SEALED

‘Danse Cette Zik!’ by Parbleu is the debut LP from this enigmatic group of musicians and is a multi-cultural fever dream, wherein energized expanses of dynamic disco, futuristic funk, and cinematic jazz fusion are colored over by warming vibes of Caribbean dub, Latin tropicalia, and sunshine Afrobeat. Evocative instrumentals intertwine with breathtaking vocal performances, which move between sleepy-eyed soul serenades, mystical melodic chants, and expressive diva enchantments while pads swell in support—sometimes sparkling like ocean glass, other times raining down like a Morricone symphony.Pianos and guitars converse via funk flourishes, reggae riffs, and jazz rock solos as blazing fusion synthesizers set the air aflame. Drums move between kinetic dancefloor urgency and islander rhythm relaxation and hand percussions both organic and electronic evoke rainforest ceremonials while basslines revel in 70s fusion fire and Italo synth-funk squelch. And the entire experience has been expertly captured and magically crafted by the sorcerers of sound at the West Hill Studio, resulting in a thrilling adventure of imagined exotica, one equally adept at scoring coastal paradises, filmic deserts, riviera cruises, or nightclubs sweltering in the light of a mediterranean moon.(Words by Octagon Eyes)

Double gold printed LP gathers all tracks from the acclaimed Dost 1 and Dost 2 released respectively in 2021 and 2022.Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s subtle and groovy Anatolian psych folk sound matches the powerful quality of the songs often led by Yıldırım’s sublime vocals and bağlama (Turkish lute). They captured a lively, unique piece of interpretation which connects to the meaning of ‘Dost’. “DOST is a friend, a comrade, a brother, a sister and even more than that. DOST is the connection to keep this life and world meaningful”. No doubt that with this project Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek will bring sounds, people and emotions together.

Over the last three decades Ron Trent has been carefully building a discography very few can match as a purveyor of impeccably produced and beautifully detailed high-end house music. With ‘What Do The Stars Say To You’ he turns his attention to slick late seventies and early eighties fusion, helped by some of the genre’s greats.⁣When you think about it Trent going full jazz funk makes perfect sense, having operated at the highest level of musicianship for more than a quarter of a century now, expertly weaving jazz, soul and funk elements into the house sounds he initially became known for. Call it natural progression towards the source.⁣⁣Opener ‘Cool Water’ (with Rush Hour regulars Lars Bartkuhn and Azymuth master drummer Ivan 'Mamão' Conti) sets the tone nicely, moulding spaced-out early eighties-style synthpop, sun-drenched yachtrock-not-yachtrock and a glorious fusion theme into an ecstatic groove that continues on the equally spaced-out sci-fi soundtrack vibes of ‘Cycle of Many’ and the wondrous new age jazzfunk amalgam that is ‘Admira’ (with Venetian electronic music innovator Gigi Masin).⁣⁣‘Flowers’ is another Rush Hour store favorite thanks to Venecia’s heartbreaking bittersweet vocals, as is the Alex Malheiros-led ‘Melt Into You’, but it’s electronic violin God and master synth and sequencer manipulator Jean-Luc Ponty stealing the show here with his unmistakable sound, although most attention will probably go out to Trent’s collaboration with high profile groove dealers Khruangbin on the excellent ‘Flos Potentia (Sugar, Cotton, Tabacco)’. It’s all good, since there’s not a single weak moment on this post-modern masterpiece. (Rogier)⁣⁣Black Vinyl Version,gatefold sleeve - Featuring Khruangbin, Azymuth, Jean-Luc Ponty and morePackaged in gatefold sleeveIncludes download codes for the François Kervorkian Continuous Mix and full unmixed tracks as MP3 / FLAC / WAV.