounced actor), is a beat maker from Yokohama city sampling primarily 80s funk. With his familiar yet subtly unique and fresh approach, AKTR is commonly loved by both more hiphop leaning loop heads, and serious connoisseur consumers of Vaporwave alike. He somehow manages to consistently contribute a high level of bliss to this sample/collage culture (or whatever you want to label it) in a quiet yet powerful manner from his humble Yokohama apartment. We are very excited to be one of the stops in his creative journey and hope you will hear what we are hearing.

Here it is!!! Our 2nd installment in our 45 series.This time we leave the continent to bring some heat over from Australia. Amin Payne, known for his releases on Hot Shot Sounds & Beatgeeks, collabed with also Australian based Roughsoul to bring us a synth-driven, bodyshaking Modern Funk bomb called ”Bad Juice”Full of positive vibes grown under Australia’s sun. The other side brings you a giant meeting between Amin and the well-known german funksters First Touch. Listen and you will hear the typical handwriting of Amin and First Touch. Slapping worldwide connection.Like always we are very proud to work with these guys to bring you some heat out of cold Germany.Limited to 500 copies

Brand new label Odion livingstone, based out of Lagos, Nigeria, presents its debut release, a reissue of the sought after Nigerian disco LP rarity ‘Friday Night’ by Livy Ekemezie. “I was just out of senior secondary school and I wanted to make an album,” recalls Ekemezie. “I was into disco and funk at the time and I was looking for a bassdriven funky sound. The entire idea was to make an album that sounded like something made in London or the U.S. I tried to sound “American” but we ended up with something else: a mix of American and Nigerian.” ‘Friday Night’ was recorded at Goddy Oku’s Godiac 24-track recording studio in Enugu, one of the best studios available in Nigeria at the time. “It took about 9 months to a year to make the album,” continues Ekemezie. “I financed it by myself so I had to resort to friends helping out with loans for session men and studio time. The original LP was released on blue vinyl and that idea came from William Onyeabor. We used his pressing plant and he sold the idea to me. It was different so I said ‘why not?’” The LP has been picked up by many in recent months as the demand for Nigerian disco originals has grown with the track ‘Delectation’ receiving an unofficial edit and DJs like Motor City Ensemble dropping the album into their sets. This first ever reissue of the LP remains faithful to the original issue, remastered and pressed on blue vinyl. It features full original artwork along with new interviews with Livy Ekemezie and contributing musician Jules Elong by Odion Livingstone’s Temi Kogbe.- First ever reissue of sought after Nigerian disco original LP- Blue vinyl edition, echoing the original release which was pressed at William Onyeabor’s vinyl plant- Includes the DJ track ‘Delectation’- New package features all original artwork and new interviews with Livy Ekemezie and musician Jules Elong

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