New Arrivals / Last 4 weeks
Hamas Arc
Originally released in 1993. The reissue contains remixed material from »Shekel Of Israeli Occupation«, which did never appear. Also on there are two remixes from tracks on »Vote Hezbollah«. From the original press release: »For over ten years this solitary voice from Manchester has created a unique sound drawn from a melange of Arabic and European instrumental music. From the very beginning the music has been based on drums and other percussion instruments. Recent advances have been attained th…
Lazhareem Ul Leper
Lazhareem Ul Leper by Muslimgauze certainly qualifies for its range of percussion instruments, atypical electronics, skillful de-construction of ethno-traditional music. In turn, said music is re-assembled with urban stylings with a technical deftness akin to the way a Shao-Lin monk wields weapons. Muslimgauze enthusiasts may recognize sounds from Izlamaphobia on the odd track as they were made roughly the same time, only Lazhareem is arranged differently and with more unique elements to form a …
Sycophant Of Purdah
Part of Staalplaat’s ongoing Muslimgauze archive series, Sycophant of Purdah was submitted in 1994 then “replaced” by another master Bryn Jones felt more fit for release. Sycophant then languished in the vaults until present, nearly a decade after Jones’ passing. It is no secret that Jones was a prolific artist and that numerous labels combined could not keep up with his output and will take several more years more for them to do so.
Sycophant opens with a radio broadcast on the on-going Palesti…
Kashmiri Queens
"Kashmiri Queens" presents a more accessible side of Muslimgauze, featuring a faster tempo and fewer sonic overtones than his previous endeavors. The music's core is rooted in drone and raga samples complemented by a rich array of ethnic percussions. All the standard Muslimgauze elements present here, but this release sees a more steady approach to his sound. Far less of the abrupt cutting in and out he had favoured for a good while, and more of a concentrated approach to the music. He lets the …
Souk Bou Saada
Another Muslimgauze discovery in Staalplaat's reissue series, with eight rare tracks from the mind of Bryn Jones. Hefty slabs of beefy beats are seasoned with spicy South Asian melodies while mouth numbingly hot bass lines are smothered in distortion chutney; Souk Bou Saada was broiled in Machester's finest tandoor and is now served by Staalplaat. If you love East Indian flavors with a neo-bhangra beat, this disc will not disappoint, equally at home on the dancefloors of Bradistan, UK or Mumbai,…
Iranair Inflight Magazine
This is a mostly beat-driven album with little background noise, ambient space, or reverb. There is also no big emphasis on Middle Eastern sounds, which (and you should be figuring this out by now) is a frequently occurring theme in Bryn Jones' politically-driven music. Occasionally, there is some melodic material, or a touch of the Middle East sprinkled in, but it's played down in favor of beats that could best be described as very raw and closer to early Autechre minimalism than something from…
Asymptote Versatile (1963-64)
Multifold digipack edition + extensive booklet. Amgen presents the historic recording of Éliane Radigue's Asymptote Versatile (1963-64), widely recognized as the oldest surviving composition by the pioneering French electronic music composer. This monumental work was performed for the very first time at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival on November 26, 2023, marking a truly historic event as Radigue had resolutely refused permission for this work to be presented in concert - until now…
Megalopolis
"Even if it doesn't sell well, let's create records that carry the scent of culture. I want you to perform Japanese jazz by Japanese people." Inspired by these words from the director, Hiroshi Matsumoto decided to record the album "Megalopolis." The concept is "Tokyo." Drawing inspiration from the rapidly changing cityscape seen from the airplane window, Matsumoto began production. Together with Hideyo Ichikawa, Kunimitsu Inaba, and Motohiko Hino, the four musicians positioned themselves in a ci…
Strode Road
'Strode Road' marks the debut of Japanese pianist Toshiyuki Sekine, recorded on May 3, 1978, at ARU Studio. The album presents a collection of jazz standards delivered with a vibrant and cohesive trio performance. Sekine's piano work, complemented by the rhythm section, offers a fresh take on classic compositions, reflecting the burgeoning Japanese jazz scene of the late 1970s.
Cannonball's Sharpshooters
This is one of three albums made by one of the best formations led by saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley during his whole career. This “Cannonball” Adderley Quintet included his brother Nat Adderley on cornet, pianist Junior Mance, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Jimmy Cobb.Together they made the classic LPs Sophisticated Swing, Cannonball Enroute and the present album Cannonball’s Sharpshooters.
Eastern Sounds
2025 stock Originally released in 1962, jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef’s “Eastern Sounds” fuses hard bop with middle eastern music as he is joined by Barry Harris on piano alongside Ernie Farrow (double bass, rabaab) and Lex Humphries (drums). This new edition of the album is released as part of the Original Jazz Classics Series and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI with all-analogue mastering from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and presented in a Tip-On Jacket.
Super-Sonic Jazz
When Sun Ra released his debut Saturn release in 1957, he signaled the Arkestra’s mission for the future. The cover declared the album a "21st Century Limited Edition." The compositions on Supersonic Jazz conveyed optimism and hope, bringing a message auguring the World of Tomorrow. Ra declared this the first dimension of a fresh art form, as he set about evolving a new American music — a composite of the past and future, the known coalescing with the unknown. The album, not very well received u…
Light Patterns
Big tip! *2025 repress* An early ‘80s ambient jazz gem from the archive of Manchester’s Kevin McCormick & David Horridge. In 1970, Kevin and David met whilst they were working in the Labour Exchange Office on Aytoun St, Manchester. Both played guitar and had been searching for other musicians who played atmospheric music. Kevin had been playing in small clubs in Manchester and David performed in a few local bands. One evening, they jammed together at Kevin’s family home, and quickly realized tha…
More Golden Slumbers: The Very Best Of Vol 2
Celebrated Norwegian band Fra Lippo Lippi return with a definitive new collection, More Golden Slumbers: The Very Best Of Vol. 2, an album that continues their legacy as one of the most beloved and enduring names in pop history. Following on from the success of *Golden Slumbers: The Very Best Of*, this second volume offers a fresh journey through the band’s timeless works, bringing together carefully curated tracks that capture both their heartfelt lyricism and melodic brilliance. Emerging in th…
1979
"Two years after he first appeared on Balmat with 1977, Mike Paradinas returns with 1979. The sense of continuity between the two records is clear, and not just from their titles. Both capture the Planet Mu head venturing into the wilderness, seeking something—half-formed memories, thoughts caught in midair—in some of the most abstract, searching music he has released. Just like 1977, 1979 surveys a synth-heavy array of ethereal soundscapes, ominous crevasses, and strange, psychedelic fugues. Li…
12" Single One
*300 copies limited edition* At this point the vast swathes of unreleased Muslimgauze material Bryn Jones left behind when he passed away over 25 years ago is as legendary as any of his work. And sure enough, there's still some being unearthed today. The second entry (and only 12”-sized one) is in a series of four (three 7"s and one 12") taken from one of Jones' customary completely unlabelled DATs he sent to labels seemingly as fast as he finished them.
A new series of singles collecting one of…
Langue of Tongue
Lénok’s 'Langue of Tongue' is a descent. An unhinged pinballing down a realm of incomprehension and lunacy, a darkly psychedelic ego-death-spiral into a world of pure, deranged disquiet. It is, and this cannot be emphasised enough, a truly fucked up place. It comes complete with clearly marked borders delineated by its opening and closing tracks '(Entrance' and 'Exit)’. The message is clear: this is less album than zone. There's no comfort to be found here. It’s like the inner monologue of some …
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
Violinist, composer, and arranger Hiroki Tamaki presents a majestic musical tapestry inspired by the teachings of Indian spiritual philosopher Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Layering his own vocals in rich harmony and weaving in the ethereal synthesizer work of Fumitaka Anzai (of TPO and Urusei Yatsura fame), Tamaki creates a soundscape of mysticism and spiritual balance. The album features progressive rock-influenced tracks such as “The Songs of Mahamudra” and “Meditation,” alongside hidden gems of Ja…
Dark Lights
Acclaimed composer, producer, DJ, and founder of Nonclassical, Gabriel Prokofiev, unveils his long-awaited album Dark Lights, marking his first personal release on the label in over a decade. Known for his distinctive fusion of genres, Prokofiev bridges the worlds of orchestral music and electronic production with an intensity that feels uniquely his own.
Dark Lights represents a bold step forward in Prokofiev’s sonic journey. Drawing on his background as a producer of hip-hop, grime, and elec…
s/∞ 01
Sound as Infinity (s/∞) is a project that explores the relationship between sound and the infinite, using recordings on endless tapes—continuous loop cassettes that play uninterrupted until manually stopped.