Jonathan Fitoussi
Plein Soleil (Crystal vinyl Version)

Starting 2020 on high wheels, Parisian crew Discomatin picked an ultimate banger of the 80’s boogie era, Laying On The Sofa by French diva Isabelle Antena. Rare and expensive, the original 12inch here remastered for full effect offers two extended versions/remixes by Belgian electro and jazz-funk hero Marc Moulin and by American producer and DJ Mark Kamins. With her amazing voice and beautiful compositions/productions, Isabelle signed on this release two of her many great songs. « Laying On the Sofa » is a Sade-esque song with a lot of rich harmonies sublimated by the strong rhythms of the 808. This Mark Kamins remix brings the song to its climax with kind of an housy extension with its strong synths and guitars parts before it goes back to the chorus for an epic ending. Back in the days, NY DJ Mark Kamins brought Isabelle to the famous Danceteria to perform. At the same time, he was recording some of the first demos of Madonna… Do you feel the vibe? « La Tête Contre Les Murs » with his « anti-system » feeling in the lyrics is the other beauty on the EP. Remixed here by Telex member and jazz-funk don Marc Moulin, who became later the father of Isabelle Antena via her husband, the song written by her and her mother describes an old but still fresh feeling. Disillusioned, in loss of marks, with no directions: the words don’t miss to describe the youth and its feeling towards society. Maybe, this is why « you’re crashing your head on the walls » as Isabelle sings. Maybe it’s people trying to educate them in relation with certain norms who are in the end « maybe what the danger is ». With her classical and so French casualness surrounded by syncopated rhythms, Isabelle transforms this timeless topic to a song dedicated to all generations going through times of wanderings. You may know Isabelle Antena other’s work like her French-Belgian synth-pop trio Antena which led later to her another band Powaga Sisters. Combining minimal electro, pop and samba styles, Camino Del Sol was one of her greatest albums. As a solo artist, she’s found particular success in Japan with samba-inflected nu-jazz and electro-pop compositions. Still, with her own words, this EP « means a lot » to her. Thanks to Discomatin, it’s now available to the real connoisseurs with an exclusive insert which contains lyrics, again with fantastic illustrations from French artist Camille de Cussac.

21 is the well-crafted, sharp and original 1st album by the duo HILA.The combination of jazz, Los Angeles beat-scene and the vibrations of 80s and 90s Soviet Armenia make it a striking and unprecedented fusion. These kind of nostalgic and unconventional references forcefully shake the codes of mainstream culture to create a sincere, raw and intimate expression.FEATURING MIGUEL ATWOOD FERGUSON

Here it is! The first EP from "Zero Netcost", a project by Romain Bezzina with the help of Simon Mills ak Bent plus a few guests. A sweet mashup of easy-listening and downtempo tracks with nostalgic and dreamy vibes. God damn, this is some good-ass ice cream!

** EXCEPT PORTUGAL **Funkamental is a label of new releases and first-time-on-wax reissues curated by Funkamente, also behind the Edits Estrela and Lisbon's East Side Radio.When a record collection starts to grow, some blind spots become very noticeable: records too hard to find, upcoming artists with music so good it deserves a nice record or old releases that have never been pressed to vinyl. Yet.That's how Funkamental was born: out of the desire – should we say "the need"? – to have a specific release on vinyl. How specific? Anything that'd fit in our bag.The first Funkamental release is Sonic Fiction, the only album by Spaceboys, initially released on CD back in 2003 described as an interplanetary never-ending jam session between Sun Ra and Fela Kuti, materialized by the hands of Francisco Rebelo, João Gomes and Tiago Santos who first assembled as Cool Hipnoise in 1995 a prolific band recording a string of albums, singles and EPs revolving around Funk, Acid Jazz, Jazz Funk and Dub for the best part of ten years.

Transversales Disques presents KSHATRYA, (The Eye Of The Bird), never released before recording by french avant-garde electronic composer Igor Wakhevitch, who composed a bunch of major experimental albums in the 70’s such as Logos, Docteur Faust, Hathor, Les Fous d'Or, Nagual and Let's Start. During this 10 years period, Wakhevitch was close to Jean-Michel Jarre, the Pink Floyd, the Soft-Machine, and legendary choreographer Maurice Bejart having with him many conversations around dance and music, human body and soul, spiritual path, collective life, new society, human evolution. As a composer Igor Wakhevitch collaborated with Salvador Dali, Carolyn Carlson, and Terry Riley to name a few. He's considered as one of the first French composer using synthesizers like Synthi AKS, ARP2600 or Moog modular systems. After spending almost 30 years in India, Igor Wakhevitch dug in his archives this unreleased work recorded in 1999 on his “Mysterious Island 88” system. Esotheric, sacred and cosmic, KSHATRYA, (The Eye Of The Bird) is the logical follow up of Igor’s early works and a monumental piece of electronic music. A must!