Australia

From a lost Australian electronic soul gem, to a cult classic: Shahara-Ja’s ‘I’m An Arabian Knight’ has gained much momentum since it’s 2017 reissue, so much so that the Egyptian Lover reached out to the label proclaiming he’d do a remix. The electro innovator who the original release appears to be highly inspired by seemed like a perfect fit for this sleazy late Night groover. The result is 3 fresh mixes using elements of the original session tapes and the perfect touch of the Egyptian Lover’s signature 808

Respuesta Alternativa or the Alternative Response was the project of Spanish musician Jesus Mª Catalan, created with the help of Julián C. Pérez.As the title implies the music was generated in response to traditional music notions of the time, and reflects how Jesus Mª Catalan would challenge these traditional ideals using a fusion of styles and his unique vision. Jesus laid out his synths and drum machines, while other musicians played traditional instruments over the top. This unique approach worked to create atmospheric tracks capturing simple themes, with each influence being carefully thought of in the joint result. As he explains “each instrument weaves independently throughout a passage in a curious game where the listener’s attention goes from focusing on a keyboard, guitar to bass or percussion. Previously only released on a cassette album in Spain, Left Ear have polished 5 choice cuts for a 2018 12”.

Heads may not know it, but Olmos (real name Oliver Graham) has been one of the busiest influencers on Australia’s underground music culture this side of the 90s. Through family-run operation Paradise Loft Records, he has quietly imported thousands of dead stock Disco, Boogie and early House records into crates across the country - affording tastemakers a slice of digging culture only a trip to NYC would previously have allowed.Thus Ol’s arrival at Gulf Point gleams with the jewels you’d expect from a producer with such inspired tastes. These are set free on “Luna’s Groove”, a star-chasing collection of nouveau post-disco works, crafted in earnest with dancers in mind. Raised on a healthy diet of Levan mixes and M+M dubs, his own use of juicy Moog basses, progressive arrangements and glittering melodies have bought forth an EP which modestly harnesses the New York Garage aesthetic he loves so dearly.Three Olmos originals are teamed with an astral mix by Benny Badge, reigniting his Freekwency namesake to redo the title with cosmic pads and the gravitational pull of a timeless 808 sequence. Jack Doepel, known for his work with Melbourne's rising Krakatau, also makes an appearance on sax - landing this interstellar mission somewhere on Jupiter’s fifth moon, Rhea.This is Ollie and Benny’s second meeting, the first being Freekwency’s “Flip The Coin” on Voyeurhythm. Recorded in 2011, their collaboration fuelled a simmering Boogie revival and remains in high demand alongside similar transmissions from Tom Noble, Psychic Mirrors and PPU. Since then, Olmos’ evolution has scored him some deserved points of his own - “Luna’s Groove” however, may have just hit the bulls-eye.

Isle Of Jura’s second longplayer reissue is an album from Ingleton Falls that touches upon Ambient, Dub, House and Balearic styles and was originally released in 1991 as a limited run of 100 self distributed cassette tapes.Ingleton Falls are Andy Hannam Seymour and Andy Eardley from Tyne and Wear in Newcastle. Having come from a more traditional band background originally, Ingleton Falls was their electronic project and the result of a love of acts like Dub Syndicate, African Headcharge, Gary Clail, The Orb and The KLF.Andy Hannam Seymour remembers “It was a very creative time musically, there was a lot going on around us that used new technology. I was excited by the possibilities. Up until then I'd been playing guitar with a more traditional drums/bass/guitar/vocal band with all the 'musical differences' that entailed (the two bands ran side by side for a while). I also liked the idea that you could write and record a piece of music that was ready to release yourself, rather than it being a demo or having to pay a lot of cash for studio time. That DIY aspect was a lot of fun.”The album is split into 2 parts, ‘Aware’ and ‘Unaware’. Andy explains “We decided that 'side1' and side2' were pretty dull and came up with the aware and unaware division based on a kind of enlightened and unenlightened mind kind of idea. The unaware side had the tunes with themes like necrophilia and samples of christians and the aware side was more expansive mindful themes.”Equipment used the make the album included a Cheetah SX16 sampler, Alesis HR16 Drum Machine, Yamaha FG440 Acoustic Guitar, Tokai Stratocaster Guitar and an Atari ST computer running a Steinberg Pro 24 sequencing program (from floppy disk!). Due to a lack of sampling memory sounds were added live from cassette into the final mixes. 25 years later these songs finally reach a wider audience, initially via a limited cassette release followed 6 weeks later by the 180 Gram Heavyweight LP.

Nigeria’s Kingsley Bucknor’s ‘Just U and Me’ LP gets the long-awaited reissue treatment from Melbourne’s Left Ear Records. After cutting his teeth playing with Fela in the 70’s and releasing two afrobeat LP’s Kingsley travelled the globe before finding himself in London, it’s here that he laid down 6 distinctive electro-funk tunes inspired by African rhythms and music he’d heard through his travels in the States and in Europe. Originally issued on Kinglsley’s own KAB records in ’85 and according to Kingsley the release was well received at the time, but due to constraints of international marketing the record remained mostly unknown outside of his homeland. Fast-forward to 2017 and the stage is set for a new global audience to appreciate the distinct sound of KB.