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Spotlight 17
Welcome to the Spot Light. Check out the latest psychedelic, cosmic, prog, freakbeat, folk, kraut, experimental, jazz, drone, mystical, and avant-garde sounds!
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PSYCHEDELIC/PROGRESSIVE/FOLK

Various
Pinoy Folk Rock
A 90 minute cassette-only mixtape taking in Filipino folk, rock, country and OPM from the 1970s, originally broadcast on NTS Radio back during the early months of the pandemic. One missed out of the collection of DINTE radio shows committed to tape as part of 10 year anniversary celebrations last year.

Cosmic Kangaroos
...less Grounded... (standard)
At last the Lollipop Shop can present a new LP by the Cosmic Kangaroos! Before this the Cosmic Kangaroos released a record with two long improvised tracks which came out in 1999 - and the last album of songs even dates back to 1993. But make no mistake, the Cosmic Kangaroos have been around continuously since the summer of 1986. So, before anyone gets the wrong idea: This is no "re-union album". But it also means that for this album Mecky, Kermit and Groucho Kangaroo had to choose songs from a period of almost 39 years of writing music together - no easy task, to say the least. On the other hand, playing together that long made the band a unit that almost works as one musical mind - which made recording new material and re-visiting older songs a lot of fun. Especially as the band now has its own recording equipment. Hence everything could be experimented on and collected together in a rather relaxed fashion over a longer period of time. In the end eight songs have been chosen for this LP to show the different facets of psychedelic music the Cosmic Kangaroos stand for: focused and hard driving psych-songs, traditional westcoast-style psychedelia with longer impro passages as well as some garage punk thrown in for good measure. Apart from the music the album features original artwork by graphic artist Christian Witt. The LP (+ download-code and insert) is released as a limited edition of 200 copies on clear vinyl.

Offenbach
Never Too Tender/live In Vancouver 1976 (2lp)
Legendary Québec blues rock band's first album in English, paired with a live performance from the same year, together for the first time ever. RSD 2025 release.

Glass Harp
Where Did My World Come From? (brown)
With open arms we receive the upcoming repress of Glass Harp's 'Where Did My World Come From?' on Peppermint Records! First time around the record got sold out faster than it could catch a ride overseas, so make sure you get yours this time around. Originally recorded in 1969, Peppermint Records presents the previously lost Glass Harp album 'Where Did My World Come From?' for the first time officially released. Although only two songs ('Where Did My World Come From,' and 'She Told Me') were ever released in their time, the rest of the recordings have been bootlegged and circulated for years, though none of these were transferred from the original masters. Now, the staff of Peppermint issues these recordings officially for the first time from the original masters! Assumed to be lost for good, Glass Harp's guitarist and vocalist Phill Keaggy accidentally stumbled upon the box with the masters when looking for tapes for another project. Glass Harp's dynamic range and energetic performances in their music takes the listener on an emotional journey through the delicate acoustic ballads to the more driving rock songs. 'Where Did My World Come From?' is a quintessential example of Glass Harp's ability to blend technical skill with emotional depth, making it a standout in their discography. This out of this world psychedelic rock album is an absolute must-have for every psych fan! This release on Peppermint comes as "sunglasses" (transparent brown coloured) vinyl.

Hooffoot
Phantom Limb
After ten years, Hooffoot's triptych is now complete with their latest musical tapestry 'Phantom Limb.' The third album by Swedish progressive kraut/jazzrockers mixes spontaneity with carefully crafted, lyrical themes into an instrumental storytelling. The debut album struck like a bolt from the blue in 2015 and by some acclaimed as "debut of the century." The follow up 'The Lights In The Aisle Will Guide You' was equally appraised as "bloody bloody great." The first two records were a polite knock on the door, saying; excuse us but we think we have something unique here. Luckily, some people really grasped that, and the love from fans have built a strong confidence in the band. This time around, without pardons, Hooffoot kicks in the door. On this album you will recognize the eclectic blend of genres but also more melodies with echoes from Swedish folk music. The four long compositions offers plenty of risk-taking and fast corners. The live recorded production is again beautifully transparent but slightly heavier than the previous releases. The band is a tight quartet but the soundscape is further expanded by invited guests, contributing with percussion and violin. On two of the tracks you will hear bass clarinet and transverse flute courtesy of the soulful Swedish international jazz star Fredrik Kronkvist (considered one of Europe's finest alto saxophonists).

Electric Citizen
Ec4 (black)
Seven years after their last release ('Helltown,' 2018), Electric Citizen returns with their fourth album, 'EC4' - a powerful statement of renewal and raw energy. Now signed to Heavy Psych Sounds, the band unleashes their most potent work yet - a fusion of hypnotic grooves, searing guitars, and Laura Dolan's mesmerizing vocals. 'EC4' is both a homecoming and a rebirth. Electric Citizen is back!

Dusty Rose Gang
A-one From Day One
Hailing from the southwest side of Detroit, Michigan, Dusty Rose Gang makes music that sounds like a celebratory summer evening with friends on the beach of the city's crown jewel, Belle Isle. The band's feel-good rock & roll rests its laurels alongside many of the city's musical heavyweights, bringing a swagger and heft present in the best of the MC5 and the Stooges, while balancing the subtle tones and attitude found in prime-era Sabbath, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and the Flower Travellin' Band. It should be no surprise that the band's songwriter, Dusty Rose, haunted the same high school halls as the MC5 at Lincoln Park High, as much of the attitude, poise and spirit can be found on the band's 'A-One From Day One' long player debut for the legendary Riding Easy Records. The songs shimmer and shake, shredding through solo after solo, while packing just enough hazy '70s influence to make it sound like Dusty Rose Gang has been here all along. This is Detroit rock n' roll made by lifers for lifers, the no-bullshit real deal that the Motor City has been breathing since before Gene Simmons coined the term 'Detroit Rock City.'
GARAGE/BEAT/SURF/ROCK’N’ROLL

Number Ones
Sorry
Has it really been seven years since the last The Number Ones record?? Luckily for all the pop pickers in the world they are back with a two track 7", their first with new bassist Pete O'Hanlon. Both tracks have everything you'd want from The Number Ones - joyous and uptempo songs with hooks galore that get stuck in your head after one play.

Masonics
Nothin' Shakin' But...
The Masonics triumphantly return to the 7" format with two extended players, released simultaneously. Following on from the success of the previous two rock'n'roll EPs, The Masonics unleash a further two extended players of dancehall fillers. The first EP includes four songs that the group have specially selected to cover for these, with shared vocals and noise, proving that there's nothin' shakin'... but The Masonics! Limited to 500 copies.

Masonics
Some Other Guys
The Masonics triumphantly return to the 7" format with two extended players, released simultaneously. Following on from the success of the previous two rock'n'roll EPs, The Masonics unleash a further two extended players of dancehall fillers. The second EP also includes four songs that the group have specially selected to cover for these, with shared vocals and noise, proving that there are no other guys... but The Masonics! Limited to 500 copies.
POP/ROCK/WAVE/NOISE

Theatre Royal
A Change Of Weather
Sixth album by Theatre Royal, a Medway-based alternative/indie five-piece who fuse soulfulness with their urgent, harmony-laden storytelling. Once described as like "The Clash playing The Beatles", the band pride themselves on crafting pop gems and delivering them live at high octane. Limited to 500 copies.


Bran Van 3000
The Garden (2lp)
Originally released exclusively on CD back in 2010, Bran Van 3000's fourth and final studio album is over 60 minutes of their signature multi genre musical style. Limited edition of 500 copies on black vinyl. RSD 2025 release.

Limboy
Ii
Stolen Body Records releases Limboy's sophomore album 'II.' Following their spontaneous and raw 2022 debut (delayed due to the global pandemic), the French quartet has channeled their infamous live energy into ten uncompromising tracks that showcase their evolution and musical prowess. 'II' sees Limboy diving deeper into their hardcore punk roots while embracing the sonic textures of '90s noise rock. The album's ten tracks are a testament to the band's growth, addressing themes of personal struggle, introspection, and the persistent doubts that shape human experience. Their commitment to raw energy and authentic expression remains unwavering, resulting in their most focused and powerful release to date. For fans of Idles, At The Drive In, Metz.
PUNK/HARDCORE

Kaleidoscope (usa)
Cities Of Fear
Five years since their previous EP, NYC punks Kaleidoscope return with 'Cities Of Fear' - an 8 song 12" of dark utopian hardcore punk written and recorded at D4MT Labs by the band in only a few days. Rougher and more chaotic than their previous records, like a crazed, spontaneous live offering from seasoned veterans, 'Cities Of Fear' sounds like a band returning to their roots, with the heavy, mid '80s anarcho-punk of Wretched, Crucifix, and Iconoclast serving as their North Star. This record is a surprising and seething document from a group that, after a decade together, continues to experiment with their anger.

Tarrega 91
Ckaos Total
There are no gimmicks on 'Ckaos Total,' just simple three and four-chord riffs, a driving drumbeat (you can guess which one), and thoughtful lyrics delivered with power and passion. Tempos vary from fast, to really fast, to ultra fast, with most songs in the latter category. Without studio effects, silly costumes, or metal chops to distract, the focus falls on the songs themselves, which distill a profound sense of hopelessness and frustration into a few defiant words to yell into the void. In their lyrics and artwork, Tàrrega 91 continues to draw inspiration from the 1991 uprising in their town that ended with the arrest of 86 young people, a history that makes them keenly aware of exactly what they're pushing against.
INDUSTRIAL/EXPERIMENTAL/NOISE/NEOFOLK/GOTHIC

Ostler, Andrew
The Blind Sublime
Andrew Ostler continues his artistic evolution towards choral beauty, orchestral textures, ambient drones and low woodwind, into the realms of Jóhann Jóhannsson, Arvo Pärt or Stars Of The Lid. Building on the string arrangements of his previous LP 'Dots On A Disk Of Snow,' and taking a heavy dose of sax drone from an earlier album still, this record also adds a full choir, taking the music to another level of spiritual intensity. "This is music of transcendence, and perhaps transformation... A glimpse of something profound: not merely music, but a reflection of the sublime itself - blind, unknowable, and utterly captivating" (Chain D.L.K.). On the first three compositions the drones are, for the most part, relatively gentle, while chant-like choral arrangements drift and weave around and above them. 'Affirmation' is quietly confident, with a surge of intensity around the midpoint; 'Confession' is perhaps more tentative, the shifting canon of the voices threatened by a distant storm of distorted synth shredding; 'Adoration' restores the straightforward choral beauty, building to an unashamed cadence. The immense final track 'Meditation' is a quite different affair. Here the drones are more intense slabs, the choir is more demonstrative in its emotion, and the ultimate climax the more devastating for it. The journey is longer, but the rewards are greater for the committed. Originally released on Andrew Ostler's own Expert Sleepers label on limited edition blue vinyl in 2024, Cold Spring are very proud to press this gem onto CD for the first time. CD in matt-laminate digipak.

Glass, Philip -performed By Dedalus Ensemble-
Music With Changing Parts (2lp)
Founding work of minimalism, 'Music With Changing Parts' is a piece with free instrumentation. The musicians choose which part to play among the 8 staves of the score. At each indicated cue, the musicians can change part, which produces an abrupt change of instrumentation. While the music is based on a melodic material limited to a few notes that are repeated in patterns that expand or contract, the changes in orchestration refresh the listening experience by producing sonic contrasts. These techniques at work in 'Music With Changing Parts,' written in 1970, will lead Philip Glass to renew his language and move from the monochromatic works that precede it to more dramatic works such as music in 12 parts and especially the opera 'Einstein On The Beach.' When Philip Glass began rehearsing the piece, he was surprised to hear long notes when everything was written in eighth notes. After making sure that none of the musicians were playing held notes, he realized that the fact that the same notes were played by all the instruments in the ensemble produced, through a psycho-acoustic effect, a harmonic substrate of resonant frequencies. He then decided to add to the score the possibility of playing long notes to reinforce this effect. "For this recording, we chose to record first the eighth notes, then the long notes in re-recording. This utopian version, with each musician playing short and long notes at the same time (!), illustrates the minimalist aesthetic that plays with our perception and allows us to reconcile opposites and cultivate the apparent paradox of a music that moves forward without Moving and changes constantly while remaining the same." (Didier Aschour/Dedalus Ensemble, July 2024).

Parmegiani, Bernard
Lac Noir - La Serpente 1992
Previously unreleased material composed by Bernard Parmegiani in 1992. 'Lac Noir - La Serpente' is part of Emmanuel Raquin-Lorenzi's 'Lac Noir,' a composite work inspired by a serpentine female creature or 'snake-woman' that he saw in Transylvania in 1976, with a total of 33 pieces using various media, 24 by himself and 9 by other artists. All the materials used in 'Lac Noir' were gathered on the land of the snake-woman between 1990 and 1992. The first coordinated broadcast ran from June to October 2019, like a theatrical display of media. At the end of May 1992, in Provence, in his Summer studio not far from the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Bernard Parmegiani played me the first musical moments he had worked on from the sounds he and Christian Zanési had collected in Negreni in October 1990. A few days after this listening session, on 4th June, I wrote him a letter. I didn't mean to take control of what was to become the ninth movement of his composition, but to share with him some of the resonances I had heard in what he had composed, which mingled with my dreams and memories of the Transylvanian snake-woman, and outlined possible concordances with the other pieces underway for 'Lac Noir.' In the midst of the garish chaos of the fair and its spectacular stunts, there could spread out - still, silent eye of the cyclone - the long waters of a lake. Calm waters. Patches cool but sensitive as skin. Between the waters there flows and ripples, there shows up and dives again a snake-woman born of the still waters. A sweet, good serpent whose song - strange and melodious, sensual, yet already tinged, as if bitten by the black depths, with bitterness; that of prescience, shading it with melancholy - is her very undulation, the rings of which appear, together or in turn, the way translucent veins overlap, slither over one another in a moving braid of metamorphoses. (extracts from notes by E. Raquin-Lorenzi).

Benzo Queen/benzo And The Queens
No God, No Masters, No Sleeves/benzo And The Queens
Bristol's noise-rock provocateurs Benzo Queen return with their explosive sophomore album 'No Gods, No masters, No Sleeves, sharing vinyl real estate with their alter-ego project Benzo And The Queens. This unique split release showcases two distinct facets of the band's sonic arsenal. Side A features Benzo Queen's latest evolution - a savage collection forged in the crucible of live performance. Honed to perfection during support slots with post-hardcore titans Mclusky and Whores, these tracks seamlessly blend post-hardcore fury, noise rock intensity, and doom metal weight into something uniquely their own. Captured during a feverish New Year's Eve session, the album demonstrates the band's growing songcraft while maintaining their characteristic intensity. On Side B, Benzo And The Queens (BATQ) emerges from what was initially conceived as a one-off performance at Bristol's legendary Dean Lane Hardcore Funday. What started as an experimental side project proved too compelling to remain a singular event. This EP-length offering serves as both a standalone statement and a precursor to Benzo Queen's forthcoming full-length later this year, delivering concentrated doses of uncompromising noise that showcase yet another dimension of the band's creative range. For fans of Whores, Off!, Mr Bungle.

Kreiviskai
Motinai
Kreiviskai is one of the brightest and most distinctive representatives of the Russian neofolk scene. The project has always impressed with the quality of its execution, the depth of its vision, and the meticulous crafting of both its musical and conceptual aspects. This is their third full-length album. 'Motinai' is the result of nearly five years of creative exploration, composed largely by a single individual with significant contributions from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Maria Prismakova, as well as other musicians. All details about the participants and the instruments used are provided in the accompanying booklet. This album grew out of a deep reflection on local religious identity and the search for archetypal foundations. Having crossed epochs and transcended territorial boundaries, this path of understanding ultimately leads back to its origin - the native land - in a symbolic return to the Mother. 'Motinai' is a cultural and creative historiography of the Great Goddess - a presence that, according to the author's perception, has been rooted in local religious tradition from ancient times. Through the archaeology of myths, echoes of the distant past, and a projection into the future, the album embodies the idea of archaeofuturism - a deep rooting in tradition combined with a striving beyond its limits. Initially positioned within Tver neofolk (the name Kreiviskai itself coming from Old Prussian, meaning "in a Krivish way"), over time the project has dissolved genre boundaries. In 'Motinai,' elements of dark folk, ritual ambient, ethnic motifs, and neoclassical music are interwoven, creating a unique, timeless, and profound sonic fabric. For fans of Nest, Wardruna, Heilung, Tenhi, Of The Wand And The Moon, Romowe Rikoito, Current 93.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC/AMBIENT/D’N’B/TRIPHOP

Air (pete Namlook)
The Complete Collection (5cd)
Pete Namlook, one of the most influential figures in the history of electronic music, passed away in 2012, leaving behind a vast sonic legacy. Yet Air remains his most poetic, organic, and emotionally resonant project. Created between 1993 and 2006, the Air series is a five-part symphony of ambient, ethnic, jazz, neoclassical, and cosmic electronic elements. Now, nearly two decades later, Infinite Fog proudly presents the long-awaited reissue of the entire series - for the first time ever as a complete 5CD boxset. From the wind-kissed sensuality of 'Air I,' through the abstract voyages of 'Air II,' the rich instrumental palette of 'Air III,' the stylistic fusion of 'Air IV,' to the deeply personal and introspective 'Air V' - this collection stands as a milestone in ambient music history. Ethereal female vocals, natural field recordings, cosmic jazz, neoclassical textures, immersive ambient. Recorded in solitude in Hödeshof, Germany - Namlook's personal creative retreat. For fans of Brian Eno, Steve Roach, Global Communication, Klaus Schulze. Limited edition 5CD boxset in a deluxe soft-touch case with spot varnish finish. "Air is not just music. It is a state of mind. A space. A travelling without moving. A timeless classic."
PRESS: SELECTED REVIEW QUOTES, INTERVIEWS A.S.
VARIOUS – Roots Rocking Zimbabwe (2LP-CD, Analog Africa)
“Analog Africa’s latest offering is 25 tracks of blisterlingly groovy cuts…” (Sam Walker-Smart for Clash)
SACRED BLADE – Of The Sun + Moon (LP, Supreme Echo)
“Sacred Blade are back from the depths of metal history with the Supreme Echo reissue of Of ‘The Sun + Moon,’ an album that’s long been recognized as a bold and visionary part of the ‘80s metal underground.” Read the full in-depth interview at It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine.
DEAD MEADOW – Voyager To Voyager (LP-CD, Heavy Psych Sounds)
“…an interesting end or continuation to the band’s legacy. Simon has said that not even he knows what’s next for the band. Voyager To Voyager is an easy voyage to whisk you away and is a worthy addition and tribute to those we love and lost. Dead Meadow forever!” (Christopher Tahy for The Fire Note)
THE SNAKE – Always Bites Back (LP-CD, Svart Records)
“The Snake kicks in with a bunch of laid-back ideas, doesn’t rely on over-the-top effects, and is all the more refreshing for it in a scene that often feels like it’s constantly trying to outdo itself.” (Excerpt translated from Björn Backes, PowerMetal.de)
THE ELVEN – Solstice (LP, Spinda)
“What started in late 2020 as an irrational need to compose music by Rod Tirado and James Vieco of Saturna soon took on a different form when they brought in their friends Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) on lead guitar, Tabatha Puig on keyboards, and Javi Gómez on drums.” (Doomed Nation)
KATI RAN – ‘Lys’ (LP-CD, Svart)
“Even ten years on, Kati Rán manages to convey the beauty of medieval-inspired harmonies.” Excerpt translated from Björn Backes, PowerMetal.de)
RADIO
The track ‘Shanga Yangu’ by Harare Mambos, which is featured on Analog Africa’s forthcoming compilation, ‘Roots Rocking Zimbabwe’ (due for release on 2LP and CD on May 2nd), once more received airplay from BBC Radio 6 on 10 April. It was played on Riley & Coe, starting at 1:11:51.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
FORD’S FUZZ INFERNO (SUBUNDERGROUND C.A.):
26-04-2025: Leiden (NL) – Resistor
SKYJOGGERS (SULATRON):
03-05-2025 ITA-Bologna, Heavy Psych Sounds fest
08-05-2025 AT-Graz, Café Wolf
12-05-2025 AT-Wien, Arena
13-05-2025 CRO-Zagreb, Mocvara
14-05-2025 GER-München, Feierwerk
17-05-2025 NL-Nijmegen, Sonic Whip
18-05-2025 GER-Recklinghausen, Backyard Club
24-05-2025 GER-Berlin, Desertfest
07-06-2025 DK-Esbjerg, Fuzztival
11-07-2025 GER-Wuppertal, Alte Schlosserei, + Zone Six
12-07-2025 GER-Erfurt, Stoned from the Underground
23-08-2025 BE-Rillaar, Down The Hill, feat. Sula Bassana
LABASHEEDA (PRESTO CHANGO):
15-05-2025: Utrecht (NL) – dB’s
16-05-2025: Dordrecht (NL) – DS17
27-05-2025: Wroclaw (P) – Klub Szalonych
28-05-2025: Liberec (CZ) – Barpapir
29-05-2025: Prague (CZ) – Café V Lese
30-05-2025: Brno (CZ) – Alterna
31-05-2025: Dresdan (D) – Sankt Pieschen Festival
13-09-2025: Wormerveer (NL) – De Groote Weiver
20-09-2025: Gent (B) – Kinky Star
ZONE 6 (SULATRON)
06-06-2025: Schlitz (D) – Moon Festival
11-07-2025: Wuppertal (D) – Alte Schlosserei (+ Skyjoggers)
12-07-2025: Münster (D) – Bennohaus/Up In Space Festival
MINERALL (SULATRON)
07-06-2025: Dürröhrsdorf-Dittersbach (D) - Gockelscream
SOCCER COMMITTEE (MORC)
09-08-2025: Millingen aan de Rijn / Kekerdom (NL) - Millinger Theetuin
SULA BASSANA - with band (SULATRON)
23-08-2025: Rillaar (B) – Down The Hill (with Skyjoggers)
TOMO KATSURADA (ex-Kikagaku Moyo):
06-06-2025 Galiläakirche, Berlin, Germany
11.06.2025 St Matthias Church, London, United Kingdom
12-06-2025 Sacred Trinity Church, Salford, United Kingdom
14-06-2025 Future Days Festival, ISOamsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
19-06-2025 Trix (Bar), Antwerp, Belgium
26-07-2025 Psyk Stämman, Stigbergets Ringön Göteborg, Sweden
More exciting news on Tomo and his project soon.