2025

Betino Records has released a new record by Parisian band The Big Hustle, "The Tokyo EP". This is the result of a meeting in Tokyo between of French bass player, composer, producer Sébastien Levanneur and Japanese musicians. It's an ambitious work that incorporates a wide variety of musical styles, as well as plenty of Japanese elements, elevating it to pop. Several Japanese top musicians are guests on the record, trumpet player/vocalist jazz legend Toku, the modern city pop singers Junk Fujiyama, Michael Kaneko.The selection offers various grooves from classic city pop to funky instrumental, AOR with lush strings and synths, airy ballad spiced with some koto added on top. If you never been to Japan here's your easy way to get a glimpse of it.

Pleasure of Love reissue imprint, New Islands, is back with another stunning restoration of a sought-after 12” gem. Originally produced by Paul Robb of Information Society in 1987, Venus II emerged as an otherworldly girl group in the Minneapolis scene. The mysterious duo wrote, programmed/sequenced, and performed everything live in the studio and on stage, including their local hit “Oh Boy.” Over the years, balearic heads have come to know and love this rare 12”. Now New Islands, sourcing from the original multi-track tapes, delivers a wicked, lush reissue of the original songs along with a pair of Justin Strauss remixes. Recommended if you like Nu Shooz, Tom Tom Club, and Torch Song.

Daniel Monaco Band is an international group led by Italian bassist Daniele Labbate. Blending jazz, funk, house and disco with live energy, their debut EP ‘Get Naked and Fly’ captures years of collaboration and experimentation. The result is a warm, analog-driven sound crafted by seasoned session musicians who’ve toured the world and are now channeling their creativity into original music as a group.Lead track ‘Love Ago’ delivers modern disco with the authenticity of the golden era, ‘Mimouna’ has a psychedelic edge, with the WHODAMMANY remix taking the original into a more electronic direction. ‘The Devil Left Dancing’ takes a subtly off centre path, nodding to Brazilian influences, while the title track ‘Get Naked and Fly’ is raw and instinctive blending live instrumentation with electronic sensibilities.The project is a testament to what happens when musicians trust each other enough to explore freely without chasing perfection. A live band speaking house, funk and jazz with one voice — analogue, soulful, and free.Personnel : Percussion by Yannick Van Ter Beek, Drums by Robin van Rijn, Sax by Alessandro Russo, Guitar by Simone Cesarini and Bass by Daniele Labbate.Designed by Bradley Pinkerton.

Limited to 500 copies.For the first time ever, this incredible 1974 recording by Joe Truss and composer Michael Kamen (who would go on to score Hollywood blockbusters like Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and Robin Hood) is getting the proper release it always deserved. Nearly all original copies were destroyed by the pressing plant after being pressed at the wrong speed. A second run of just around 50 copies was quietly made — and then it vanished into obscurity. Until now. Psychedelia collides with deep grooves in an explosion of creative madness. One of the rarest records to come out of the Caribbean, finally reissued for the world to hear. The B-side? An unreleased funk track, salvaged from a reel containing the soundtrack of a never-released film — a forgotten gem brought back to life. To mark the occasion and do this release justice, Lava On Wax is proud to present this as a 7” with a full picture sleeve, featuring beautiful artwork by Hamraz Bayan. Prepare to be blown away by this psychedelic funk trip — full of raw drum breaks and brain-melting synths.Special thanks to Guts for the support, Joe Truss for believing in the project and granting the license, and to Hamraz Bayan for blessing the cover with her unique art.