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2023 marks fifty years since Tom Waits released his landmark debut album 'Closing Time'. Called "a minor key masterpiece filled with songs of late-night loneliness" by All Music Guide, 'Closing Time' features the distinctly lyrical storytelling and blending of jazz, blues and folk styles that would come to be associated first with Waits. In honor of this occasion Anti will be collecting and sharing untold stories, rare photos and more. The album's 50th anniversary vinyl available for the first time as a double 180g LP cut at 45 RPM with half speed mastering by London's Abbey Road Studios. The gatefold jacket was also specially created with thicker board and black poly-lined inner sleeves. In Rolling Stone's original 1973 review of the record, writer Stephen Holden immediately detects elements of pathos and bathos that will be poured over by fans and journalists in Waits's records for years to come, saying that Waits "parodies the lounge music sub-genre so perfectly that we wonder if he's putting us on or if he's for real, and it is his especial triumph that in the end he has it both ways: He is able to deliver whole both the truth and the sham of the music."

To celebrate 10 years of one of London’s most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo are thrilled to launch this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gómez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent’s spirit. A party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties.

Beachwood Sparks pioneered the indie-country genre, pushing Americana into experimental territories with their fusion of twangy country vibes and psychedelic sounds. Their unique niche in the indie music landscape is marked by ethereal melodies and introspective lyrics, influencing countless artists and shaping the "weirder" side of Americana music. With the release of "Across The River Of Stars" in 2024, their legacy as genre innovators continues to grow, solidifying their place as trailblazers in the indie-country movement.Their albums "Beachwood Sparks," "Once We Were Trees," and "The Tarnished Gold," released under Sub Pop Records, have earned widespread critical acclaim. Each album showcases their distinctive blend of psychedelic country, praised for dreamy melodies, lush instrumentation, and evocative songwriting. Their self-titled debut established them as indie-country innovators, while "Once We Were Trees" further solidified their reputation with introspective lyrics and ethereal soundscapes. "The Tarnished Gold" continued their legacy, displaying musical growth while maintaining timeless appeal.

Dirk Maassen (* 28. February 1970 in Aachen) is a german composer and pianist living in Ulm, Germany.

Bristol Archive Records have been telling the story of the incredibly diverse Bristol Music scene for many years now. The label has focused recently on the sub-culture of Mod, Modernism and Power Pop and recently gained considerable success with their release ‘The Bristol Mod Explosion 1979-1987’. They have also released albums from the same scene by The Reaction ‘Shapes of Things To Come’ and The Rimshots ‘A Way With Words 1980-1983’. Now we turn our attention to another undiscovered Bristol band, Thin Air who featured on the Mod Explosion and the song writing genius of a would be Paul Weller, John Lennon, Elvis Costello – Paul Sandrone.

Since 2010 the Associazione La Cantoria has dedicated its energies to the rediscovery of unpublished musical compositions from Rome, transcribing, studying and performing these both live and recording them under the Tactus record label. This cd is dedicated to the musician, composer and organist Francesco Giovannini who was chapelmeister at the Church of Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli in the 18th century, and whose works are conserved in the archives of the Order of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God in Rome.

London-based musicians Chris Davids and Liam Ivory AKA Maribou State release their debut long-player on Ninja Tune's sub-label Counter Records. Following a slew of releases on Fatboy Slim’s Southern Fried Records, the pair offer up ten original tracks and collaborations with Pedestrian, Holly Walker, and Jono McCleery. "Portraits" is set to expand on the instrumentalist nature of their soundscape, illuminating the organic, pleasantly rough textures of their music.

On the way to the next Balans project, I needed to do something else. Like breaking up with your boyfriend and sleeping with someone opposite, then hopefully seeing everything clearly again. Where would I go? I have been looking for the right entry to combine my music with the deep feelings and connections I have had with N since I was a small child.