Lee Humphreys Leonora Epremian
Pyramids

Across two 7”s, Death Or Glory (1982) and Death Rocks (1983) and one 12”, Anguish (1982) Jimmy Smack carved his own bleak chasm amidst the LA Death Rock scene that he inhabited. After decades dormant in the crypt, Knekelhuis compiles Smack’s full recorded output, providing it a lavish place to rest on the Death Is Certain LP.While his local punk contemporaries pursued aggressive hardcore and political punk, Jimmy Smack donned corpse paint (before it would later become synonymous with the European black metal movement) and found a home performing in venues like the Anti-Club, amongst other subterranean dwellers Christian Death, Dead Hippie and 45 Grave.Even within this lurid milieu, Jimmy Smack stood alone. Hating Life (from Death Rocks) easily locates Jimmy within the negative-punk and KBD lexicon. However his recordings, consisting of voice, rhythm box and electrified bagpipe drones, otherwise veer closer to other-worldly avant-garde rituals. Jimmy’s background in theatre and performance art helping inform not only his menacing stage presence, but also spawning the singularity of his sound.

Compilation of all new productions from a wealth of international talent, put together by Knekelhuis.This is a story of friendship, about how it grows stronger through the years. But it’s just as much about fledgling togetherness and shared art in times of crisis. The result is an introspective document of contemporary music, in spirit of Eno and Hassell. A space where we embrace our differences and speak the language of collectivity together, where we reflect, adapt and value each artist's contribution equally. To witness a multitude of cultural backgrounds that speak one like-minded language. Soothing and illuminating. And felt like...Mastered by Amir Shoat and artwork by Keziah Phillips and Steele Bonus.

Luz Azul by Luz Azul

Giorgio GIordano and Giorgio Dolce originally produced ''KKK." back in 1983, and the track was taken into the hearts of the blossoming Balearic scene hovering around DJ Alfredo at Amnesia. It's as gentle and sweet natured as Italo disco can be, and of course it makes perfect sense that Best Record would dig it out of the archives and give it the shiny new reissue it deserves. The ''Club Mix'' of ''KKK'' is a feast of simple, charming programmed melodies and crisp drum machine rhythms with the innocence of the early 80s in its heart. The ''Dub Mix'' and ''Bonus Beats'' on the flip are handy for the technical DJs out there, but the ''Club Mix'' is where it's at for the lovers.

Rushing us headlong into a vorticist maelstrom of hard-edged drum stutter and polychromatic synth fragmentation, Sansibar sophomore long-player for Kalahari Oyster Cult - “Sans Musique” - tackles the very essence of post-trancey, breaks-loaded UK blends with unabashed joy to wreak havoc on his path. Throughout seven tracks oozing burnt kerosene and depleted uranium residue merged with a hint of sacred incense, Sansibar deploys his extra-wide vision for the present and future of dance music.“Scully” attacks pedal to the metal, hi-intensity bass onslaughts and knee-buckling breaks roaring as the groove slings us at bullet-speed into a hot, narrow barrel of floor-focused aggression. Fusing rattling DnB engineering with Goa trance motifs, “Force of Equilibrium” showcases Sansibar’s hybrid attachment to functionality and headspace fractalisation. Hi-velocity rimshots, pep vox samples and alien basslines blazing, “NRJ” eases us into a shape-shifting network of underground tunnels dwelled by shady raving creatures, harking back to Prodigy’s early wares and subsequent offshoots of the 90s era.One to bend your mind to, “Teal’c” taps into an even darker vein with its fast-cascading hats and von Oswald-ian dub whirlwind set against a surgically laid-down, unstoppable EBM bass comber. Jagged and oneiric to the finest extent, “Send It” peeps at prime Hokusai and Photek material in its first stretch, slowly making room for further spacious liquid junglism as bars run by. Cranking the 2-step/garage power levels up a notch, “Fantasmas” sends us spinning into orbit right away, while the LP’s closing track “Aurora” takes us on a languidly serene voyage of a finale, tempo slowed-down and suave trip-hop flavours exuding with increased sensitiveness.