Big Crown US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The gold standard Big Crown label excels at heartbreaking Americana, blue-eyed soul and downbeat pop. A 116th release of such sounds now comes from Holy Hive who are back with a new bunch of songs after their 2020 debut album, Float Back To You, won widespread acclaim. Their trademark folk-soul sound is in full view once more here with falsetto vocals bring real heart aching over slow, downbeat drums. It's beautiful stuff that takes the form of two only subtle different singles here. Both wallow in their own sadness and delicateness but leaving a lasting impression.

Review: 'Money Music' is taken from Surprise Chef's Education And Recreation album, released back in October 2022. Overdriven beats, palatable piano progressions and whirly wurlitzers are the band's bag, but there's a progression to each of their tunes that renders them a bit more advanced than that of your average instrumental hip-hop band. Now released on 7", the track (which blends all manner of basses, clicky sounds and vibraphone-like tones) is an ideal cop for turntablists, home-listeners and ambience DJs alike.

Review: Bobby Ozra was on tour back in 2019 and the final date was in New York City. He had some time before returning home to Finland so hooked up with El Michel's Affair and Diamond Mine to record some music. The pair hit it off immediately, and Bobby used the chance to write about more esoteric subjects with the pair soon deciding to work on a full length album together. They are now well on with that process but in the meantime offer up two new gems. 'Losing It' is sun in Spanish and English and is a dramatic and moving tune while 'Watcha Know' explores death with some philosophical ponderings.

Review: Cinematic soul legend El Michels Affair has written a superb album Glorious Game which is due for release later in spring. Before that full-length with Roots co-founder and lyricist Black Thought - which is a meditation on the state of the hip-hop scene in the early 2020s - we get this taster single from it. 'Glorious Game' as you would expect as all the lush instrumentation and dark soul sounds you'd expect from this artist by now with the added extra of some superbly thought-provoking mic work. 'Grateful' is another heart-wrenching and alluring sound that more than gets us excited for the full length.

Review: Bjorn Wagner's Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band have put out several fresh albums and many great 7"s on Big Crown and 'Hotline Bling' is another one. The mysterious Hamburg outfit brings their famous steel pan sound and reaches new heights here as they again cover songs that span genres and range from mega-hits to album cuts. Their own unique approach is to mix up the traditional sounds of Trinidad and Tobago with the original source material to leave you ready to dance all night long.

Review: Lady Wray's Piece of Me is a second sizzling album of superb soul. It marked something of a homecoming for the artist as she debuted on this label back in 2016 and found her leaning towards her usual soul and r&b as well as more hip-hop influences than ever: classic boom-bap drums and chunky bass hist loud and proud and for that reason the originals are ripe for remixing as they are here. Two legends of the game in Pete Rock and Ghostface Killah step up and bring their own signature sound and dusty drum beats to make for a crucial little 7".

Review: The world is full of heart-rendering electronic pop. So much so, you sometimes have to ask yourself if we can handle - or indeed actually need - any more. Rendered almost-immune to the emotionally barrage that seems to haunt our airwaves, playlists, and Made In Chelsea episodes, anyone who still has feelings in 2023 is doing well by all accounts.
Then along come Synthia, billed by the Big Crown label as a 'supergroup', comprising production don Leon 'El Michels Affair' Michels, and vocalist Claire Cottrill, AKA Clairo. Debate over what constitutes a 'group' aside, So Low, a startling double-A is enough to make you forget everything we just talked about, throw away the idea of overkill, and dive right in. As if born to score something cool, reflective, thought-proving and devastatingly romantic, fans of Electric Youth, Cocteau Twins and Almagris should be here already.

Review: Big Crown is one of our favourite labels here at HQ. The funk and soul they serve up is perfectly aged yet never overly nostalgic and this new one is another case it point. It's the latest from the Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band and features two singles take from their latest and greatest album Expansions which landed back in June. As always they bring their own unique steel drum sounds and tropical Caribbean vibes to funk music. 'Raise It Up' is a deep cut joint with big horns and rippling steel drums puddles while 'Space' is a more lumpy groove with the drums more front and centre.

Review: A low-key 7" split single, this stripped back soul beauty is El Michels Affair's latest in a slew of new singles and EPs. The sultry A-side 'Stack The Deck' is a mood-resetting embrace of chance. The B-side, 'Things Done Changed', is a smooth, gorgeous take on The Notorious B.I.G.'s original, curtailing its suicidally string-laden confidence for a much more soulful, horn-laden rendition.

Review: Big Crown does it again here with another magical 7" this time from Dave Guy, who has contributed to plenty of this label but only now makes his solo debut. It finds him working with label regulars Homer Steinweiss & Nick Movshon, who take care of production and play on the recordings. 'Footwork' is a vibrant fusion of soul, funk, and jazz that, as a trumpeter for the renowned band The Dap-Kings, brings his distinctive style to the forefront and infuses each track with infectious energy and groove. Dynamic horn arrangements, tight rhythms, and soulful melodies all make this one special and show just how skilled a musician Guy is, and apparently, there is plenty more to come.

Review: Those superb soul overs at Big Crown have dug deep again and unearthed a new one from Thee Marloes, who turn out a ballad sung in Indonesian. It's an inescapably exotic vocal and it comes over a stripped down track made from lovely hand drums, warm electric piano, and super guitar lines. This tune comes as the Thee Marloes are in the midst, we're told, of working on their new album but whether it is a tune from it is unsure. On the B-side of the 45rpm is 'True Love', another heartwarming gem with worldly charm and unforgettable grooves.

Review: Thee Heart Tones, Big Crown Records' newest addition, showcase their youthful exuberance and musical prowess on their debut single. Recorded at Diamond West Studio with producers Leon Michels and Tommy Brenneck, the band delivers a captivating performance on both tracks. 'Forever & Ever' is an infectious, feelgood anthem with lead singer Jazmine Alvarado's captivating vocals soaring over the band's lively groove. The song's catchy chorus is bound to linger in listeners' minds long after the music stops. On the B-side, their rendition of the classic 'Sabor A Mi' demonstrates their versatility and skill, with Jazmine's vocals shining once again. Thee Heart Tones have made a promising entrance into the music scene, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating their forthcoming debut album.