Classic Rock

Artist: Family Label: Madfish

Artist: Bobby Donnie Label: Wave Records

Artist: Carly Simon Label: Friday Music

Artist: Jimi Hendrix Label: SBME SPECIAL MKTS.

Artist: Bobby Donnie Label: Wave Records

In what has become an over 15 years history of Exile On Mainstream we have seen a lot happening when it comes to bands becoming a part of the family and history of this label this - from the somehow traditional way of listening to a demo, seeing the band playing live, being a longtime fan to establishing a friendship first and later getting hooked on what their musical approach and output is. The signing of Treedeon now marks walking this path full circle and simultaneously adds a new, almost holistic way of incorporating a band in the Exile On Mainstream roster as we had the fortune of watching a band finding themselves, trying out different ways and approaches to finding their sound and observing their progressions. It was stunning to see how the threepiece became what they are now: one of Europes most staggering outfits to lay pure emotional heavyness in sound and attitude over your maltreated souls. But let's start from the beginning and tell the tale of Treedeons creation: After the almost simultaneous demise of Germany's Noise-stalwarts ULME, and the 2nd spring of seminal Crossover punk/metal icons JINGO DE LUNCH, Ulme-guitarist and singer Arne, and Jingo de Lunch singer Yvonne, formed an acoustic bit named Treedeon. It started as an acoustic solo set on the 2012 (and final) edition of the SOUTH OF MAINSTREAM FESTIVAL; Ulme had originally been booked, but unfortunately disbanded right before the festival. Shortly after, a 2nd gig was booked at Berlin's Schokoladen, where KAENG-shell punisher Boomer pledged himself as the missing link by offering to play drums. The usual followed; songs were laid out, written, and rehearsed in a dark cellar. A demo was recorded in November 2013; then unleashed to astonished fans. The Demo made very clear that the acoustic approach of the first giggery was sacked, by a new, but somehow expected, monstrous Valkyrie of sheer heavyness, duelling vocals, and screams of emotional terror. A much louder Treedeon played a first show in their local hangout 'Franken Bar' in Berlin. Their second show brought them to the infamous ROADBURN FESTIVAL, as part of Exile On Mainstream's 15 years anniversary showcase. And what an impression they left! The digitally released demo began rolling around among dedicated punters and created quite a buzz for the band, culminating in an invitation to play the STONED FROM THE UNDERGROUND FESTIVAL in July 2014. From this gig on, the band found themselves on the map for lovers of Noise, Sludge, and all kinds of heavy pumping riffage, combined with an emotional approach and intimate lyrics. Consequently, recording an album was due, which put the band in STUDIO WONG Berlin throughout November 2014. And here it is - their debut album; "Lowest Level Reincarnation" - 8 songs long, 50 minutes full sonic assault, raw, heavy, and all up in your face.. carved out of depression and channelled into a maelstrom monstrosity of guitar, bass and drums. Record Label: Exile On Mainstream Style: Metal

Record Label: Drag City Style: Folk

This comes for the first time on 180g vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. Re-mastered for vinyl. This 22 track compilation spans the years 1995 - 2004 featuring key tracks from all their albums as well and live recordings and many unreleased tracks. Record Label: A Records Style: Independent

Record Label: Drag City Style: Rock

Record Label: Drag City Style: Folk

Record Label: Drag City Style: Rock

The German instrumental duo SANKT OTTEN, founded in 1999, consists of Stephan Otten (drums, programming, synthesizer) and Oliver Klemm (guitar, synthesizer, piano), and has been releasing on Denovali Records since 2009. Their eighth album ENGTANZ DEPRESSION (engl.: CLOSE DANCE DEPRESSION) expresses a significant progression of their material on the preceding album trilogy (Gottes Synthesizer, Sequencer Liebe, Messias Maschine). New drum sounds and acoustic instruments such as harmonium and piano may be found, and some pieces emerged from free improvisations, which is a completely new approach taken by this band. The album starts with "Urlaub Unter Psalmen" which builds up slowly, piles up further, just to completely disintegrate in the end. Klemm's typical E-bow guitar parts and the dubby baseline make this track a catchy tune. Next is "Beten, Tanzen, Küssen" which is the first Sankt Otten track ever where a harmonium appears. In combination with the minimal beat one could even think that this track is suitable for a club context, but the two musicians always manage to stay away just enough from the ordinary and remain slightly disturbing as ever. "Im Lichtorgelparadies" switches on the lights in paradise with a hypnotic synthesizer melody and the KRAFTWERK-like beat gives the track a floating ease. One of the album highlights is the 12-minute monster "Sing die Apokalypse", which is dominated by Otten's powerful, but always minimalistic drumming. After about 10 minutes the listener might think that the apocalypse has aleady arrived, but Sankt Otten move on and manage to even increase this feeling. The track ends unexpectedly and with a winking bow to the influential American electronic protopunks SUICIDE. However, Sankt Otten also demonstrate that they can still master the meditative sounds. Tracks like "Der Himmel ist voll" or "Die tragische Nummer" are quite far apart from average electronica. The titles of the tracks appearing on the album are as always a unique mixture of aphorisms, sarcasm and puns. In spite of the new directions explored on this album, SANKT OTTEN maintain their characteristic Holy Trinity of krautrock, ambient, and 80ies electronica. Floating, meditative, dazing and catchy at times. Recommended if you like ZOMBI, BOARDS OF CANADA, ROBERT FRIPP, KRAFTWERK Record Label: Denovali Style: Kraut

Unhold split up in 2012 after being together for 20 years. They released 3 full-length albums but it has been 7 years since the last release, so here they are back in 2015 with a new lineup and a most challenging affair of a new album. Most of the influences are very obvious on this one, Neurosis, Isis etc.. “I Belong” demonstrates this with the use of an understated chugging riff accentuated by a brass section, the track builds through a series of passages before heading into a riff with an underlying melody which is barely audible but you definitely would miss its presence if absent. The album as a whole is varied, going from the Unsane style riffing of “Southern Grave” to the Deftones styled “Voices Within” which features a switch to female vocals and also features a beautiful piano melody. Epic is a well overused word but this is really what Unhold are laying out here, epic tunes with atmosphere and anticipation built in. There is light and shade and at times slips into indie rock territory, it really is that diverse. The title track is a 9 minute instrumental with samples which also encompasses an orchestral undercurrent, but not overriding the main band. Vocally the band ranges from the aggressive shouting associated with post rock/metal to the spacey tones more associated with the likes of Portishead. Production is a bit dry and does a disservice to the weight of the guitars. Vocally the aggressive parts work just about, could be doing with either more aggression or a bit more melodic, either would work, they just tend to grate a bit at times. Overall this is a sterling piece of work; it is varied and will stand up to multiple plays. Definitely one for fans of the likes of Neurosis, Crippled Black Phoenix and Fall Time. Record Label: Czar Of Bullets Style: Metal/Rock

The German instrumental duo SANKT OTTEN, founded in 1999, consists of Stephan Otten (drums, programming, synthesizer) and Oliver Klemm (guitar, synthesizer, piano), and has been releasing on Denovali Records since 2009. Their eighth album ENGTANZ DEPRESSION (engl.: CLOSE DANCE DEPRESSION) expresses a significant progression of their material on the preceding album trilogy (Gottes Synthesizer, Sequencer Liebe, Messias Maschine). New drum sounds and acoustic instruments such as harmonium and piano may be found, and some pieces emerged from free improvisations, which is a completely new approach taken by this band. The album starts with "Urlaub Unter Psalmen" which builds up slowly, piles up further, just to completely disintegrate in the end. Klemm's typical E-bow guitar parts and the dubby baseline make this track a catchy tune. Next is "Beten, Tanzen, Küssen" which is the first Sankt Otten track ever where a harmonium appears. In combination with the minimal beat one could even think that this track is suitable for a club context, but the two musicians always manage to stay away just enough from the ordinary and remain slightly disturbing as ever. "Im Lichtorgelparadies" switches on the lights in paradise with a hypnotic synthesizer melody and the KRAFTWERK-like beat gives the track a floating ease. One of the album highlights is the 12-minute monster "Sing die Apokalypse", which is dominated by Otten's powerful, but always minimalistic drumming. After about 10 minutes the listener might think that the apocalypse has aleady arrived, but Sankt Otten move on and manage to even increase this feeling. The track ends unexpectedly and with a winking bow to the influential American electronic protopunks SUICIDE. However, Sankt Otten also demonstrate that they can still master the meditative sounds. Tracks like "Der Himmel ist voll" or "Die tragische Nummer" are quite far apart from average electronica. The titles of the tracks appearing on the album are as always a unique mixture of aphorisms, sarcasm and puns. In spite of the new directions explored on this album, SANKT OTTEN maintain their characteristic Holy Trinity of krautrock, ambient, and 80ies electronica. Floating, meditative, dazing and catchy at times. Recommended if you like ZOMBI, BOARDS OF CANADA, ROBERT FRIPP, KRAFTWERK Record Label: Denovali Style: Kraut

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley on a steady diet of punk and glitter rock, Prima Donna are infamous on the LA scene. Their curriculum includes musical road trips with Eddie and the Hot Rods, Adam Ant, Glen Matlock & The Philistines, The Dictators, and even Green Day, who they supported on two arena tours on two continents. Frontman Kevin Preston has also continued participation in Green Day side-project Foxboro Hot Tubs. While touring the US and Europe, Prima Donna was in and out of the studio numerous times. The finished product is "Nine Lives and Forty Fives", a 11-song variety pack that displays the band's skills in the studio, and compiles some of their rarest and rawest recordings. Record Label: Alive Naturalsound Style: Rock

Port Orchard, Washington's long-running hard rock trio Mos Generator have teamed up with Genoa, Italy's stoner rock crew Isaak (formerly known as Gandhi's Gunn) for a limited edition split 12" on Heavy Psych Sounds. Mos Generator have released 5 studio albums, a retrospective album, and a live album on such labels as Roadburn, Small Stone, Ripple, Nasoni, and Lay Bare. Isaak, born from the ashes of Gandhi's Gunn, immediately signed a worldwide contract for two albums with the American label Small Stone Records: the critically acclaimed debut "The Longer The Beard The Harder The Sound" released in 2013 and a second one that is going to be recorded very soon. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds Style: Psychedelic Rock

Record Label: Bad Taste Records Style: Rock

As a Canadian musician currently living in Berlin, Aidan Baker got first famous as half part of the prolific project Nadja, playing along with Leah Buckareff. LP after LP and collaboration after collaboration (A Storm of Light, Atavist, Year of no Light....), Nadja never ceased to explore the different aspects of ambient, noise and drone music. Also a prolific solo composer, Aidan Baker is well-known by experimental and alternative music fans as much for his solo albums as for his prestigious collaborations with some artists (Tim Hecker, Thisquietarmy, Noveller...) and famous music labels (Denovali, Important, Lattitudes, Gizeh...). Today, Mind Travels is very proud to present the first vinyl edition of one of his key records, A Sea Swells a Bit...., first released in 2006. Three long ambient titles that will likely make you shiver and lose your senses. A live version of the eponymous title is also joined as a bonus. The artwork, again designed by Francis Meslet (Urbex), intensifies in the most admirable manner the depth of this dizzying music. Record Label: Ici D'Ailleurs Style: Experimental

Record Label: Gossip Style: Rock