Emotional Rescue

Played by: MR ABSOLUTT, Secret Soul Society

Review: There is always a good backstory to the music that Emotional Rescue releases and this EP is a case in point. It comes from Betty & The Code Red and Betty was the girlfriend of Tunde Obazee, a Nigerian-born artist who used music as a "non-violent tool to express his socio-political opinions on global injustice." The pair would entertain people on campus by playing anything they could get their hands on, informed by the old Edo folk songs they had grown up around. They went on to live in Italy and the US and start a family as well as lay down self-released songs that have become cult classics. A selection of them feature on this, the first of two EPs from the pair.

Review: Emotional Rescue is delighted to present the first of two EPs from British '80s band Furniture, starting with their much sought-after, six-song "mini-album" - as they were known then - which has recently been rediscovered by a new generation of DJs and collectors.

"Transatlantic Cable" compares the cliches of a certain type of American romance - Bogart, Sinatra, Dean - to the reality of life in West London. "They're On Me" is probably one of very few pop songs to feature double bass and the word "newsagent", while "Robert Nightman's Story" is powered by a riff on marimba and abrasive rhythm guitar.

"I Miss You", a torch song so good you'd think Julie London might have cut it. A highlight for many is "Why Are We In Love". This track is a key reason for the revival of interest in the band, with pattering rhythm part and the sweet clarinet melody, creating an atmosphere that has attracted a following among discerning DJs. "A Letter To Myself" introduced the band's new, expanded line-up adding Sally Still (bass, vocals) and Maya Gilder (keyboards), which would endure until the band stopped in 1990.

Played by: Craig Charles Funk And Soul, Juno Recommends Broken Beat Nu Jazz

Review: Emotional Rescue starts 2016 digging deep in to the early 80s Bristol post punk scene of Pig Pag, the Wild Bunch and the Dug Out club. A short lived project of just 3 releases, Mouth trail-blazed leftfield percussive jams in the rich vain of Liquid Liquid and ESG but in their own jazz-infused way. Centered round the cultural melting post of the St Paul's district, it's pubs, clubs and blues parties threw together young and old to the sounds of dub, funk, jazz and soul and took the spark lit by punk rock and new wave and spawned music that still resonates today. Here then, on one EP are their complete recordings, including as the title cut, their best and deepest, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. Featured on a compilation LP from the legendary Y Records, its bottom heavy dub sound is augmented by female and toasted vocals riding a top a heavy stepper style riddim. This is followed by an increasingly dizzy array of percussion jams. Acab (Part 2) is all skips and trumpets, while the versions of Take Your Coat Off perfect skat vocal / tom interplay, before the finale busts out the rockabilly influences in full effect with jagged guitar, skipping hats meets double bass punk style.

Played by: Juno Recommends Ambient/Drone

Played by: Juno Recommends Rock/Indie

Review: Emotional Rescue dives back in the world of post punk experiments and early synthesised electronics to present another of the label's iconoclastic collectors specials with a look at Stockholm's Staalfagel. Born in 1977, Erik Fritjofsson and Petter Brundell merged and formed Staalfagel out of the suburbs of Jakobsberg. Like so many at the time, the duo was tired of Prog, Jazz and Symphonic Rock and formulated something new and against at the same moment; a time where drummers were jettisoned in place of drum machines and the inspirations of artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Devo and Pere Ubu were thrown in the mix to fervent results. With Micke Kjell soon joining on bass, they toured Sweden constantly, the manic machine beat, beating guitars and strange synth sounds defeated the throng and led to a considerable following. Recorded live to tape with no overdubs or mixing, the faithful CR 78 drum machine, the results radiate energy. Releasing just 4 records in 2 years (1980 - 1982), Utan Rymddrakt Pa Uranus appeared as their last ever release. Jettisoning the punky-funk vocals of previous releases, the single is a pure electronic groove. Funk bass and guitar atop, its short form simplicity is perfection distilled in 2 parts of less than 3 minutes, conjoined like some reggae dream, with 'Uranus II' acting the dub version counterpoint. Discovered and shared by long-time friend, DJ and collector, Gary The Tall steps out from behind the decks and microphone of his long running NTS show to present an exemplary "Reversion". Teaming up with master producer and label affiliate, Timothy J Fairplay on engineering duties, they keep the originals' straightforward charm, deceptively editing, looping and reversing with aplomb, for a killer re-edit.

Review: Originally recorded in 1983, O Yuki Conjugate's Untitled EP is a dream record for Emotional Rescue. It's startlingly ahead of its time, featuring stiff drum machine beats, strange sampling and fuzzy, lo-fi synth work, shot through with the wonk of post punk that makes so much early electronic music of the era so captivating. "Beyond Control" has an almost motorik feel to it, with plenty of liquid delay processing and woozy tones melting around the march of the beat. "Disco Song" channels the dubbed out spirit of The Pop Group and gives it a plastic organ makeover, while "Clattering Song" lives up to its name and falls apart in your ears. "Beyond Control 2" completes the package with a wild line in reverse effects by way of a thoroughly primitive remix.

Review: Emotional Rescue returns to early 1980s Manchester with the previously unreleased music of Michael James Pollard and his beautiful distillation of indie pop in Too Confusing and bedsit cover version of Ashford and Simpson's Surrender. While studying photography at Manchester Polytechnic, (MJ) Pollard lived and played in a band in a ramshackle house in Walley Range. In the cellar studio he would write and record his own songs using their guitars, fretless bass and keys, as well as his own Casio VL-Tone VL-1 and Simmons Clap Trap to augment his drums onto a 4 track TEAC. By 1983, and now solo, he was recording out of Dislocation Dance's studio (ERC111), had secured a Peel Session and via Factory Records' Lindsay Reade, was discussing with Fundacao Atlantica about releasing an album. Working with singer Sioux Goddard as a duo, they put down 8 songs in 2 weeks in summer '84. However, Fundacao Atlantica's financial difficulties and soon closure meant the songs were lost until now. Recovered off the original tapes and lovingly restored, Too Confusing captures the optimism of the sessions, a summer love melody of forlorn youth. Surrender accompanies, recorded back in that cellar in '81, with friend Stephanie Danziger on vocals, its lo-fi simplicity is a perfect take on an all-time classic, making this a newly prized gem of British indie pop history.

Played by: Benjamin Fröhlich

Review: Jah Wobble's biography is a long and winding one, and he's achieved a lot both in collaboration with others and of his own accord. Emotional Rescue know a talented auteur when they hear one, and in the case of Wobble they've chosen to shed light on one of his less well documented phases, when he started his own label called Lago. Drawing on recordings made between 1981 and 1985, The Lago Years is a captivating listen that touches on post punk and no wave all the way through to dreamy psychedelia and the kind of world music Wobble would become so well known for later on in his career. An essential collection for any lovers of leftfield music and mysticism.

Played by: Kid Who, Dynamicron (Los Grandes/Our Nights)

Review: Emotional Rescue reaches ten releases and their second to be defined as a "cosmic classic" though that doesn't really do The Dream by The Ganges Orchestra full justice. Discovered and championed by a young Daniele Baldelli, The Dream mixed duggis, shenai, tabla, conga and guitar through Indian raga and European rhythm structures to create a unique musical vision. Long known to more open minded collectors and DJs, the whole EP has long been sought after and staple of many sunset and sunrise experiences. For this reissue, Emotional Rescue take it further with a longer version, previously unreleased track "The Calling" which is essentially an ambient version of "The Dream" and has been extended especially for this release by The Invisible Hands. In addition they also provide a short edit of the original releases 24 minute epic "Meditasian".

Played by: Richard Rossa

Review: Emotional Rescue previously dived into the plush, soulful and verdant sound of Jaki Whitren and John Cartwright with the reissue of their essential International Times album back in 2013. Sadly Whitren and Cartwright passed away two years ago, and this 7" of previously CD/digital-only material materialises in tribute to these wonderfully talented souls. "That Will Be That" is an effervescent boogie jam with rich synths that interplay beautifully with Whitren's stunning vocal, while "This Time" takes a starkly opposite approach with just the most delicate of keys lingering behind Whitren's powerful, echoing vocal. It's a poignant note of remembrance for two gifted musicians who shone their light into the world.

Review: Emotional Rescue continue to mine hidden corners of esoteric music to bring your rarified delights in a freshly mastered form. This time the label has turned to cult Spanish label Auxilio De Ciento, who have been quietly picked up by more tuned in heads for their excellent new wave, synth pop and industrial wares. La Caida De La Casa Usher present the most abrasive material on here, but largely it's a relaxed affair. You can lose yourself in the bubbling synthesizer goodness of Bene Gesserit and Danny Alias, or trip out to the pattering drums of Zazou, Nodland, Lema.

Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo

Review: Emotional Rescue is delighted to present a collection of works by the founding father of the modern drum movement, Glen Velez. Collated from his first 3 solo albums from 1985 to 1989, Sweet Season is a snapshot in to the pioneering composing and performance of this four-time Grammy winner. Born in 1949, of Mexican American ancestry, Velez grew up in Texas before moving to New York in 1967. Playing jazz on the drums he soon gravitated to hand drums from around the world (frame drums in particular), seeking out teachers from many different musical traditions.

Among the many instruments Velez favours are the Irish bodhran, the Brazilian pandeiro, the Arabic riq, the North African bendir and the Azerbaijani ghaval. Although these instruments are similar in construction they have their own playing techniques that open new possibilities.

Sweet Season highlights this vocabulary, mixing and adapting techniques from various cultures to develop new ones. The music, often composed as cross-cultural ensembles, has a particular fondness for polyrhythms - superimposing different meters simultaneously - while incorporating Stepping Split-tone and Central Asian Overtone singing to complete the global horizons.

This new genre of contemporary drumming has been hugely influential and seen Velez work with the likes of John Cage and Steve Reich, as well as teaching his virtuosic combinations of hand movements and finger techniques to many emerging players.

Played by: Juno Recommends Funk

Played by: Ashley Beedle

Played by: In Flagranti

Review: The sadly departed Jaki Liebezeit was the kind of drummer whose influence will be continually recognised over the decades to come. Best known for his work in Can, there are also many more sides to this singular sticksman, and Emotional Rescue has chosen to shine a light on his post-Can period living in Stollwerck. First is the sound of Phantom Band with Linear Johnson & The Protons. "Rush Rush" has a spiky new wave bent to it, but still Liebezeit's drumming stands out. Then "Drums Off Chaos" need little explanation - it's the sound of one of the all-time drumming greats letting rip in a ferocious blast of percussive abandon.

Played by: Kenneth Bager // Musicfordreams

Review: Some songs comes along that you seem to know the moment you hear it, even though it's for the first time. In the case of Spark The Universe it had exactly that impact. A mixture of late-60s psychedelic homage, early 80s new wave, white boy soul, plus a good dose of dub, all wrapped around a killer hook and super tight production and a hit was surely made. Recording at Lanois' Grant Avenue Studios, his interest in mixing past and present technology, with multiple digital delay units, harmonizers and other effect processors allowed Ramm and Lanois to explore using the studio as an instrument alongside real musicianship. Backwards guitars, tremolo bar dives and guitar harmonics are incorporated with the vocals and percussion to perfection. With a 'Dance' and alternative 'Dub', the song's hypnotic and dreamy feel superimposed over beats pin-pointed to the later Euphoria project and with the addition of a latter day 'Discomix', from the labels' own Chuggy, Spark The Universe deserves it's place on contemporary dancefloors.

Played by: In Flagranti

Review: "It all started in 1974 with the purchase of my first Mini Moog and another 70's dream machine,
a white Mellotron M 400." So starts Klaus Hoffmann of his 40 years love affair with the Mellotron. Moving from Prog-Rock guitarist to Cosmic Disco warrior in a space of a few years, the birth of Cosmic Hoffmann would
lead to a number of classic Kosmiche albums through-out the 1980s. Before this though came Space-Disco. Initially recorded in 1978 after endless late night sessions exploring the new realms of this free form electronic music, the first incarnation was recorded live to tape for a failed film project. An uplifting spaced-out synth journey, it was the later reworked version that would go on to become the lost cult classic. With added disco syncopation taking the track into interstellar spheres, it appeared only as a flipside of Cosmic Hoffmann's first and last single,
"Weltraumboogie", in 1982. Unfortunately the release did not make much impression at the time but has become highly sought-after for the more leftfield DJ and music lovers in the years since. Now fully licensed and remastered, the inclusion of the unreleased 1978 Original will be only add to the collectors dream.

Played by: In Flagranti

Played by: Juno Recommends Disco, Discolypso, Fontrodona

Review: The super rarity disco funk Something Got A Hold On Me by Chuck Armstrong gets its first ever official reissue, as Emotional Rescue continues its series of looking at some of the artists working with King Sporty's Konduko label. A long time South Florida native, Armstrong released numerous gospel toned soul 7"s for labels across the US, starting in 1962 with Cleveland's Gemini Records before going on to release with Detroit's Black Rock and Nashville's Sound Stage 7. First working with Noel Williams on the 1973 single, Black Foxy Woman, before releasing his now sought-after album Shakin' Up in 1976, he returned to Konduko 3 years later to explore the shift to disco and boogie with William's masterly production. Coming in at 10 minutes of deep, bottom rattling disco funk, William's teamed Armstrong's vocals of hypnotising love with his in-house Root Rockers band to devastating result. Their unrelenting groove and horns, plus Betty Wright & co's backing vocals counteracting with William's studio skills, is further exemplified in a wonderful dub laden Discomix by Psychemagik. Having released a sneaky edit a few years ago, it seemed fitting to bring the duo of beat diggers, tape manipulators and world travelling DJs, into the official fold by commissioning a new rework that extends, loops and arranges this classic around a nice heavy dose of dub effects for daze.

Played by: ROTCIV

Review: Emotional Rescue's love affair with Dancefloor Records continues apace as they turn their attention to the staggeringly futuristic freestyle of Shavonne. Like much dance music of the era, Shavonne was something of a shortlived talent, but the production on "So, Tell Me, Tell Me" is next level for the original release date of 1989. On the "Clubhouse Mix" there are all kinds of classic rave samples knocking about in the mix while the "Trance Mix" pares things down to a sensual core, but it's in fact the bombast of the original "Vocal Mix" that really catches the ear. With it's pitched up vocals and nimble 808 beat programming it could easily align with Rustie and the like.

Played by: Superbreak

Review: Stuart Leath's Emotional Rescue label is returning to the dance in a big way this Spring, with a couple of killer reissues of long forgotten Caribbean disco jams. This first one is, predictably, essential, with former Blue Beat chanteuse Lauren Aitken's 1978 disco-reggae killer "Sexy Boogie" being the centre of attention. Curiously, it was only a B-side first time around, but rightly deserves greater exposure. Aitken is in fine form singing over an undulating disco-reggae groove peppered with sweet guitars and twinkling pianos. Soft Rocks man Piers Harrison gets his scalpel out on the flip, turning original A-side "Hoochie Coochie Man" into a yearning dub disco chugger that largely dispenses with Aitken's vocals.

Review: British dark ambient legends O Yuki Conjugate presented their debut album Scene In Mirage back in 1984, which gets a much needed reissue here on Emotional Rescue. Recorded on a four-track in a basement studio in Leeds, it showcased different facets of their sound. From their beginnings using bass, analogue machines and tape loops (made from cassettes stolen from local libraries) to the future development of the band and their signature style of experimental sound collages. Fast forward to 2018, original members Roger Horberry and Andrew Hulme are now returning in their fourth incarnation of O Yuki Conjugate with live shows and new music to come.

Review: Thomas Leer was mainly active in the late 70s and early 80s, dropping two singles on Cherry Red that provided the source material for the two original tracks on this Emotional Rescue reissue 12". Opener "Saving Grace" is a rich, bombastic blast of synthwave, all chugging arps and massive leads, while "Tight As A Drum" heads into more psychedelic territory, using strange gating techniques and deft FX to create a wondrous, shimmering bed for Leer's poetic chat over the top. Bringing an inventive angle to the release, the label signed Bullion up for two wonderfully warm, wobbly remixes. Honing in on the weirder qualities of Leer's work, these modern interpretations make a perfect bridge from the old to the new - highly recommended!

Played by: Lexx, Rocco Universal, Pete Herbert, Juno Recommends Funk, LEGO EDIT, Benjamin Fröhlich, Projections

Review: After the trilogy of King Sporty & The Ex-tra's EPs in 2018, Emotional Rescue returns to the music of Noel Williams with this first ever single release of his 1976 reggae disco bomb, Safari, backed with a special discomix by Lexx.
Taken from William's debut album, Deep Reggae Roots, it can be considered a culmination of his career to date, from growing up on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, to his first singles for Studio One and Trojan, his relocation to Miami and the birth of his Konduko label and moves to incorporate the local clubs growing affiliation with funk and disco.

Review: Happenstance can be a fortuitous element. A union-funded single discovered in a dusty store, a long disbanded band found, leads to unreleased post punk dubs in a box of unreleased demos. Formed during the mid-80s in the downbeat town of Walsall, their music is a blend of disparate influences from 50's crooners, blues and reggae to Killing Joke and The Bunnymen; Ron's Neighbours were out of step with the perfect pop of the C86 indie generation. Their only single,
To The Fight, a split 7 inch was supported by the Trade Union Resource Centre, while many gigs were benefits for striking miners, leading to a loyal local following. Engineered by Ozzy Osbourne's brother Tony, tracks were recorded at an 8 track bedroom / home studio, while a terraced house served as rehearsal space. Here Ron Next Door was born. When a tape recorder was left running it captured the long-suffering neighbour for posterity. His outburst gave the band and song, its name. Experimenting with drum machines, the resultant jam track, here in its alternative mix, languished unheard until now. Ron's 'Black Country' tones lead to driving bass / percussion against crashing Stratocasters and repeating, refrained vox - a post punk dub turned symphony. B side Sitting On Top of the World is an indie anthem, becoming their theme, a blend of grandiose and banal that characterised their songs.

Review: he Konduko label was a gem of early 80s Miami groove, playing host to a range of projects from Noel Williams. "Rock Attack" was originally credited to J. Griffith, but resurfaces here on Emotional Rescue with Williams' King Sporty & The Ex Tras billed at the helm. It's a firecracker of a tune, revolving around a stuttering electro bassline and the loosest, funkiest set of drums, sounding fresh as a daisy with a new lick of mastering paint. Meanwhile Faze Action sprinkle a little contemporary magic on the track, making a beautifully tripped out "Discomix" that sounds more like a cosmic dub extravaganza to these ears.

Review: If you read interviews with Stuart Leath, you'll probably be aware of the amount of work he was put into tracking down Trinidadian husband-and-wife team Carl and Carol Jacobs. Some 24 months later, the fruits of his efforts have materialized in this superb reissue of their obscure (and ludicrously hard to find) 1986 electro-calypso gem "Robot Jam". It's one of those records that shouldn't work - it's effectively a fusion of replayed and re-sung bits from records by Santana, Rock Master Scott and Rappin' Duke - but still sounds brilliantly futuristic nearly 30 years after its' initial release. The two-part original is joined on the flip by a brilliantly fitting, echo-laden "re-rub" from Nick The Record and Dan Tyler, better known as one half of the Idjut Boys.

Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo

Review: For the second Riddims EP, collating the music of The New Morning, the label highlights further how a group based around the southern Germany Afro-Cosmic scene created a melange of music, a sound, that stepped wide of the house and techno movement then sweeping Europe.

In Global Rhythm Records, friends and producers, DJ Otti and Jay Pee, alongside DJ Thilo and DJ Fred, represented Munich "Westside", running parties and across just 11 self distributed releases, carved their own eclectic niche that were being played by the likes of scene DJs Stefan Egger and Enne.

Slowed afro-percussion, Brazilian flavours, elements of ethno folk, flighty wood instruments, trance overtures, shamanic voices and more are pieced together via heavy sample use in an early hip hop mastermix style.

Again with no track lasting much over 4 minutes, these musical vignettes are perfect tools for the eclectic DJ. Covering uplifting - almost Balearic grooves - to deeper mind-inducing spellbinds and to darker corners of trippy psychedelic invocation, this is The New Morning experience.

Played by: LEGO EDIT

Review: The 1990s Afro-Cosmic scene, highlighting on Munich's The New Morning project, is the focus of an in depth reissue, collected across 3 six-track EPs.

As the influence and cult of Baldelli's Cosmic sound spread out across Italy from the late 1970s, the music expanded, mixing new wave, African, funk, electro, space rock, Brazilian, jazz and dub, all delivered in a freestyle playing that became Afro.

Adding percussion, samples and effects, the music spread north to Austria and Southern Germany, where DJs, producers, labels and parties flourished. In 1994, DJ Otti and Jay Pee started Global Rhythm Records and with friends DJ Thilo and DJ Fred released 1O EPs and 1 LP over 4 years.

The 3 EPs select the best of this output, including unreleased tracks, mixing a love of funk, disco, hip hop and house with syncopated analogue beats and live percussion. The 90-110 bpm sample heavy tracks, often running for only 3 to 4 minutes, showcase their eclectic sound collage.

More than DJ tools, the EPs were warmly received by aficionados and clubbers alike, becoming mainstays at the afro-tribal gatherings taking place throughout the scene. Secret plays for taste-making DJs since, their scarcity and value have increased considerably, bringing a new appreciation of their Afro-Funky sound.

Played by: Juno Recommends Reggae, Tecwaa

Review: UK lover's rock/roots reggae group Dambala has been at the forefront of Emotional Rescue's revival of these sounds in recent years. After a haunting EP last summer we now get an immersive full-length that takes us back to the melting pot of sounds that was London in the 70s and 80s. Revelations is actually a collection of singles from the band recorded between 1978 and 1980 pressed on nice loud wax for heavy DJ deployment. There is a melancholic mood to the synths in these tunes, with weighty dub, fat bass, and skilled guitar all adding the sort of detail that occupies the mind as much as the body.

Review: This third part of Emotional Rescue's Dunkelziffer reissue project sees the underrated Krautrock super group formed of Dominik von Senger (Golf Channel), Reiner Linke and Helmut Zerlett, and the rotating cast that also included Jaki Liebezeit, Damo Suzuki, Olek Gelba, Wolfgang Schubert, Stefan Krachten and Matthias Keu get a third EP of fully licensed and remastered material from the six year career. First is the 13 minute "Retrospective" from 1984's In The Night, an improvisational Krautrock jam with elements of dub and jazz, while the remainder sees the smoother, Balearic tones and soulful vocals of "See It" from their final album, 1989's Songs For Everyone. Finally, "Colours and Soul", the title track from the group's 1983 debut provides a fitting end to the three EPs, its pop sensibility encapsulating just how wide ranging Dunkelziffer's music was.

Played by: ERIK RUG

Review: This second part of Emotional Rescue's Dunkelziffer reissue project sees the underrated Krautrock Supergroup formed of Dominik von Senger (Golf Channel), Reiner Linke and Helmut Zerlett, and the rotating cast that also included Jaki Liebezeit, Damo Suzuki, Olek Gelba, Wolfgang Schubert, Stefan Krachten and Matthias Keu get a second EP of carefully selected material, fully licensed and remastered. "Trailer II" comes from their 1986 album III, and is a proto psyche-disco number with a healthy does of live bass funk, while "Blieb Nicht So Lang Im Schatten" is a more frenetic number from the 1983 album Colours and Soul. On the flip, "Dark Number" provides a dubbed out combination of tribal rhythms and light synth textures, while "Oriental Cafe" is a dark, motorik jam with arid Middle Eastern melodies simmering to the surface.

Played by: Vermelho

Review: Emotional Rescue's latest reissue project sees them collect three separate EPs of collected material from Dunkelziffer, one of Germany's best - and most underrated - bands. Arriving at the end of the Krautrock explosion of the 1970s, Dunkelziffer was formed out of the original sessions that created the classic Phantom Band, and was centred around Dominik von Senger (Golf Channel), Reiner Linke and Helmut Zerlett, but with a cast of floating members that included Jaki Liebezeit, Damo Suzuki, Olek Gelba, Wolfgang Schubert, Stefan Krachten and Matthias Keul. Making four groundbreaking albums over a 6 year period, they took their cue from the classic Krautrock triumverate of heavy repetitive drumming, intricate, overlapping melody and sonic intonation, adding dub, soul and jazz elements to expand the sound into the new decade. The first part features four tracks all fully licensed and remastered; "This Is How You Came", "Q", "Klein Python" and "Network", which all perfectly introduce the group's expansive sound to the uninitiated.

Review: Emotional Rescue make no attempt to hide their love of classic 80s cutters Razormaid's remixes, and on this occasion they're shining a light on the pumped up dancefloor versions of cult Canadian synthwave concern Psyche. The "US Club Mix" of "Eternal" is a perfect, swooning synth pop belter with weight in all the right places to work on the floor. "Prisoner To Desire (Alcatraz Mix)" is a snarling stomper that almost touches on acidic synth lines underneath the impassioned vocals, and then an exclusive re-edit of "Unveiling The Secret" ups the tempo while letting the catchy pop edge to Psyche's sound shine through. The record finishes with the fevered intensity of Joseph Watt's extended mix of "Ecstasy".

Review: A connection that perhaps didn't seem obvious at first but makes sense when you think about it, space rock titans get the niche reissue treatment on Emotional Rescue with Chuggy's ever prolific stable picking two deep cuts from the band's frankly intimidating back catalogue. Originally released in 1976 on "Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music", "The Aubergine That Ate Rangoon" and "City Of Lagoons" are both examples of Hawkwind at their cosmic best, and not afraid to hold down a groove either. Alongside the originals, we're also treated to some wild remix versions from wayfaring astral traveler Cherrystones - lucky for us!

Review: Emotional Rescue is delighted to offer this compilation of music from Elaine Kibaro and her particular coalesce of chanson, folk, balearic and touch of disco, all encased in her strong French and North African roots.

The music included here, released between 1979 to 1989, is an expression of her development, of music changes matching growth in life, conveyed through her emotions in song. Opening with the spoken word Introduction from her debut album, "Mirrors" and the folk rock of melodies of Le Reveil from the 1981 follow up, Au Soleil, her early works are characterised by band, orchestra and choirs complimenting her voice as one.

This is further heard on the mystical Sorciere, psyche percussion of Secret, the marching Le Guerrier and the inclusion her first "hit" with Aurore, appearing her in all it's extended, off-kilter guitar meets organ form.

Exploring sensitivity and desires the compilation matches these earlier folk and world inspired songs with her move towards electronic production that accompanied a return some 4 years later, adding balearic and even pop dance found on 1985's Le Long De Fleuve Amour and the following 1989 opus, in Kiroel.

L'Amour Pour Bouclier and Ne Doute Pas lift her music higher towards lovers' heights, with word, melody, and rhythm giving the desire to dance and be free, while her continuing exploration of chanson and spoken word takes on new meanings via the new wave meets estoric Douleur, while the emotionally charged soundscape of Kiroel brings balance.

Inspired by the purity of song, Kibaro's music's has a timeless essence to behold; a voice and words found through life experience - beauty, discovery, nature and dreams.

A love and hope in music, her quest for the infinite potential in song.

Review: Emotional Rescue is honoured to reissue the benchmark in new age ambient music, Michael Stearns epic Planetary Unfolding album. Out of press on vinyl for over 30 years, here is Stearns masterful electronic symphony in 6 movements, recorded using his Serge modular synthesizer at the Continuum Studio in 1981.

The culmination of years of exploration in "space" music, Stearns journey, to the album's release, was one of learning and application. Involved in music since his teens, he graduated from guitar bands in the late 60s to an increasing interest in the principles of electronic music synthesis and the physics of musical instruments.

He moved from Tucson, Arizona to Los Angeles in 1975 where he performed live during movement meditation classes at the Continuum Studio. He released his first cassette album in 1977 before going on to record 7 albums during this formative period.

With Planetary Unfolding, the musical ideas that Michael performed on the Serge developed into this 52-minute masterpiece of music, six movements, three on each side of the LP. Based on the idea that the universe is made of sound held together through resonance, where atoms, cells, oceans, plants, animals and humans, all are part of a complex orchestration - the Earth as a being of sound.

Having first approached Michael in 2013, his uncertain response that the album could be rereleased in a way that the music would be given justice via vinyl, the idea was never forgotten. Gaining discovery, appraisal and prominence when "As The Earth Kissed The Moon" appeared in edited form on the "I Am The Centre" box set from Light In The Attic, this excellent window into the world of Private issue new age music, superbly compiled by Douglas McGowan, further increased the interest in Michael's and others, such as Laraaji, music.

With the likes of Matthewdavid's Leaving Records and Jonny Nash's Melody As Truth pushing the ambient curve beyond a post club, chill out fad, classic albums can rightly sit alongside this 'new age of the new age', so that ambient music again has a gravity and place of it's own. This specially re-mastered version by Bob Ohllson features the original artwork by Leilani Bost, liner notes by long-term friend and fellow musician, Gary David, as well as the photography of Ron Peterson, together bringing this wonderful album to life once again.

Played by: Juno Recommends Downtempo, Kenneth Bager // Musicfordreams

Review: Emotional Rescue again delves in the world of private pressings, with a reissue of British electronic pop meets proto-house duo 4AM. With copies of their self titled album now highly sought after, this timely reissue presents two of their songs as a stand alone single.

Consisting of multi-instrumentalist Steve Kirby - piano, guitar, bass, programming - and vocalist Kevin Finch, 4AM came together after youths filled with a love of music. Following a string of band attempts, Steve dived in to the world of midi, allowing him to build a studio set up and play solo. A meeting with new work colleague Kevin quickly developed to joining forces to expand on his early demos.

Their melodic, dance-influenced pop draws on a love of Japan, OMD and The The, but also ECM jazz and a touch of white boy soul. The TR-808 drum and hi-hats, string stabs and random acid squelches - although no TR-303 was used - highlights the influence the nascent House sounds emanating from the second summer of love of 1988/89 had in their music melting pot.

Over this, personal lyrics flow, full of honest emotions and a touch of youthful naivety thrown in - of relationships, love, sex and passions. Intended as a personal artifact, the original album was released in 1990 with no promotion or live shows and has taken until now, some 30 years, to find a cult audience. I want you with a Passion.