Back in stock: All genres

Review: A tale of two sides, Azimuth's classic "Manha" should be recognisable to many; taken from their self-titled LP in 1975, its golden harmonies and lavish, lolloping Bob James style jazz are as timeless as they were 40 years ago. Flip for "America Latina". Conjured by prolific collaborator Osmar Milito (whose discography features the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Spanky Wilson and Liza Minelli), its striking, sing-along charms are no accident... It was actually created for 70s Brazilian soap opera Selva De Pedra.

Review: Azymuth's Outubro is just one of the many vibrant and captivating albums in their oeuvre that embodies the essence of Brazilian jazz-funk fusion. Released in 1980, it features the cult collective's signature blend of infectious rhythms, intricate melodies, and soulful improvisation. The album's title track stands out as a shining example of the band's musical prowess with its irresistible groove and lush instrumentation and throughout the record, Azymuth showcase their mastery of blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with elements of jazz, funk and electronic music to create a timeless and immersive that remains a classic in the realm of Brazilian music.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


This official reissue of Bela Lugosi's Dead: The Bela Session comes on black and red splattered vinyl this time around and includes previously unreleased tracks that have been mastered from the original demo tapes of their first ever recording session together. The post-punk outfit's debut single was released initially in 1979. Bela Lugosi's Dead is not only their first single, but also often gets mentioned as the first goth record. It has since been covered by Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack and Nouvelle Vague. The rest of the tunes from the demo session remain hugely innovative, reflecting their post-punk and dark-glam style with dub reggae influences that would further evolve in their output that followed and explain why the band went on to such cult status.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


2022's stunning album Once Twice Melody was a fine example of Beach House doing what they do best - living bang up to that name, with intimate-but epic instrumentation falling somewhere between surf-y jangle and grand shoegaze. 'Become' is definitely on a similar tip, and as such feels much like an extension of the long form.
Dig a little deeper, though, and scratches begin to show. While the full-length record represented Beach House reaching for the stars, or at least the moon, and stepping into the role of festival headliners, here the sense of pure confidence and occasion is less pronounced. That may not be a bad thing, mind, because while Once came across like a finished article, refined and prepared, things here seem somehow rawer, as though we're sitting in on a session as oppose to getting the signed off product.

Notes: Bananuts are anodized aluminium custom minijack nuts, following Buchla/Serge colouring code: Blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, white, green and black. Perfect lovely thingies to pimp your modular, code your inputs and outputs with colours or just give a touch of beauty to your favourite gear!

Notes: Bananuts are anodized aluminium custom minijack nuts, following Buchla/Serge colouring code: Blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, white, green and black. Perfect lovely thingies to pimp your modular, code your inputs and outputs with colours or just give a touch of beauty to your favourite gear!

Notes: Bananuts are anodized aluminium custom minijack nuts, following Buchla/Serge colouring code: Blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, white, green and black. Perfect lovely thingies to pimp your modular, code your inputs and outputs with colours or just give a touch of beauty to your favourite gear!

Notes: Bananuts are anodized aluminium custom minijack nuts, following Buchla/Serge colouring code: Blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, white, green and black. Perfect lovely thingies to pimp your modular, code your inputs and outputs with colours or just give a touch of beauty to your favourite gear!

Notes: The EVEN VCO is a voltage-controlled oscillator that offers stability and high precision tuning over 10 octaves. A redesigned temperature compensation circuit maintains the oscillator stable against voltage and temperature drops.

Specifications:

Current needs: +12V: 36mA, -12V: 26mA
Width: 8 HP
Depth: 22mm, (28mm DIY) including power connector
Aluminium, heat-treated front panel.
Designed, kits prepared and completed modules assembled in Barcelona.

Notes: 100 of Befaco's unique screws designed specifically for Eurorack. These M2.5 screws can be secured by hand, all common screwdrivers and Allen Key. These are great for saving time when rearranging your synth.

Each Knurlie comes with a fitted plastic washer to prevent rack rash.

Notes: STMix is a four-channel stereo mixer in 28hp and 1U format. It can work independently or as an expansion of Befaco's Hexmix module via the six-pin connector located in the back. The module is designed under the Intellijel 1U format.

Features

Four channels stereo inputs with volume control.
AC Coupled inputs to improve audio performance.
Output clipping LED indicators.
Connector at the back to interface with the Hexmix module.
1U Intellijel format

Specs:

Current needs: +12V: 30mA, -12V: 30mA
Width: 28 HP
Depth: 20mm (including power connector)
Aluminium, heat-treated front panel
Designed, kits prepared and completed modules assembled in Barcelona

Notes: The Befaco Synth Duster is a super soft brush to keep your modular synth and audio equipment far away from dust.

Review: Black Carbon by Akae Beka featuring Chronixx delivers deep Jah vibes and chilled reggae rhythms that capture the soul of Jamaican life. On Side-1, the track unfolds smoothly, blending reggae and dub elements into a mesmerising sonic experience. The lyrics delve into profound themes, reflecting on societal issues and spiritual insights. On Side-2, the dub version amplifies the instrumental aspects, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in the rich layers of the music. Overall, Black Carbon is a captivating release that shows the talents of both artists and offers a refreshing take on contemporary reggae music.

Review: Interplugreaction is a track from Beroshima's 2007 album Real To Reel, but it's wasn't until 2023 that we (now get to) hear the cream of its reinterpretations. If only every track in the world could hear a remix from the likes of Marcel Dettman and Rodhad! Perhaps this calls for an entirely new industry - in fact, let's lock the artists in a room just so they can churn out the music and nothing else. Actually, a whopping four techno heavyweights (also including Frank Muller and Henning Baer) to reinterpret the classic track, with the new mixes ranging from stuffy and oppressive to airy and stark. Certainly not one to miss.

Review: The East Coast hip-hop scene has many giants and many seminal albums but Big Noyd's Episodes of a Hustla is one of the lesser known works to check out if you anen't already familiar. It is a gritty and raw portrayal of street life in Queensbridge, New York, released in 1996 and capturing the essence of the East Coast scene with its hard-hitting beats and vivid storytelling. Noyd's distinctive voice and uncompromising lyrics paint a vivid picture of survival and struggle in the urban jungle. With production from hip-hop luminaries like DJ Premier and Havoc, the album delivers a potent blend of boom-bap beats and menacing melodies as well as offering a glimpse into the harsh realities of inner-city life.

Review: Mystics Arts is young label from Belfast that welcomes vocal duo Black Bones aka the DJ and production duo of Aaron Black and Timmy Stewart. Both men have been at this for many years and bring considerable know how, studio chops and dance music understanding to an EP that is aimed square at the rave. It's all about hands in the air breakbeats, old school rave energy, lush chords that come on stronger than the rush of an E and are steeped in the culture of pirate radio, illegal parties and warehouse sessions. A timeless EP that will light up any dancefloor.

Review: Sweden has so much to answer for in non-conformist music terms. And Gothenburg is responsible for plenty within that. Take Gustaf Dicksson's renowned Blod project, for example, and its formidable 2023 outing Ondskans Fro. As oppose to the preceding two albums, here we find the man in question flying solo on the mic having previously partnered with fair-voiced female vocalists, lending the record a sense not just of the personal and intimate, but solitary isolation. That may sound slightly sombre, but it shouldn't. In reality, while we often jump to miserable conclusions when we think of words like 'alone', there's no greater strength than our ability to be happy as individuals - self love being a prerequisite to loving anyone else. In many ways, that's a resounding takeaway here. Medieval ambient folk that is warm, inviting, peaceful, and often dreamy.

Notes: The Benchmark in Guitar Distortion

The DS-1 Distortion is a true icon in the world of guitar effects. Introduced in 1978, BOSS's first distortion pedal defined a bold new sound, delivering hard-edged attack and smooth sustain that's been a staple of players for generations. The DS-1 is the top-selling BOSS compact pedal ever, and its original, unchanged design continues to inspire the creation of great music everywhere. The classic DS-1 tone is behind the signature sounds of numerous rock legends, and is ready to fuel your own signature sound today.

Genre-Defining Distortion

Before the DS-1, most distortion pedals produced harsh, buzzy tones and muddy sound at high gain settings. In 1978, BOSS engineers changed all that by developing a unique distortion circuit for the DS-1 that produces tight, hard-edged gain with rich harmonics while retaining the unique characteristics of different guitars and playing techniques. Hard rock, metal, and punk styles began to flourish in the '70s and '80s, and the DS-1's tone had a defining influence on these genres. That trend has endured through multiple generations, and players around the world continue to seek out the classic DS-1 sound.

Gain from Mild to Heavy

From its modest three-knob interface, many different sound colours can be coaxed from the DS-1. Its pioneering two-stage circuit incorporates both transistor and op-amp gain stages. This approach is critical to the DS-1's characteristic low-frequency fullness, which is loved by guitarists that play heavy music genres. The distortion knob offers an extremely wide range, from a mild boost for driving amps and pedals to full-throttle gain for monster rock riffs.

Powerful Tone Shaping

Unlike typical tone controls that only cut highs, the DS-1's tone circuit features an innovative design that offers far more range. Turning the knob clockwise increases highs and decreases lows, while going counter-clockwise has the opposite effect. This lets you dial in everything from tight, cutting rhythm sounds to smooth, fat lead voices. The tone control is particularly effective for maintaining low-end definition when using the DS-1 as a booster with vintage-style amps, which often sound muddy when driven with other distortion pedals.

Nominal Input Level-20 dBu
Input Impedance: 1 M ohm
Nominal Output Level-20 dBu
Output Impedance: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohms or greater
Controls: Pedal switch, TONE knob, LEVEL knob, DIST knob
Indicator: CHECK indicator (Used for indication of check battery)
Connectors:
INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
OUTPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
DC IN jack
Power Supply:
Alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61) or Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22)
AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately)
Current Draw10 mA

Expected battery life under continuous use:
Carbon: Approx. 50 hours
Alkaline: Approx. 80 hours
* These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Accessories: Leaflet ("USING THE UNIT SAFELY," "IMPORTANT NOTES," and "Information"), Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22)
Option (sold separately)AC adaptor (PSA series)

Size & weight (incl. battery)
Width: 73 mm / 2-7/8 inches
Depth: 129 mm / 5-1/8 inches
Height59 mm / 2-3/8 inches
Weight: 360 g / 13 oz

Notes: Part of the new Boss 200 series, the RV-200 is a seriously classy reverb. With a choice of 12 algorithms, things quickly move from classic ambience to the pitch-shifted arpeggiated madness of the new Arpverb program.

Supplier's Notes:
Ambient Bliss

The RV-200 delivers inspiring reverbs and premium sound in the streamlined BOSS 200 series design. Twelve versatile reverb types-including the newly developed Arpverb-provide everything from subtle spatial colour to complex, dreamy textures for ambient explorations. Quickly dial in sounds with the fast-access interface. Save favourites in 127 memories. And take performances to the next level with flexible onboard footswitches, deep external control support, and head-turning creative tools like Warp, Twist, and more.

Studio-Grade Processing

The RV-200 features a powerful reverberation engine with class-leading sound quality, backed by custom BOSS DSP, 32-bit AD/DA, 32-bit floating point processing, and a 96 kHz sampling rate. Every algorithm offers true studio-grade performance, with exceptional detail and definition from the shortest early reflections to long, floating tails spanning multiple seconds.

Twelve Distinctive Reverbs

From essentials like Room and Hall to deeply immersive reverbs like Shimmer, Slowverb, and the cool new Arpverb, the RV-200 gives you the ambient colours you need for every song and style.

Room

Simulates the reverberation characteristics of a small room. Select from four room sizes with the Param knob.

Hall

Simulates the reverberation characteristics of a concert hall. Select from three hall sizes with the Param knob.

Plate

Simulates the reverberation characteristics of a studio plate reverb. Balance the high and low damping of the reverb with the Param knob.

Spring

Simulates the distinctive sound of the hardware spring reverb effect found in guitar amplifiers. Select the number of springs with the Param knob.

Shimmer

Creates long, dreamlike reverberations rich in harmonic content. Adjust the harmonic character and diffusion with the Param knob.

Arpverb

A newly developed BOSS reverb that creates an arpeggio type of sound with evocative pitch-shifted tails. Use the Param knob to adjust the attack of the arpeggio sound.

Slowverb

A sweet ambient reverb with gentle attack and soft harmonics. Param adjusts the amount of direct sound blended with the reverb, allowing you to create deep, immersive tones.

Modulate

Adds a modulation effect to a rich hall reverb sound. Adjust the modulation depth with the Param knob.

+Delay

Combines a delay with reverb, with the length of both effects controlled with the Time knob. Use the Param knob to adjust the delay level.

Lo-Fi

A specialty reverb with limited bandwidth and added distortion. Adjust the distortion amount with the Param knob.

Gate

A distinctive reverb effect that abruptly cuts off the reverb tail. Use the Param knob to control the timing of the gate effect.

Reverse

Plays the reverb sound in reverse. Adjust the high-frequency character with the Param knob.

Instant Sound Creation

Like all 200 series pedals, the RV-200 offers a powerful yet intuitive panel that lets you realize great sounds with minimal effort. Along with core parameters such as reverb time, effect level, and pre-delay, there are variable high and low filters to perfectly balance the verb for your application. You also have a density control to adjust the weight of the sound, plus a parameter knob with access to multiple sound-shaping tools that are unique to each type.

Expressive Performance Control

The RV-200 includes memories for storing 127 reverb sounds, so your favourite setups are always ready to go. Two onboard footswitches pack a lot of performance versatility, with numerous options to reassign their targets to suit your needs. For example, you can bypass the effect, scroll through memories, and activate a Hold function to carry on the reverb effect for as long as the switch is pressed. It's also possible to assign powerful performance effects such as Warp, Twist, and Fade.

Specifications

Sampling Frequency: 96 kHz
AD/DA Conversion: 32 bits
Processing: 32-bit floating point
Modes: 12 modes- ROOM, HALL, PLATE, SPRING, SHIMMER, ARPVERB, SLOWVERB, MODULATE, +DELAY, LO-FI ,GATE, REVERSE
Memory127 + Manual
Nominal Input Level: INPUT A/MONO, B: -10 dBu
Maximum Input Level: INPUT A/MONO, B: +7 dBu
Input Impedance: INPUT A/MONO, B: 2 M ohms
Nominal Output Level: OUTPUT A/MONO, B: -10 dBu
Maximum Output Level: OUTPUT A/MONO, B: +7 dBu
Output Impedance: OUTPUT A/MONO, B: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: OUTPUT A/MONO, B: 10 k ohms or greater
Bypass: Buffered bypass
Controls: ON/OFF switch, MEMORY/HOLD switch, MODE knob, TIME knob, PRE-DELAY knob, E. LEVEL knob, PARAM knob, LOW knob, HIGH knob, DENSITY button, MEMORY button
Display: 7 segments, 3 characters (LED)
Indicator: DENSITY indicator, MEMORY (MAN, 1--4) indicators

Connectors
INPUT (A/MONO, B) jacks, OUTPUT (A/MONO, B) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type, CTL 1, 2/EXP jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type, MIDI (IN, OUT) jacks: Stereo miniature phone type, DC IN jack, USB port: USB2.0 micro B (program update only)
Power Supply: Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 3, AC adapter (sold separately)
Current Draw: 260 mA

Expected Battery Life Under Continuous Use: Alkaline: Approx. 4 Hours
* These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Accessories: Leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY", Leaflet "To obtain the Owner's Manual", Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 3, Rubber foot x 4

Options (sold separately):
AC adaptor: PSA-S series
Footswitch: FS-5U
Dual footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
Expression pedal: FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, Roland EV-5
TRS/MIDI connecting cable: BMIDI-5-35, BMIDI-1-35, BMIDI-2-35, BCC-1-3535, BCC-2-3535

Size & weight

Width: 101 mm / 4 inches
Depth: 138 mm / 5-7/16 inches
Height: 63 mm / 2-1/2 inches
Height(including rubber feet): 65 mm / 2-9/16 inches
Weight: 610 g / 1 lb 6 oz
Weight (including battery): 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz

Review: Archeo Recordings bring us some more Balearic Italian treasure here with some gold initially recorded in Bologna almost two decades ago. It's a collaboration between friends Bottin and Lucio Dalla that has never before been on vinyl. 'Lunedi Cinema' was an ident that played before Monday night movies on of one of the main Italian TV channels for many years. This electronic version includes the Martedi Mix from 2008, a Minibar Bonus Track and also a mix by pioneering Italian dream house dons Leo Mas & Fabrice with a Bottin dub sealing the deal. It's a superb package of real Italo music history.