Nautilus
Lady Day & John Coltrane

Christian Reim (b. 1945) has played jazz since the late 50’s, his merits list is long but how many can price themselves with having played both bass and piano with Dexter Gordon?That was back in the day but with this new release, different generations meet over Christian’s colorful, deeply personal lyricism.The first four songs were recorded in the autumn of 2001 in two sets, one with Harald Johnsen (b.1970 – d.2011) on bass and Jarle Vespestad (b. 1966) on drums. Two years later, in the summer of 2003, it is Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (b. 1971) on bass and Håkon Mjåset Johansen (b. 1975) on drums. The recordings were made in Christian’s home studio at Frogner in Oslo with Martin Abrahamsen as the sound engineer.The repertoire of 9 songs consists mostly of Reim’s own songs, but also the famous jazz version of Norways national anthem ‘Ja, Vi Elsker’ The traditional christmas song ‘O Jul med din Glede’ and an interpretation of Ennio Morricone’s ‘Once Upon A Time In America’

Harmless Joking Edits by Molio HoliTwo songs from Molio Holi’s back catalogue get the Secret Disco treatment in all their extended dance glory."Harmless" sounds like the Happy Mondays doing a post-late-late night, early morning recording session in Ikebukuro. Taken from Molio Holi’s excellent full-length cassette "Yopo," released in April 2021 on Everyday Ago, the track is all shakers, finger snaps, lazy tight bass, bongos, sixties-tinged psychedelic drones, blasted keys, and catchy call and response vocals with the most too-cool-for-school delivery this side of the Yamanote line. Secret Disco reworks the number to the 9'57" mark. With no additional production, the loping, 111 bpm ditty is extended for all its blissful worth."Joking" pictures New Order smoking cigarettes with The Cure in a rainy Kabukicho alley at 4 a.m., all eyes on the puddles gathering at their feet. Released in December 2021 on Molio Holi’s own Soleil lunatique imprint as part of the brilliant "White Sunlight" EP, the song combines sparse drum machines, synth bass, melancholy chiming keys, and searing, razor blade guitars. The beautiful vocals are a detached kind of sorrowful, an aloof despondency. Secret Disco splices up the original, rearranging it to more than twice its original length to maximize the pensive 120 bpm dance floor experience.

This long-awaited inaugural release from DJ Fred Spider's Voom Voom Records visits an iteration of the legendary South African jazz funk ensemble of the 20th century. Spirits Rejoice recorded two incredible jazz fusion albums in the late 70’s with amble lashings of funk and soul. As the currents of popular music shifted in the 1980s, the group got behind a modern dance side project led by guitarist Paul Petersen and produced by the genius Patric Van Blerk.

Today, LA producer and underground dance-fantasy legend Benedek has shared his new EP “Zebrano” via Steven Julien’s Apron Records. It’s his first release for the London label, and features a stellar line up of featured artists, from rising Canadian-Ghanaian LA-based singer AKUA and DC's man of the moment dreamcastmoe, to R&B future icon Devin Morrison. It serves as Benedek’s first featured release since his 2011 single with Dam-Funk.While originally lauded for his own hybrid of boogie, garage house, and downtempo grooves, Benedek is traversing new realms with his esoteric innovations. These are all facets of Benedek's sunny and seductive hometown of Los Angeles, and are sonically expressed in his catalog. But as much as he’s embraced the shimmer on the surface, he’s also familiar with deeper, more hidden worlds. His work has found its home on such labels as PPU, LI.E.S., Leaving Records, Music From Memory and more. His expansive catalog includes collaborations with Steve Arrington, Delroy Edwards, Dam-Funk, Joyce Wrice, Tom Noble, Jamma-Dee, Kirin and more.