SEALED

In a genre where the most pivotal and defining moments occurred over 2 decades ago according to popular to consensus, few artists have managed to consistently achieve excellence and visibly contribute from the early 90’s to present day 2000’s. With regime changes, trend cycles, and technological advancements, producer K-Def is in a class of “rare breed” artists that pridefully embody the title veteran. So much can be said about what he has accomplished throughout his 20 plus year career, but specifically in 2015, K’s output and quality have stayed atop the conversation. Building a foundation at Redefinition Records, who adopted the catchphrase “Quality Over Quantity”, is not a question of how much, but rather how good. For the label, K-Def is an exception. His latest offering entitled “The Unpredictable Gemini” (1 of 2 new albums released simultaneously), is a fully instrumental opus into the mind and soul of one of hip hop’s greatest producers. The Unpredictable Gemini showcases his evolving style and genre pioneering tricks and techniques he continues to refine through the use of his unique production tools. Keeping this project very close to heart and classified from the public over the last 3 years, K meticulously produced, composed, arranged, mixed and mastered well over 100 tracks before making executive decisions on this album he wants the world to hear. Speaking on the album, K-Def made the following statement: “I want you to know that the sounds on this album display some of my true inner feelings about music & life. With the advancement of technology and my knowledge of using all kinds of recording equipment dating back to the late 80’s, I present to you the unpredictable Gemini.

Ivan Ave & MNDSGN follow up their critically acclaimed "Low Jams" EP with a full length release, which also marks Ivan Ave's Solo LP Debut in 2016 with Jakarta Records.Ivan signed with Berlin based Jakarta Records in 2014 to release "Low Jams", a five track phenomenon produced by Stones Throw artist MNDSGN.The EP was described by Okayplayer.com as "an enveloping head nodder that peppers irresistible grooves with vivid double-entendres and exists in the same elusive strata of true school perfection occupied by Nas' debut Illmatic LP."Ivan Ave's relationship with music started in the CD shelves of his older sisters. Today the Norwegian MC makes songs clearly shaped by sneaking into 90s bedrooms to play albums by The Fugees and Janet Jackson. In the last few years he has put out several EPs, all deeply rooted in the RnB and Hip-Hop of his childhood, perhaps even more the 70s jazz and soul that inspired it.In 2016 this Oslo-to-LA collaboration delivers again. This time a full Ivan Ave solo LP, produced entirely by Mndsgn. Picking up where "Low Jams" left off, but also moving into new realms, the "Helping Hands" LP will be released on February 12. Available for pre-order now. The release is acompanied by a 20+ stop tour all over Europe in February 2016.

Limited Edition 500 copies Originally released on BEAT LP 002 (1968)!First complete 180gr. reissue of the unobtainable BEAT LP 002!Extensive liner notes written and signed by Maestro Sandro Brugnolini himself!Includes a bonus 7’’ 45 rpm single with two tracks performed by Gepy!Remastered from the original quarter inch reels with the full co-operation of Brugnolini himself!After Gli Arcangeli, but before Gungala and L’uomo dagli occhiali a specchio, italian Master Sandro Brugnolini composed the soundtrack for Fantabulous, a stunning pop movie inspired by the world of comics, superheroes and secret agents, directed by Sergio Spina in 1967. The music is a mixture of jazz, mod sounds and psych-beat, where Brugnolini adapts his jazz leanings to the new musical fashions of the day: soul, R&B and psychedelia. This soundtrack was from ever almost officially out of print, languishing up to now in the deepest reaches of obscurity, much sought-after both for the elusive BEAT Records 7”, published at the time to promote the two songs in the film, but even more so for the original LP, a real ghost-album which never appeared anywhere or anytime. The Four Flies issue for the first time reconstructs this incredible soundtrack in its entirety, thanks to a meticulous restoration work obtained from two different master tapes kept in the personal archives of Brugnolini himself and BEAT Records. Also included is the 7” with two alternative mix (never before published anywhere) of the tracks performed by Gepy: a real treat for soul and R&B DJs all over the world.https://soundcloud.com/fourfliesrecords/sandro-brugnolini-fantabulous

Here at Bearfunk we have been pretty busy as of late... it was a casual visit to Geneva just like any other. We had just finished a buzzing set and soon after we found ourselves talking to a five bearded academic types. It turns out they were a bunch of theoretical physicists out on a cosmologists night out. They work them hard at CERN and that day the Large Hadron Collector had been a real beast... rebooting five times before lunch. They were pissed off and needed a new challenge. We offered them a job on the spot and they promptly moved to our London HQ working on a wage of tea, vinyl and Nandos. We set them a challenge... Build us a time machine! They started soaking up all those Bearfunk-groove-boson particles and..., you know what? They did it!! A Time machine of our own.Our first task, jump back in time to 1985 and retrieve us something really cool. Set controls to the Manhattan office to Celluloid Records. Fresh from their hit with Herbie Hancocks "Rockit", spearheading rap with Fab Five Freddys "Change The Beat" and Afrika Bambata stompers the legendary label is preparing to release the debut album from NYC-Paris emigre Lord Funk.The album is prepped and ready to go with a release date. It's a cornucopia of mid 80s sounds. Disco, Hip Hop, Rare Groove, Deep Boogie and foot-tapping funk. We manage to hijack a shipment of the records on the way from the plant to the record distributors and bring them back to 2016. We are ecstatic but Celluloid Records are furious. Celluloid never gets to release the record and its existence slips into music legend. We however find ourselves in the 2016 future sitting on a stack of LPs which represent one cool sound from 1985. Surely just what time machines were invented for.Alas this story doesn't have a happy ending. As we were beaming the last batch of master tapes... the ones containing the Larry Levan remix of Bad Day and the Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork for the album sleeve... things went terribly wrong. A stray chicken bone fell into the spacetime-continuum-field-generator and our beloved time machine imploded, never to be seen again. The remaining mixes and artwork were lost too. However it's not all bad as we at least had the batch of vinyl of the Global Warming LPs. Which we proudly present you, new sleeve and all, for sale in 2016.https://soundcloud.com/lord-funk/global-warming-teazzza-lord

BACK IN STOCK !!!! Parisian label My Love Is Underground team up with fellow French operation Favourite Records to step into the compilation game with this crucial triple vinyl release put together by Jeremy Underground Paris. Since the label's emergence back in 2010, My Love Is Underground have been at the forefront of championing 90s house music with the supreme knowledge and digging skills of Jeremy Underground Paris leading to a raft of killer reissues as well as music from contemporary producers who tap into this classicist sound. As the title suggests, My Love Is Underground: 12 House Tracks Selected By Jeremy Underground Paris contains a bounty of rare, forgotten and unknown house gems, with Aaron Arce's Jhelisa sampling "Pressure" setting the tone for what to expect. Look out for the wonderfully crunchy "Euro-Disney (part 1 & 2)" from DJ Nature's old Natureboy alias.

Having already reissued the Joubert Singers disco classic "Stand On the Word" in its original form earlier this year, French label Favourite get busy with a remix-heavy accoutrement in twelve inch format. Those new to the art of collecting classic discotheque vinyl will no doubt be tempted by the appearance of the much vaunted Larry Levan mix, which turns out wasn't actually by the legendary DJ but instead the equally brilliant and much missed Walter Gibbons. Regardless, the remix is a classic in the disco canon, and is complemented by three all new renditions. Long term label associate Patchwork comes through with a nicely judged remix that realigns the groove to a slinky Philly disco swagger, while on the flip Austrian duo Panoptikum Arkestra go for a stripped back dubby beatdown angle. Local Parisian production talent Walter Mecca calls on the spirit of p-funk and Dilla for a nicely blunted hip-hop take to round out this 12" nicely.

BACK IN STOCK !!!The result of a diligent digging quest since he heard DJ Klas drop it many years ago, Lyonaisse editor Waxist has finally track down his own copy of Lamar's 1980 disco soul love gem and given it some serious treatment. Extending the unfettered positivity of the original by almost two minutes (with special attention paid to that immense organ solo), it lives up to its name in every possible way. For authenticity's sake he's also included the original B-side "Take Me To New York". Still standing the test of time impeccably after 35 years, one tickle from the lolloping bassline and swooning keys and your dancefloor will be hooked.