MINT

Belgian composer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist Koen De Bruyne (1946 - 1977), brother of celebrated singer and songwriter Kris De Bruyne, had his own, unfortunately short, stint in the field of pop, jazz, fusion and funk in the 1970ies. He rose to the scene as a wanted session and live musician for local heroes such as Johan Verminnen, Will Tura, Ferre Grignard, Mad Unity, Black Blood and his brother Kris.In 1974, after some years in the trade, Koen De Bruyne debuted as a solo artist. The inspired fusion epic 'Here Comes The Crazy Man!' undeniably proves he was much more than a gifted 'hired gun'. He gathered a fabulous line-up for the recording sessions, featuring three members of the legendary Placebo (Marc Moulin's jazz/funk outfit). Recorded in the renowned Brussels Madeleine studios with some of the most prolific and inventive of his contemporaries, HCTCM! is a truly exceptional and imaginative record and has gained the status of sought after cult classic decades after its release. The exact 1974 line-up consisted out of the three Placebo members mentioned before, Richard Rousselet on trumpet, Yvan De Souter on bass and Jean Pierre Onraedt on drums. De Bruyne also invited trumpeter Gerard Sabbe, vocalist Patricia Maessen, flutist Adelson Defrise and Firmin Timmermans on bongos.Built around De Bruyne's omnipresent piano and synth themes, the four lengthy tracks on HCTCM! float anywhere between heavy funk and psychedelic jazz rock, with some strong fusion interactions. Flavoured by its distinctive double trumpet lines, De Souter's exceptional bass playing and Patricia Maessens ethereal vocals, it only takes one close listen to sense this album is something exceptional. We're witnessing an entire band of musicians performing at the top of their game. Psychedelic, vigorous and at times quite experimental, Koen De Bruyne's only real album to have seen the daylight is a rare Belgian gem, one that stands the test of time and is waiting to be rediscovered by new generations of listeners.Apart from the four tracks on the original HCTCM! album, making their debut on cd, this reissue features a lot of unreleased music. 'Games' is a mysterious unreleased triptych that was recorded after the album, the masters we stumbled upon had to be retrieved from a reel to reel tape falling apart. Also included here are 4 majestic solo piano improvisations that were retrieved from another lost studio tape.Packaging: 180gr vinyl, deluxe version heavy weight 'old style' tip-on card sleeve

80s Japanese pop GOLD - both versions of 'On Retinae' on 12" for the first time. Talk about an end of night finisher..oooh eee.. full info: Music From Memory’s third 12” release features two versions of the track ‘On Retinae’ by the Japanese pop duo Dip In The Pool. With support from friend Yasuaki Shimizu (AKA Mariah) on clarinet, the track is pure end of the night pop perfection and something of a lost classic.Originally appearing on Dip In The Pool’s 1989 LP of the same name, ‘On Retinae’ was also pressed in Hong Kong as a 50 copies only promo 12” release, the existence of which remained unknown even to the band themselves until recently. True to that original promo release Music From Memory have chosen to present both the ‘West’ (English Version) and ‘East’ (Japanese Version) again in 12” format.Blending a unique sense of music and style, Dip In The Pool created a refined sense of dreamy minimal pop formed by the productions of Tatsjui Kimura and the ethereal, floating vocals of Miyako Koda. Something of a fashion icon and a much-photographed model in Japan, Miyako is also an actress and has appeared in a number of Japanese feature films.Since their debut LP on the UK’s Rough Trade label in 1985, the group gained something of a cult following and have continued to record and perfom live, with this 12” coming ahead of a much-deserved compilation of the groups work which is to be released by Warner Brothers digitally and on CD later this year.

New Zackey Force Funk on Hit+Run, including productions from Egyptian Lover, Brian Ellis and Tom Noble! The wax is all colored SILVER and housed in a silver metallic ink hand-screenprinted jacket by Hit+Run featuring artwork by UK graffiti legend SheOne. Check!!

Amazing debut album, following on various now in-demand 12's where deep house, touching techno, acid, r&b and jazz all come together. 500 numbered copies. Huge tip! Having earned a solid reputation via well-regarded EPs on Delsin and HPTY, Finnish mystery man Trevor Deep Jr returns to the latter to deliver a debut album some four years in the making. Seemingly inspired by the twin attractions of early Chicago deep house and the stargazing futurism of Detroit, the limited, hand-numbered TDJ is packed with melodious, analogue-rich workouts. While the A-side sticks largely to his usual deep house fare, he successfully mixes things up a little on the flip. Check, for example, the dub house/deep techno fusion of King Sporty hook-up "Nina Dub", the sweet, lilting, live nu-jazz of "Roba Rouge", and the yearning downtempo soul of "Let You End", featuring the luscious vocals of Niko Marks.

Joel Martin and Gerry Rooney first surfaced as Velvet Season & The Hearts Of Gold back in 2012 with the first of three salacious 12"s for Lucky Hole Records that really got the refined disco lovers hot under the collar. Following a smattering of remix commissions and a wonderful debut for Resista, Velvet Season & The Hearts Of Gold rear back into view with Witch Doctor Love, a two track 12" of late night voodoo dancefloor material issued by Love Circle. The title track is a chunk of tough and moody house music, all sleazy whispered vocals and trippy electronics; the results are nothing less than intoxicating. Complementing this, "Fish Powder Dance" sees the pair's disco influences come to the fore on a superb fusion of classic strings, vocal harmonies, and joyous basslines over a bumping early '90s house groove.

Despite delivering a smattering of original nu-disco productions over the years, producer Disco Tech is probably most famous for his sneaky but relatively faithful reworks of classic funk, soul and disco cuts.Here he returns to the re-edit field, reworking more sweet soul and funk jams. Waiting On You delivers a slick, floor-friendly take on Al Green, while Devil's Work subtly tweaks a mid tempo funk-soul gem, check the suitably slow and dewy-eyed Take Me As I Am.

Shanti Celeste steps up with a full EP after her amazing "Strung Up" track from the recent Future Times compilation Vibe 3. BIG TIP! She uses the full A side for the killer "Being," a nasty dancelfoor cut that balances sleek, precision drum patterns with cool, showerdown melodies that haunt the feet AND the mental. The B Side starts off like a lost CBS Slow Burn cut with "Good Spirits," an exercise in machine romance, and ends with an ambient mix of the A side, to drift off into space with. Shanti is ON.

12" limited to 200 copiesJex Opolis is back on Good Timin' (his first solo release since 2014!) with four new cuts, showcasing his eclectic and melodic take on music!