Review: Peter Gall - Drum Seeds (Compost Records)

Compost Records have had their eyes on Peter Gall for the past seven years since his debut album and now its the time to release the jazz drummers' unconventional  album, 'Drum Seeds': watch them grow!

A couple of years on since the Peter Gall 'difficult' second album 'Love Avatar' you'll recall that project recorded with top musicians from the European jazz scene which got top reviews (see review HERE), led to successful tours and performances at renowned jazz festivals and won the German Jazz Award for “Album of the Year” in 2025.

The temptation to repeat a winning formula must have been, quite literally, tempting!  But jazz drummers are not typically typical so when drummer/producer Peter Gall says he's doing a solo album, 'Drums Seeds' is much more than just a drum statement.

The groundwork was actually laid by Compost label head Michael Reinboth: He had long wanted to produce a pure drum album with Peter Gall. So they met at Jan Krause’s (Beanfield) studio, where Peter Gall had also recorded numerous albums for the Compost universe with the spiritual jazz supergroup WEB WEB. In this familiar atmosphere, hours of material emerged—ranging from beats and grooves to layered drumkits and, in some cases, orchestral drum-and-percussion arrangements. On DRUM SEEDS, Gall’s drumming is more prominent than on any of the roughly 50 albums the 42-year-old has recorded to date for various bands and artists. Nevertheless, he remains averse to sheer, virtuoso show-off drumming. “For me, it’s more about the feeling and the story a simple groove can tell,” he says.

Peter Gall’s love for vintage analog synthesizers then derailed the original plan to let only the drums take center stage on the album. And suddenly, the mantric beats evolved into partly song-like tracks with immersive sound collages that evoke associations: with the ambient works of Aphex Twin, the dancefloor bangers of Caribou, the jazz of the ’60s and ’70s, with The Streets, Boards of Canada, the soundtracks of David Lynch or Blade Runner, but also, time and again, to Gall’s earlier jazz albums—with compelling melodies, profound harmonies, and an imaginative, spiritual atmosphere.

PS. Did I not say 'Groove Receiver' and 'Super Truth' are amazing?  Kraut-Rock-Returneth!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://petergall.bandcamp.com/album/drum-seeds

Artist: Peter Gall

Title: Love Avatar  

Release date: 4th September, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 635 1-2-3

Format:Vinyl LP + Download Card / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

673794268019 > LP
673794268026 > CD
673794268033 > Digital

Review: Christian Prommer - Rhythmique Nocturne (Compost Records)

Christian Prommer recently posted, "a true from day‑one supporter of my music since the Fauna Flash, Trüby Trio and Drumlesson days. Handed him the very first vinyl test pressing of my upcoming double album 'Rhythmic Nocturne' (worldwide release: July 10th) - so was he talking about YATM?

Regular readers will know that the short answer is "No" as he was giving DJ Gilles Peterson a copy of said new album in Berlin (at the time of the Berlin Jazz Festival) but he could have been: particularly by the time of Drumlesson (saw him at Big Chill for a live set with with cover versions of Techno classics) and even the Christian Prommer remix of 'Winter Wonderland' by Shirley Horn - see review HERE).

So we've been looking forward to the album since the single, 'Trying Times' (featuring Justine Hoerwarth) came out.  That was a re-imagination of Roberta Flack's 1969 classic protest song and the rest of the album, 11 tracks in total, is full of his imaginative downtempo acoustic-electronic jazz and dance grooves.

Prime example of this is the vocal on 'I'm Falling (Falling Deep)' by Carl Justin that's blended into a loopy drum and piano jazz track with dubby undercurrents that crash onto the shoreline.

Apparently, Mr. Prommer looks for "texture" within his sound design portal and live musician background and it's very atmospheric at times; 'Dark Matter' (space ship on turbo bongos), 'Night Society' (big strings coming to a climax) and 'Spiral' (Industrial shed in the plant room).

Other tracks feature Kelvin Sholar ('Boss') where the America pianist gets in a synth phaser samba battle and Leona Berlin ('Struck') for the R&B/Soul beats.

In fact, the last track is called 'I Lost Myself In The Music' gives everyone a chance to cool down which is no bad thing as at the time of release, Europe is under a massive heat bubble, but make no mistake, this 'Rhythmique Nocturne' is a hot property and it's a good idea to get your hands on it as a double LP!.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/ChristianPrommer-RhythmiqueNocturne

Artist: Christian Prommer 

Title: Rhythmique Nocturne

Release date: 10th July, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT 670

Format: 2xLP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Christian Prommer - Tryin’ Times feat. Justine Hoerwarth (Compost Records)

Christian Prommer recently posted, "a true from day‑one supporter of my music since the Fauna Flash, Trüby Trio and Drumlesson days. Handed him the very first vinyl test pressing of my upcoming double album 'Rhythmic Nocturne' (worldwide release: July 10th) - so was he talking about YATM?

The short answer was "no" as he was giving M.Gilles Peterson a copy of said new album in Berlin (at the time of the Berlin Jazz Festival) but he could have been: particularly by the time of Drumlesson (saw him at Big Chill for a live set with with cover versions of Techno classics) and even the Christian Prommer remix of 'Winter Wonderland' by Shirley Horn - see review HERE).

In fact, there's a bit of a connection with that 'The First Ladies' (of Jazz) collection (Ella, Zena, Billie, Sarah et al) as the single, 'Tryin' Times' has taken a decade to re-imagine Roberta Flack's 1969 classic protest song and WOW! it's been worth it as 1. it's a powerful reminder of what the music industry is capable of 2.  It's brilliant as Ms. Hoerwarth is the perfect voice for this track in its new guise "a modern jazz-rave invocation [with]. Prommer loops, fragments and deconstructs elements of the original recording, amplifying its message as a deep, dark yet urgent call for unity in a fractured world".

The album is going to be a must for fans of all Prommer's previous projects and "St. Germain, Floating Points and refined grooves at all speeds" in-between: put it on repeat.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://christian-prommer.bandcamp.com/album/rhythmique-nocturne-2

Artist: Christian Prommer 

Title: Tryin’ Times feat. Justine Hoerwarth 

Release date: 19th June, 2026

Label: Compost Records,

Catalog Number : CPT 670-6

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Ripperton & Joy Frempong - Sirens (Compost Records)

You might be thinking that you haven't heard from Ripperton for a while and you'd be right.  As Ripperton has been redesigning: Ripperton, mostly as Headless Ghost,  Compost Records have put Joy Frempong with him to get some 'Sirens' to playout. 

You'll recall Ripperton (aka DJ/producer Raphaël Gros from Laussane, Switzerland) is known as a innovator in the electronic music having launched labels like Perspectiv Records, and Tamed musiq, releasing music on leading underground imprints including Innervisions, Border Community or Planet E.   Although, I'd say it was his extended/minimal remix work that made his name, out of the hundred's he's done, particularly Beanfield ('Tides'), Laurent Garnier and Radiohead (it seems like Gerry Hectic's 'Nude' edit has been deleted from Soundcloud!).

Knowing Joy Frempong from OY, having remixed Laundry with 'Modern Jealousy' in 2012, her Afrofuturist dispora Avant-pop poetry/storytelling is perfect for a Ripperton collaboration. Like a a antidote/counter point of Anthony Joseph's recent album, 'The Ark' (see review HERE). 

In fact, 'Sirens' has been "in the making" since that remix and like other sirens (see HERE) you always hear the sirens; in this case  in four versions original, clouds, melodydreamer and instrumental.

Sounding more choral than subterreanan this is tipical minimal with electronic soul and you can tell from the instrumental version how Frempong has elevated the song into "something haunting and profoundly human".

It's a grower with the gentle guitar being swept by waves and the gothic organ calling from Whitby churches.  Not everyone's cup of tea by great to see/hear Ripperton with us once again.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://CompostRecords.lnk.to/RippertonXJoyFrempong-Sirens

Artist: Ripperton & Joy Frempong

Title: Sirens EP

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 671-3

Format: Digital 

Review: Charles Petersohn - Children Of Zu Zu Remixed (Compost Records)

When 'Children of Zu Zu' was released as a 'Short Version' single and everyone in the YATM office was saying, "where's the long version?" And when the long version came out, did we need a 'remix' album; you bet we do and it's here!

Featuring Roberto Di Giola and the People of Tla'aga Samoa, producer/DJ/Singer Charles Petersohn took a massive 18 year break from Compost records (see review HERE) so less than 18 months since 'Children Of Zu Zu', the "Long Version", (see review HERE) is a mere drop in the echoes of and reality before this remix edition emerges..

In fact you get 3 different versions of the track 'Myths versus Reality' and they are all very, so VERY different.  In fact, the Greater Manchester Housing Authority A Spiritual Space Rework is the closest thing I've heard as a combination of Charity Shop Classics' Jason Cooke and Jerry Dammer's Spacial Arkestra in a space fuel reggae combo - surely such a future classic needs a dub version?  I'm onto Compost now for RSD2027 12" disco version.

Stunning and you also get the percussive also dancefloor mix and a Sun Ra dubby Vicktor Malik remix of 'Myths versus Reality' which make this album essential in itself.  But dof on't worry if 'Schmettrlinge Im Bauch' was you're favourite as it's tastefully remix as a space broken beat by Mary Olivetti - oh yeah!

And for more Afro-futurism dancefloor there's the Moodrama remix of the title track as vocal and instrumental versions.

I can't lie, I was a little suspicious on hearing of a 'Children Of Zu Zu' remix album as the original was so good but when Petersohn joins in himself with 'A Meditation On Monk' version of the title track (which is brilliant - could be Monk vs. Mingus vs. Ginger Johnson vs. Ra) you know Charles and Compost's intentions were pure; as Charles himself says, “The shared desire for the EP's tracks to embrace the idea that a remix can be a work of art in its own right has been fully realized. All the mixes have a personal touch, using the originals as raw material that has been played with to one's heart's content. I'm very happy!”. 

We're very happy too Charles!

P.S. As featured in the Colour & Pitch Sessions April Mix (see below) and if you don't know about Manchester's Charity Shop Classics (latest Gerry Hectic Listener's Choice is HERE - Show 543) and check HERE for an early history on Jerry Dammers.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Children Of Zu Zu Remixes | Charles Petersohn & https://CompostRecords.lnk.to/CharlesPetersohn-ChildrenOfZuZuEP

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - April 2026

Artist: Charles Petersohn

Title: Children Of Zu Zu Remixed

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT669

Format:  Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Web Web - Kover Kover (Compost Records)

Web Web are making a habit of musically kicking you in the solar plexus as the Munich based fusion jazz group 'Kover Kover' scores even more than Bayern's Harry Kane! 

Exactly a year ago, Compost Records released Web Web's 'Plexus Plexus' featuring. JJ Whitefield (see review HERE) following 'WEB MAX II' (see review HERE) came out a couple of years earlier but this is their seventh album in total and arguably their best yet!

Why 'arguably'?  Well, they're taken the well-worn route of doing an album of cover version of popular tunes in thier own jazz style; most recently seen with Jazz Sabbath as they focus on Black Sabbath's back catalog as a quasi-tribute band.

Web Web, are not that insular, albeit they do cover Sabb's 'chill-out' classic 'Planet Caravan', with the core of Roberto Di Gioia (Fender Rhodes, Piano, Organ, Synthesizers, Percussion), Tony Lakaos(Flute, Altoflute, Soprano- and Tenorsaxofone), Christian Von Kaphengst (Upright Bass, Fender Jazzbass) and Pete Gall (drums, keys)

So can you imagine how good this sounds when they can sound like Weather Report doing a cover version of 'Slave To The Rhythm'! But they don't stop with just Grace Jones and Black Sabbath, they've dug deep into Nirvana ('Come As You Are') Klaus Doldinger, Jimi Hendrix ('Burning Of The Midnight Lamp'), Talking Heads ('Once In A Lifetime'), Grandbrothers, Dave Pike (Big Schlepp), Empire Of The Sun, Joe Jackson ('Steppin‘ Out'), Eurythmics ('Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)'), Kruder & Dorfmeister as their interpretations sound like Web Web originals; talk about making 'standards' their own, Web Web have truly eclipsed some of the originals.

It's a shame some of the tracks are so shtort but 'We Are The People', 'High Noon' and 'Slave To The Rhythm' make up for that but perhaps there's some plans for 12" longer versions? (Ed. wishfull thinking at the moment) but after 10 years on concentrating singularly on thier own compositions, this is a massive 14 track album that's full of twists ('Once In A Lifetime' is not the dancefloor monster you might have second guessed at) and turns ('Big Schepp' goes even more Cathedral-space-mod) so that by the end, all you slaves to the rhythm will be thinking, 'Album Of The Year'!

PS. If you're very quick there's a special offer on Bandcamp to purchase all of their 7 albums including 'Kover Kover'.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/WebWeb-KoverKover

P.S. Cover artwork by Jan Steins.

Artist: WEB WEB 

Title: Kover Kover

Release date: 24th April, 2026

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 677

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Michael Reinboth – Morbus Mütze (Compost Records)

It's been over a year since we had a release by Michael Reinboth, but when they do come along, you know it's going to be a good 'un! 

Last seen with the single 'Let The Spirit' / 'RS6 Avant' (see review HERE), Reinboth is back with a 3 track EP of "techno-tinged, ocean-deep instrumentals" - 'Morbus Mütze' comes in two forms, 'Curable Piano Version' and 'Incurable Version'.  

I wonder how long he was looking for a "cure" for the incurable and what alturnatives he tried before settling on the piano; heavy Latin percussion?  Spacey synth house?   Either way, Dr. Michael has found his 'Morbus Mütze' (Ed. it's a 'secret' term used by doctors to describe patients with hypochondria. These are people who never actually have anything concrete to show for their condition, but constantly imagine that they do).

On the flip, he finds more inspiration in the medical science with 'Neurodiversity' that hits electronic connections all over the dancefloor that's dark on some listens and enlightening on others.

Michael Reinboth?  Just to re-cap, "After early Beanfield productions, circa 20 remixes (some old ones labelled simply Compost Remixes), more than 30 compilations and 30+ years of running Compost, a few 12”s under alter egos, Compost boss Michael Reinboth finally decides to liberate the alias and mystic".  I'd say, Beanfield were at their zenith 20 years ago with 'Tides' with Ripperton and Carl Craig remixes so it's great to have a more 'Reinboth' as a 'revival' of sorts and hopefully a full album soon(?)

BUY LINK: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/MichaelReinboth_MorbusMutze

Artist: Michael Reinboth

Title: Morbus Mütze

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 659-3

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yuu Udagawa - Golden Glow EP (Compost Records)

Compost Records will be basking in the 'Golden Glow' of Yuu Udagawa as it becomes a summer must have: expect big support from Gilles Peterson and all the usual suspects. 

You'll recall Yuu Udagawa's 'Ride It' / 'The Peaceful Dawn' from last year with the a trio of remixes by three of our favourites on the "knob twiddles": JKriv, Fred Everything and Manuel Tur (see review HERE).  Well, 'Golden Glow' is a 4-tracker that's even better as Yuu's jazzy keys have some additional Henri Mancini 60s OST cool with "electric samba-infused broken beat".

It's housey warped jazz CO-OP (see 'Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2' review HERE), especially the killer instrumental track 'Reverie' and 'Velvet City' that hints at 'golden (Ed. no pun etc) era' hip-hop jazzy house. 

The other two tracks are just as mesmeric, the title track and the jazzy electro boogie mash of  'One More': love the jazz club vibes here. 

Yuu Udagawa is the highlight of the summer so far! Again!

BUY LINK: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/YuuUdagawa-GoldenGlowEP

As featured in:

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - May 2025

Artist: Yuu Udagawa 

Title: Golden Glow EP

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 654-3

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Web Web - Plexus Plexus (Compost Records)

This is like a kick in the Solar Solar Plexus as the contemporary fusion jazz group based in Munich are back on Compost with a new album. 

The original band, now Max Herre(less) after the album, 'WEB MAX II' (see review HERE) came out a couple of years ago but we know the key members of the band have kept busy.

Roberto Di Gioia (keys, bass, drums, percussion) with Peter Kruder (see review HERE), Pete Gall (drums, keys) on the album 'Love Avatar' (see review HERE), Tony Lakatos (tenor sax, flute) and Christian Von Kaphengst (bass, keys) plus featured guest, JJ Whitefield on guitar (he of 'The Infinity Of Nothingness' - see review HERE) on Jazzman Records. 

And talking of Jazzman, this has an overall feel of their 'Spiritual Jazz' compilation series with nods to Lonnie Liston Smith jazz-funk period, the Mr Scruff popularisation of Moondog's 'Bird's Lament' (their cover version of the original is great), Mulatu with more than healthy dose of Sun Ra Arkestra's (in all forms) along with Jimi Tenor.

Put all that in a massive 14 track album and you're close to an 'Album Of The Year'!

BUY LINK: Plexus Plexus | Web Web

Artist: WEB WEB ft. JJ Whitefield

Title: Plexus Plexus

Release date: 25th April, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 653 

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil - Merhba Remix EP (Compost Records)

Afro-futuristica flute gang house (with cover artwork to match) with a release on the always adventurous Compost Records label - gets remixed!

We know of Beatkozina after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE) and the 'Merhba EP' itself (see review HERE) but now we've got the remixes via some masters like Laroye, Moodorama, Chocolate Garage Productions, Sax Conversation and the always excellent Inskwel featuring Colonel Red making 'Merhba' sounding even better.

So that six more mesmerising afro-house jazz flute gang goodness that's rooted in Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Ron Trent, Joe Clausell, Osunlade, Louie Vega, King Tubby (and more)": that is excepting the 'Sax Conversation' mix that's a nice jazz up and Inkswel's instrumental synth up.

'Merhba' is 'Welcome' in Arabic and these guys have welcomed Beatkozina (a London and Marrakech based duo of Mehdi Baami and Gregory Jouandon) with open arms.  The smart money is on at least one of these remixes witll be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch but I wouldn't wait, the 'welcome' is remixed.

Artist: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil

Title: Merhba Remix EP

Release date: 11th April, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT652-3 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Charles Petersohn - Children Of Zu Zu (Short Version) (Compost Records)

To give it the full title, 'Children of Zu Zu' featuring Roberto Di Giola and the People of Tla'aga Samoa (Short Version), it's time that folks got to know Charles Petersohn.

We know Roberto Di Gioia from his collaboration with Peter Kruder (see review HERE) and the peoples of Samoa have a huge history but this is producer/DJ/Singer Charles Petersohn's first release in 18 years!

Having absorbed, take a deep breath, "Smooth deep house, different kinds of jazz and jazznotjazz, african rhythms, Brasil batucada, psychedelic funk poetry, inspired by Dr. John and most of all the space music and afrofuturist philosophy of Sun Ra and his Arkestra" this track is true to all these influences - the only problem, this is the 'Short Version'.

With echoes of Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Space Princess' on a visit to Jimi Tenor's Philophon studios with a touch of ragas going on, it's almost transglobal; but in a 'Compost Records' underground way.

We say, bring on the 'Long Version', we'll update you as soon as he get notificaiton. 

P.S. Also featured first track on Colour & Pitch Sessions February mix

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2025

Artist: Charles Petersohn

Title: Children Of Zu Zu 

Release date: 28th February, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT648-5

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Prepared - Module (Compost Records)

I think about being 'Prepared' every day as  Aston Villa's old club moto: but now I'm even more Prepared with 'Module' on Compost Records.

'Modul Eins' was the first single from the album 'Module' (see review HERE) and I said then, "Don't spend all you're Xmas money...[as] ...you'll want to start the new year with this exciting trio".  And, not to sound too big headed about this, I was right!

As a variation on the traditional jazz-trio meets post classical chamber meets minimal dance, the Munich based line-up consists of Chris Gall ('prepared' piano), Flo Riedl (bass clarinet) and Christoph Holzhauser (drums).

'Module' is really more like four tracks in ten parts, 'Modul Eins' (I & II), 'Modul Zwei' (I & II), 'Modul Drei' (I & II) and 'Modul Vier' (I, II, III, & IV).

You'll recall that 'Modul Eins I' starts as a downtempo introduction with 'Modul Eins II' taking on an upbeat swing which is matched by 'Modul Zwei I & II' as a circus themed film noir score.  And then if you combine those two, there's 'Modul Drei I & II' which are a bit more hip-hop beats joined by a quiet section between the two.

It's clear this guys, all from different musical backgrounds, like a repetitive / cyclical motif; think Steve Reich '18 Musicians' and the like, which is a good point to mention the 15 minute opus of 'Modul Vier' (I, II, III & IV)' and as these four section swell like a changing of four seasons you can really appreciate the 'one-take' 3D recording technique.

Now we have the full album, the comparison with BadBadNotGood and The Bad Plus is still valid but having the bass clarinet in the line does move up to a very GoodGoodPlus!

Be Prepared! or as they say in Munich: Die Roten sind die Stern des Südens

Artist: Prepared

Title: Modul Eins 

Release date: 17th January, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT646

Format: LP (  €22.90)  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Various - Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 3 Compiled by Fred und Luna (Compost Records)

Fred Und Luna (aka Rainer Buchmüller) passed away on the 8th Februry this year so it's with some sadness that Vol. 3 of his 'Future Sounds Of Kraut' is a posthumous release but then, it's also a fitting tribute too!

And whilst we don't want to dwell on the sad circumstances, the best of the 14 tracks (3 being exclusive and previously unreleased) feature Fred und Luna; the opener 'Der Allgemeine Tenore' and the disco-jazz friendly 'Water Map' featuring the 'free' Organza Ray.

But like Vols 1 & 2, this is all the what you' ad expect from modern kraut-electronica that 

can be traceed by to the originators Tangerene Dream, Kraftwerk, Neu! Cluster, Klaus Schulze and loads more and if you like, ENO (Ed. controversial).

And if modern is 2023, Philipp Johann Thimm's 'Meine Muse' as reworked "for The Düsseldorf Düsterboys" is probably the most Kraut on the album in that it's glichy, techno with an undercurrent of folky Stereolab.

Compare with a more trad.Kraftwerk. 'Zum Schmalen Handtuch' (Niklas Wandt) in German and 'Lambda' (Von Spar) in English, the synth/drum fest. 'Nachtraucher' (Christian Nainggolan) that sounds like a stream train from space and then an actual 'Space Taxi' (Sula Bassana) with a swarm of bees.

For a 14 track compilation, you might think they'd be a couple of duff tracks, but not in this case possibly because it is hard to define what is Kraut [musically], ever lone the future sounds of the past electronic innovatons of 70s/80s meets tradition and culture of 60s hippy commune / improviations / squats to world percussion of today.  If you were going to push me, the duo called Twonky comes closest with a track called 'Dream Is Impossible'; oh, and a close second, get some post-punk disco 'Wer Macht Die Arbeit' by Savage Art 

So what you do get in Vol. 3 is a further education of what the previous editions brought to our attention and thankfully Fred und Luna was able to confirm these selections (along with ideas for a Vol. 4) before he passed as he was happy that Compost release this 'Sign Of Life' from him.

As on Vol. 1 and 2, the collage on the cover was designed exclusively by the fantastic artist Norika Nienstedt from the Kraut metropolis of Düsseldorf.

Various - Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 2 Compiled by Fred und Luna (see review HERE)

Various - Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 1 Compiled by Fred und Luna (see review HERE)

I think we should repeat Compost Record's press statement: "We are deeply saddened that we lost a very close friend, a true creative musician, artist , poet, soulmate and beloved human being with a great sense of humour. Rainer Buchmüller aka Fred und Luna died after a long carcinosis. Our thoughts and prayers in these days of mourning are with his wife and family. Rainer Buchmüller aka Fred und Luna has made several albums, first one on Frank Wiedemann’s Bigamo label, then three albums plus several Maxi - Singles and 7 inches on Compost Records and Elaste Records. Rainer had several alter egos, too. Under his Fred und Luna moniker he recently compiled the highly acclaimed “Future Sounds Of Kraut” compilation series for Compost. Rainer also wrote circa 120 poems in the vein of Ernst Jandl, Dada, Kurt Schwitters. Rainer, we love you! R.I.P."

Artist: Various Artists
Title: Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 3 compiled by Fred und Luna
Release date: 6th December, 2024
Label: Compost Records
Cat. No: CPT 645
Format: 2xLP / Digital LINKS / Bandcamp

Review: Prepared - Modul Eins (Compost Records)

I think 'Prepared' was the motto of the Boy Scouts at one time, it was proudly and historically on Aston Villa's club badge before big footie executives dropped it, so here's one Prepared we can trust with 'Modul Eins' on Compost Records.

'Modul Eins' is the first single from the album 'Module' that's due for release early next year, i.e. don't spend all you're Xmas money.   And you'll want to start the new year with this exciting trio.

Like the InFiné label some years ago that flirted with jazzy-electronic-classical-minimal some years ago or Norma Winstone's backing band at this year's WeOutHere Festival (with Tuba and Sam 'Floating Points' Shepherd on synnths/keys), Plantford and even Daedelus, the unusual combination of trio Chris Gall (prepared piano), Flo Riedl (bass clarinet) and Christoph Holzhauser (drums) have a modern 'Take 5' vibe as vibrant as the cover artwork.

We only get 'Modul Eins I' (a downtempo introduction) and 'Modul Eins II' (an upbeat swing) on the single and it's sounds to me a bit Munich beer hall mixed with BadBadNotGood and The Bad Plus - how good is that?  It's very GoodGoodPlus!

Be Prepared!

Artist: Prepared

Title: Modul Eins 

Release date: 4th December, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT6046

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Inkswel & Andre Espeut - Synchronicities (Compost Records)

With a cover that looks very William Morris (that's the English textile designer, poet, artist, writer and socialist associated with the Arts and Craft movement at the end of the 19th Century) [and not the plumber], Inkswel and Andre Espeut combine artistically and soulfully on the album 'Synchronicities'.

We know from the singles, 'Dangerous Times' (see review HERE) and 'Downtown Love' (see review HERE) that soulfull hip-hop beats are what these guys excel at and with their super guests Abstract Rude (Project Blowed), flautist Han Litz ('Callin' 4 U') (Ed. is there some flute revival going on in late 2024? Where's the Flutestrumental mix?), Leonard Charles (multi-instrumentalist/producer) and between them, 'Synchronicities' is an album of eight tracks that fuses modern soul (sometimes R&B), hip-hop, broken beats, some jazz, house and more.

We first came across Inkswel at the time of fellow antipodean invasion to Europe of Fat Freddie's Drop, The Black Seeds, Joe Dukie et al and twenty years on, the synchronicisation with London based Andre Espuet (pronounced 'Esporr') gives this project a fusion that's like a Fat Freddie's Drop as the song writing is very heartfelt and crosses the pop boundary like 'Yesterday's Gone', 'Uprinsing' and the most FFD, 'Street Soul' and 'Play With Fire'.

I don't know what coincidential occurance happened to create 'Push N Pull (Synchronicites)' but I think the this is the peak of the meeting of the musical minds; shame about the 'sharp' ending.

Obviously comparisons with Inkswel's past collaborations with Colonel Red (see 'Holders Of The Sun' review HERE) or further back to his more hip-hop rooted 'Super Foods' release (see review HERE) that included some of the big name acts that are still get us excited now like DJ Nature, Linkwood and Tom Noble (who has just released his long awaited album, 'House Of Spirits' - see review HERE).

I wonder at the timing of the release as it seems more summer sound but at least it will keep us going through the winter months.

PS. Props to PECUE for the artwork and recommend a vist to the William Morris Museum, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London E17.

Artist: Inkswel & Andre Espeut

Title: Synchronicities

Release date: 29th November, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT6044

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp