Stezo - The Last Dance (Blacklife)

Vinyl 2LP £23.99 Add to basket

We lost the mighty Stezo during 2020, but his music lives on in this well-titled final set – a record that really has us surprised at how much strong sounds the 80s hip hop pioneer has to offer! You might know Stezo from his early efforts for Sleeping Bag – and although this set is a bit more contemporary, it's still got this crispness that reminds us of the days when we used to sit up late to catch the local hip hop shows on the left end of the dial – to hear all the underground sounds from the New York scene that were changing the world of modern music! Not that the record's world-changing, but it's a great tribute to one from that generation who's sometimes overlooked – with guest appearances from Biz Markie, Master Ace, Craig G, and Big Daddy Kane – many of whom deliver some "hip hop eulogy" moments on the record. Titles include "Where The Funk At (Chris Lowe rmx)", "Opera House", "Keep The Groove", "It's My Turn 2021", "Bring The Horns", "Just Blaze", and "Ruff N Rugged"

Vinnie Paz - Burn Everything That Bears Your Name (Iron Tusk)

Gatefold Brown Splattered Vinyl 2LP £29.49 Add to basket

As one half of Philadelphian outfit Jedi Mind Tricks, Vinnie Paz stands as one of most consistently successful underground hip-hop artists currently in operation. ‘Burn Everything That Bears Your Name’ is his sixth solo album, and judging by the dramatic lead single ‘Papi Wardrobe’, it will continue that golden streak.

MC Solaar - Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo (Blue Wrasse)

Vinyl LP £22.49 Add to basket

It is an event, even a miracle, that rap fans have long hoped for: 30 years after its initial release, at the initiative of the artist himself, the classic Qui sème le vent reaps the tempo (1991 ) by MC Solaar will finally appear and will be available again on vinyl. Reviews in London Macadam, France in London, R2, Mojo and L’Echo

Sun Ra - Lanquidity (Strut Reissue)

Vinyl LP £20.99 Add to basket

Although Lanquidity is perhaps one of the great Sun Ra's most well-known pieces of music, it is certainly not one of his early ones. In fact, by 1978, the mystical space wizard from Birmingham, Alabama, had transformed his earlier, more be-bop-leaning sound into a much freer, more experimental place where he could truly express his vision of the world and of the music that characterised it. Philly Jazz are providing us with the latest reissue, exactly as it first appeared way back when. "Lanquidity" is still sounding as moody and inimitable as when it first came out, giving jazz a new and interesting place to play in - namely a more dance-led environment. However, there is little more honour that we can give to this album. It should be heard, not read. Buy yourself a copy if you haven't so already. Unmissable, pioneering stuff from the master.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - Raise It Up b/w Space (Big Crown)

7" Vinyl £7.99 Add to basket

A. Raise It Up / B. Space

In the wake of their new album, Expansions, Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band drop another must have two-sider. On the A side they take on the J DIlla produced Slum Village club banger “Raise It Up” and give it the BRSB treatment. SV fans will lose their shit when this comes on. Heads will be nodding from the first beat of the opening drum break and when they start playing the top line on the pans it’s a wrap. Now that they have your attention they take the tune and expand on it changing the arrangement and lacing it with brass and guitar parts that keep pushing the tune to higher and higher levels of energy. The B finds BRSB taking on the infamous Galt MacDermot tune “Space”. Made famous in the hip hop world when it was sampled for Busta Rhyme’s classic “Woohah Got You All In Check” it is about to receive another boost from Bacao’s version. Both sides of this 7” are going to be mainstays in DJ sets for years to come.

Sa-Roc - The Sharecropper's Daughter Bonus Vinyl (Rhymesayers)

Translucent Splattered Vinyl LP + DL Code £20.99 Add to basket

‘The Sharecropper’s Daughter (Deluxe Edition)’ is a six-track companion piece to the tenth LP by US rapper Sa-Roc. Among the six fine slices of masterful, inspiring, conscious rap are the single ‘Wild Seeds’ and ‘The Rebirth’, a collaboration with the late MF Doom.

Confucius MC - Somewhere

CD £11.99 Add to basket

Cited by Kae Tempest as "a huge influence on my life, my character and my rhyme-style", Confucius MC has been carving his own echelon in the UK hip-hop landscape alongside running creative workshops for young people in his community. A top tier collaborator, Con earned rave reviews as one half of Old Paradice with Blah Records producer Morriarchi and featured heavily on Jehst's 'Billy Green is Dead' LP and 2019 single 'Autumn Nights'.

STR4TA - After The Rain (Dave Lee Alternative II Mix & Dub)

12" Vinyl LP £10.99 Add to basket

A neo-nostalgic Dave Lee Mix and Dub of STR4TA’s ‘After The Rain’ is released digitally on 15th July 2021 with a 12” vinyl available in stores 3rd September 2021. The debut album ‘Aspects’ by Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s new project, STR4TA, is the catalyst for a new wave Jazz Funk movement. Reimagined by illustrious producer and label owner, Dave Lee, to capture the essence of a unique UK sound in an extraordinary Mix & Dub release.

This rework of ‘After The Rain’ harps back to the classic Brit-Funk era whilst tailoring it to contemporary club culture with this spaced out Dub; conscientiously keeping the essence of what is magical in the original mix. With the aim of giving more exposure to parts which are not so prominent in the original, Lee’s production process involved rearranging and rebalancing those parts, using a fading technique to create tension, moments and surprises that flow together, capturing that raw, moment to moment sound.

STR4TA is the new wave jazz funk project pioneered by Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick. Dave Lee has been producing with love for close to three decades and without question no-one treats a loop, groove or hook with as much care and attention as Lee does.

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises (Luaka Bop)

Gatefold Vinyl LP £21.99 Add to basket

Sam Shepherd (Floating Points): Pharoah...
Pharoah Sanders: Huh...? Sam: Were you asleep? I'm sorry... Pharoah: No no... I was listening... and dreaming... and listening to music in my head... Sam: Oh wow... sorry. Pharoah: Many times, people think I might be asleep... but in fact, I am just listening to music in my head. I'm always listening... to the sounds around me... and playing, in my mind... and sometimes I dream. Sam: What were you dreaming about? Pharoah: I'm on a ship. In the ocean. Bears coming around smoking cigars. The bears are singing, ‘We have the music. We have what you're looking for.’ I say, ‘Really?’ And I was making fish dinners. Shark..Lobster. Got all kinds of fish. And you know, a good pie. Pumpkin pie. You like pumpkin pie? Pharoah: How you like that take, Sam? Sam: It's cool. I think the bit in the middle, where it stops again...I think you can hear...We were both kind of confused. I like it as well because it sounds like two musicians that are trying to guide each other. Pharoah: I think that's it right there. It came out different. It came out good though. Sam: You happy? Pharoah: Yeah, I'm cool with it.
Sam: Okay. Yeah, I think you're playing is beautiful.

Skyzoo - All The Brilliant Things (Bodega Flowers Edition) (Mello Music Group)

Gatefold Splatter Vinyl LP £19.99 Add to basket

‘All The Brilliant Things’ is the tenth LP by US rapper Skyzoo. The LP was inspired by the positive message about fatherhood in 'Just The Two Of Us' - Will Smith’s cover of the Grover Washington hit. Skyzoo says that he is a devoted father and wanted to change the, often negative, perception of fatherhood in hip-hop.

Various - Vanguard Street Art (Vanguard Art Records)

Limited Vinyl 2LP £24.99 Add to basket

Vanguard captures the iconic Bristol Sound.

The early days of the iconic Bristol Sound are captured in a new album including an exclusive re-release of the very first track from Massive Attack and tracks from Smith & Mighty, Purple Penguin and more.

Compiled by DJ Boca 45 (Scott Hendy), Vanguard brings together the seminal tracks that defined the rebellious era which saw the birth of the Bristol Sound for the first time. Featured tracks include an exclusive re-release of Any Love - the first ever track by Massive Attack released on Massive Attack Records in 1988, Smith & Mighty's breakout hit Walk On, Purple Penguin's downtempo classic Memphis and other trip hop classics. The LP celebrates the globally recognised Bristol Sound whose experimental breakbeat rhythms and influence still dominate the scene today. Along with classic tracks from the '90's into the '00's and beyond, the album uncovers lesser known cuts by some of Bristol's pioneering musicians such as One Cut and West Country hip hop's finest Aspects. The explosion of the Bristol Sound coincided with the boom in UK street art which led to fruitful collaborations between artists and musicians. Finding inspiration in each other's work, street artists frequently designed rave posters, logos and cover art while DJs provided the beats to accompany street artists' clandestine painting. Vanguard The Album pays homage to these relationships with a beautifully put together gatefold LP featuring iconic cover art designed by some of the biggest names in street art such as Inkie, Dicy, Will Barras and Nick Walker. These early works capture the boisterous energy of the era and confirm Bristol's status as an extraordinary cultural melting pot. The curated tracks are also linked in that all were originally released with bespoke original covers from legendary Bristol street artists, including Banksy and Will Barras, tying its release to Vanguard's current exhibition Bristol Street Art: The Evolution of a Global Movement at M Shed, Bristol, running until October.

Kellee Patterson - Kellee (Octave Lab Reissue)

Vinyl LP £20.99 Add to basket

'Kellee' LP. Recorded in 1976, 'Kellee' is the second album for the amazing lady soul singer after her debut album 'Maiden Voyage' released on Black Jazz Records.

Produced by Gene Russell, who also produced 'Maiden Voyage', this album includes some great soul & jazz cover songs. Barry White's masterpiece "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby", The O'Jays "I Love Music", The Stylistics "Stop, Look & Listen To Your Heart", Grover Washington Jr "Mister Magic" and Kenny Logins "Time To Space"...

'Kellee' is a must-have record for every jazzy / soul music fan.

Seu Jorge - Carolina (Mr Bongo)

Limited Clear Vinyl LP £21.99 Add to basket

To celebrate the Love Record Stores event Mr Bongo have created a special edition of the album.

Pressed on clear vinyl, this single LP collectors’ item features their favourite tracks from the original album. Carolina is the Brazilian virtuoso Seu Jorge's debut full-length album from 2002. Originally released under the title ‘Samba Esporte Fino’, its release and subsequent international acclaim dovetailed with Seu Jorge’s ascent into movie stardom. He is probably best known outside of Brazil for his work on Wes Anderson’s 2004 film 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’, in which he played a starring role and his Portuguese covers of David Bowie records were a highlight of the soundtrack. Having initially found fame thanks to his standout performance as Knockout Ned in the revered movie ‘City of God’. Carolina would cement his global fame and launch an illustrious musical career that has earnt him a Grammy nomination.

Co-produced by Mario Caldatto of Beastie Boys and Planet Hemp fame, the album presented a vibrant, contemporary combination of samba and funk, backed by guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and horns. It kicks off with one of Seu's most loved tracks 'Carolina', an anthemic feel-good classic with timeless energy, ending in a sing-along crescendo. Other highlights included the Brazilian-Funk of 'Mangueira' reminiscent in places of Tim Maia with its 80s inspired vibe, and the catchy jazzy-samba of 'Tu Queria' which always ignites the dance floor.

Homeboy Sandman - Anjelitu (Mello Music Group)

Orange Twist Vinyl EP £20.99 Add to basket

Anjelitu is the new EP from Homeboy Sandman, via Mello Music Group. The EP was produced by Aesop Rock, who also appears on the album.

Tracklist:
1. Go Hard
2. West Coast
3. FYI
4. Cow's Milk
5. No Beef
6. Lice Team Baby (feat. Aesop Rock)

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Age101)

Clear Double Vinyl LP £19.99 Add to basket

Over the course of her lush, expansive, defiantly sprawling new album, “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”, released on Age 101, the Ivor Novello award-winning, Mercury nominated Little Simz delivers an undeniable modern classic, effortlessly condensing any number of disparate styles and genres into music which thrillingly broaches the gap between urgent modern treatise and hip hop.

A bold, quantum leap forward from the critically beloved “Grey Area”, this is hardly music aiming simply for the pop charts; rather, it is turbo charged with the kind of fury and potency, confusion and anxiety that make up the modern experience of being Black, British and female at this particular point in time. This is no mere philosophical exercise, however - the result is her most ambitious and soaring body of work to date, one which operates at the very heights of what rap can be.

Track Listing:
1. Introvert 2. Woman (feat. Cleo Sol) 3. Two Worlds Apart 4. I Love You I Hate You 5. Little Q Part 1 6. Little Q Part 2 7. Gems 8. Speed 9. Standing Ovation 10. I See You 11. The Rapper That Came To Tea 12. Rollin Stone 13. Protect My Energy 14. Make Promises 15. Point and Kill (feat. Obongjayar) 16. Fear No Man 17. The Garden Interlude 18. How Did You Get Here 19. Miss Understood

Bessie Banks - Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come (Pressure Makes Diamonds)

7" Vinyl £8.99 Add to basket

A. Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come / B. b/w Try To Leave Me If You Can

The amount of ultra-rare, hard to find, essential Northern Soul classics seems to be infinite. Here comes another reissue that aims to right that wrong with an officially licensed pair of tunes from the Phase One Network that has artwork based on the original promo version. 'Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come' is brimming with soul and immediately swells your heart with its elegant strings, graceful piano chords and swirling sense of groove all lifting you off your feet. 'Try To Leave Me If You Can' is a heartbroken slow song to conjure up memories of all the loves you've lost, or maybe never had.

Sons of the Kingdom - Modernization b/w Hey There (Pressure Makes Diamonds)

7" Vinyl £9.99 Add to basket

A. Modernization / B. Hey There

Graham Luckhurst and Gary Johnson's picks for their reissue-focused Pressure Makes Diamonds label have thus far been top-notch, with the vast majority of chosen recordings being as essential as they are exceedingly rare. Here they deliver a much-needed new pressing - albeit in limited numbers - of Sons of the Kingdom's most sought-after double A-side. The Israel-based American group - members of the "Black Hebrew" movement of the period - originally recorded and released the brilliant modern soul/deep soul fusion cuts 'Modernization' and 'Hey There' in 1978, though the artwork on this reissue takes more cues from the former song's 1980 reissue on K.O.G. Both cuts are simply superb, so we'd suggest not hanging around if you want a copy.

Azwon - Paradise Island (Pressure Makes Diamonds)

Reissue 12" Vinyl £9.99 Add to basket

A. Paradise Island / B1. Paradise Island (Revisited) B2. Fair Weather Friend

You'll struggle to find many cosmic boogie/jazz-funk records rarer than Azwon's 1980 debut single, a private press gem from Florida that has long been in demand amongst collectors. Here the finest track from that double A-side seven-inch, "Paradise Island", is given the reissue treatment. It's worth picking up, not only for the swirling, spaced-out brilliance of the original version of "Paradise Island", but also the slightly bolder, Latin-tinged "Revisited" version the band re-recorded last year for this very release. The production is very similar, sound wise, meaning it's every bit as spaced out as the cut they made 40 years ago. Bonus cut "Fair Weather Friend", a dancefloor-focused jazz-funk workout recorded but not released in 1980, is also rather good.

Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Boogie Down Pt.1 b/w Boogie Down Pt. 2 (Pressure Makes Diamonds)

7" Vinyl £9.99 Add to basket

A. Boogie Down Pt. 1 / B. Boogie Down Pt. 2

Pressure Makes Diamonds casts us back to the 80's on this red hot bit of boogie disco. It is the fine work of an iconic jazz drummer and educator from Houston, Texas, by the name of Bubbha Thomas. He played on plenty of pivotal releases in the fields of R&B, gospel, blues and soul and led his spiritual ensemble 'The Lightmen' to five Grammy nominations, as well as writing a couple of books. With 'Boogie Down' the outfit moved away from jazz and into a rich world of disco and mid-tempo funk. Big fat claps, backing vocals that are buttery and wide open drum breaks all make it irresistible.

Freda Payne – We've Gotta Find A Way Back To Love b/w Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right (Pressure Makes Diamonds)

7" Vinyl £8.99 Add to basket

A. We've Gotta Find A Way Back To Love / B. Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

Since establishing their dusty-fingered Pressure Makes Diamonds imprint last year, Gary Johnson and Graham Luckhurst have yet to put a foot wrong. Having previously reissued two ultra-obscure records by Azwon and Babalu & His Headhunters, they've now turned their attention to a slightly better-known single from Freda Payne. Her version of Holland-Dozier-Holland number 'We've Got To Make a Way Back To Love' was initially released back in 1973 and sees her brilliantly delivering the trio's lovelorn lyrics over a bongo-rich two-step soul backing track that's as musically detailed and emotive as they come. As it did back in the 1970s, the track comes backed by the sweeter, more orchestrated 'Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right' - another sublime Holland-Dozier production influenced by the slick Philly Soul sound.

Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says (Remix) [War Media]

7" Vinyl £10.99 Add to basket

A. Simon Says (feat Lady Luck, Redman, Method Man, Shabaam Sahdeeq & Busta Rhymes - remix) /
B. Simon Says Instr.

Somewhat surprisingly, the infamous 'remix' version of Pharoahe Monch's 1999 classic 'Simon Says', featuring verses from Method Man, Redman and Busta Rhymes amongst others, has only previously appeared on promo CDs and compilations. Here the track finally gets its vinyl debut, 22 years after it was recorded. It's a superb crew cut, with all involved making an impact on the mic over a stripped-back but heavy beat full of deep bass, spy-funk horn blasts and raw rock guitar riffs. This time round, it comes backed by the instrumental version of 'Simon Says', which is simplicity personified.

The Droptones - Don't Get Caught b/w Young Blood (Colemine)

Green 7" Vinyl £6.99 Add to basket

A. Don't Get Caught / B. YoungBlood

San Franciscan outfit The Droptones release a 7” single containing two of their finest cuts. Influenced by rock and soul legends from Sly Stone to Little Richard, they deliver a take on Isaac Hayes’ and David Porter’s ‘Don’t Get Caught’, backed with their own composition ‘Young Blood’.

Orgone - Strike b/w New You (Colemine)

7" Vinyl £5.99 Add to basket

A. Strike / B. New You

L.A.'s premier funk and soul band is back with a new heavy, heavy 45! The A-side, "Strike", is a cover of a tune by Union. Heavy guitar, heavy drums, and killer lead vocals from Niki Crawford. The B-side is "New You" which features some super funky guitar and group vocal work. Top notch quality funk and soul music, exactly what you would expect from Orgone.

Damu The Fudgemunk - Conversation Peace (Def Presse Editions)

Limited Edition Powder Blue Vinyl LP £22.99 Add to basket
CD £10.99 Add to basket

With a decade and a half professionally in the music business Damu the Fudgemunk's new album Conversation Peace sets a new career milestone. Partnering with London label Def Pressé and the historic KPM Music Library in London, UK, the DC based producer embraced the opportunity of a lifetime. In early 2020 Damu was given access to KPM's entire catalog of music and sound effects dating back to the 1950's. Honored, eager and inspired, Damu took on the task of scouring KPM's extensive library for the perfect components to create this album. Composed and recorded during the eventful past year, Conversation Peace is as intellectually engaging as is musically and creatively entertaining. Following a string of collaborative albums in the past few years including his jazz album Ocean Bridges with Archie Shepp & Raw Poetic, Conversation Peace marks the Fudgemunk's first official solo album since 2017. Several guest appearances from Blu, Raw Poetic, Nitty Scott and Insight offer additional personality and perspective throughout 40 plus minutes. Combined with material from KPM, Damu’s personal production library and live instruments, the palette for this work offers a range of textures, tempos, vibes and grooves.

This record is also the first volume in a new KPM/EMI and Def Pressé series called Crate Diggers allowing select producers, to both sample the KPM Library and add new original music Into the KPM Library. Expect instalments from Jazzy Jeff, Stro Elliot, Chris Dave, J-Live, and many more to follow. For those unaware of the KPM legacy, their back catalog boasts hits from Jay-Z, 2Pac, Drake, Common, Kid Cudi, Madlib, Prince Paul, MF DOOM, J Dilla, Gorillaz among countless others. Now Damu the Fudgemunk has added to this rich legacy.

J Cole - The Off-Season (JCOLE)

Gatefold Vinyl LP £21.99 Add to basket

The Off-Season is the sixth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It charted at number 2 in the UK when it was released on May 14, 2021 by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records. The album was executive produced by Cole, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus. It features guest vocals from Morray, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas, and 6lack.

Bill Evans - Trio 64 (Verve Acoustic Sound Series)

Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP £35.99 Add to basket

Trio ‘64, Bill Evans' first trio album for Verve, marked a reunion with drummer Paul Motian and Evans' only recorded work with bassist Gary Peacock. The album matches up with Evans' finest trio sessions, with his shimmering piano lines dancing between Peacock's sharp bass lines and Motian's usual sublime work on the drums. Peacock was a perfect match for Evans — he was a kindred spirit when it came to not simply following the musical trends of the day, as evidenced by his time spent with the likes of Albert Ayler and Paul Bley. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Sonny Clark - My Conception (Blue Note Tone Poet Series)

Gatefold Vinyl LP £32.99 Add to basket

The soulful and elegant pianist Sonny Clark brings his A-game to My Conception, a program of all-Clark originals recorded in 1959 but not released until 1979. Joining the pianist are a cast of hard bop masters including Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Highlights from this session include the lead-off track “Junka,” the fiery brilliance of “Minor Meeting,” and Hank Mobley’s sublime soloing on “Royal Flush.”

Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics OST (Strut)

Gatefold Double Vinyl LP £19.99 Add to basket

Following their award-winning collaboration with the father of Ethio jazz, Mulatu Astatke (Mojo magazine Top 50 of the year 2009, Sunday Times World Music Album of the year), pioneering UK collective The Heliocentrics resurface alongside another fascinating jazz enigma, ethno-musicologist, jazz maestro and multi-instrumentalist, Lloyd Miller.

Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague (Kwaidan)

Vinyl LP £13.99 Add to basket

Nouvelle Vague is the 2004 self-titled debut album by the French band Nouvelle Vague. The album consists entirely of easy listening and bossa nova versions of songs that were written and recorded during the post-punk / new wave era. The band's name is a play on words, new wave and bossa nova being the literal translations, in English and Portuguese respectively, of the French phrase Nouvelle Vague, which is itself a reference to the French cinema movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The songs are recorded with female vocalists who had not previously heard the songs they would be covering. It features covers of Depeche Mode, The Clash, Joy Division, XTC, Dead Kennedys, The Cure, Modern English etc.

Jorja Smith - Be Right Back (FAMM)

Trasparent Red Vinyl LP £24.99 Add to basket

Jorja Smith returns to announce a new 8-track project. ‘Be Right Back’ is due May 14th and is the first body of work from Jorja since her 2019 critically-acclaimed, Mercury Prize nominated debut album ‘Lost & Found’, for which she won her second BRIT Award for ‘Best Female’ and earned herself a nomination for ‘New Artist’ at the GRAMMY Awards.

The project finds Jorja delivering some of the most emotive and imaginative songs of her career. Over string-heavy production, she unveils a collection of songs that are diverse in their range but still extremely cohesive as a body of work - “It’s called be right back because it’s just something I want my fans to have right now, this isn’t an album and these songs wouldn’t have made it. If I needed to make these songs, then someone needs to hear them too.” - Jorja says of the project.

Jungle - Loving In Stereo (Caiola)

Vinyl LP £17.99 Add to basket

Dance pair Tom McFarland and Joshua Lloyd-Watson aka Jungle cut loose on this, their third and most evocative album to date. It is a record packed with the sort of good time grooves and wall to wall party tunes we all want to hear after such a dark 18 months or so. There are plenty of heart on sleeve tunes, hooky top lines and warm, soaring summer chords that are designed to be heard outdoors, on a massive festival sound system with thousands of people singing along next to you. Some slower, dubbed out rhythms provide a nice counter to stop things growing too saccharine, and overall it add up to a great listen.

PRESALE - Atmosphere - Word? (Rhymesayers)

Pre-Order Double Vinyl LP £21.99 Add to basket
Pre-Order CD £10.99 Add to basket

Estimated dispatch date: 8th October 2021.

Vinyl packaging includes a 12” full-color gatefold jacket with black double vinyl, black dust sleeves & a free digital download card.

Following their last release, The Day Before Halloween—an imaginative, distorted-synth-driven concept album—Atmosphere returns with a refreshing new project, simply titled Word? Steering back toward their signature sound, the album further highlights producer Ant’s undeniable talents as the project leans into the classic boom-bap aesthetic, bringing a unique energy out of Slug’s wisdom, wit and delivery. From onset, Word? proves to be every bit an exercise in refining and advancing their craft as it is a harkening to earlier work. That is, while their releases have grown more broodingly cinematic, and increasingly concerned with the human condition and mortality, Word? manages to reintroduce moments of levity and lightheartedness throughout, an approach seldom heard on their albums of late.

From album opener “Fleetwood,” with its razor-sharp snares and warm fleshy bassline, to the resonant melody of “Clocked”, there are strong hints of Atmosphere’s nascent years within the sound. Meanwhile, songs like “Woes”, “Strung” and “Vanish” cheerfully make light of daily hardships, but they’re more likely to be remembered for making listeners want to bob their heads and sing along. With Slug and Ant directing the course, the album plays like a joyride through a range of experiences and emotions, with an extensive cast of special guests hopping in and out along the way, including Evidence, Muja Messiah, Musab, Nino Bless, Nikki Jean, Anwar HighSign, BlackLiq, Sa-Roc, Haphduzn, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Aesop Rock, and the late MF Doom (RIP). The result is a project that feels like it came from the era or, perhaps more fittingly, the mindset that created albums like God Loves Ugly, Seven’s Travels, or the popular Sad Clown series, while sounding as polished and perfected as more recent albums like Mi Vida Local or Whenever.

Ultimately, Word? pairs the breadth of Atmosphere’s talents with the beauty of their growth, all while showing they still have a lot of fun in the process and don’t mind letting the listener in on the fun as well.

Track Listing:
1. Fleetwood 2. Something 3. Crumbs (feat. Evidence & Muja Messiah) 4. Woes 5. Strung (feat. Musab) 6. Clocked 7. Sleepless (feat. Nino Bless) 8. Distances 9. Carousel (feat. Nikki Jean) 10. Vanish 11. Pressed (feat. Anwar HighSign, BlackLiq, Sa-Roc, Haphduzn, and Lateef the Truthspeaker) 12. Skull 13. Nekst 14. Barcade (feat. Aesop Rock & MF DOOM)