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October 27, 2020 • No Comments

Our long term goal is to make as much of Plankton Record’s back catalogue available on all major digital music sites and platforms Worldwide. We’ve just taken another step towards this goal with 1994 “November” album (Cat No. PCDN 144) by PALEY’S WATCH now joining Plankton releases available on digital.

PALEY’S WATCH were a UK progressive rock trio, a coming together of three very different artists and creatives, who together created imaginative and intricate classical and acoustic infused original rock music.

The trio of members were accomplished UK guitarist (and long time Plankton artist) Marc Catley already had a number of releases to his name either under his own musical style which he described as ‘classical acoustic rock’ or as series of humorous and satirical songs and albums.  UK drummer, multi-instrumentalist and programmer Duncan Parsons was a drummer with the Non-Stop Random-Access Jazz-Band prior to joining the band and brought his musical wizardry along with his quirky sense of humour to the band. Hungarian born Marianne Velvart was a singer/songwriter, seasoned performer and published poet. All three band members contribute to the songwriting and all share vocal duties too. 

“November” is a progressive rock concept album set in the UK Northern mill town of Bury during the early 1980’s. It tells the story of the lives of six characters during the month of November

“Not only are we pleased to announce that November is at long last available digitally” reports Plankton Records partner Keith Dixon, “but Duncan and Marc are also working on an 8 track compilation of other Paley’s Watch tracks that they’ve brought together with the view of releasing in the very near future. The band is experience a new lease of life – a second coming! Watch this space for more details”.

There is also a new Paley’s Watch Facebook page. To visit (CLICK HERE)

The CD version of “November” is available from our website on-line shop (CLICK HERE)

September 18, 2020 • No Comments

“Losing, loving, lamenting and longing are all around us right now”, says Denver-based artist Heatherlyn. “We’re all in the dance of the deep, and no matter how fragile things seem, the waves of grace and the pull of the tides call us to love more when the waves are highest.”

This new EP from the NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE stable, Heatherlyn’s ‘Dance of the Deep’ EP, is released on all digital music sites/platforms on Friday September 18th and it is a haunting collection of songs to provide soul medicine for heavy times. The EP is a further collaboration with NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE founder and lyricist Steve Bassett from the UK. Writing and performing together on the NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE studio album and subsequent tours in USA and UK, Heatherlyn and Steve have since continued writing with these songs being recorded in Denver and San Diego just before lockdown.

‘Dance of the Deep’ is released as a NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE collaboration to highlight how the Collective – in addition to its core album and project – spins off to an increasingly wide mesh of collabs. It showcases Heatherlyn’s captivating vocals and gift for melody: from the haunting Celtic-vibed lament ‘When Dies the Day”, to the ethereal ambience of ‘Grace, O Grace’, the whimsical playfulness of ‘Paper Boat’ and the uplifting gospel spirit of ‘River’, Heatherlyn delivers the songs with a warmth that will wrap around your heart and gently lift your eyes towards hope.

“Heatherlyn is a rare artist who can make the listener feel like the song is sung purely and only to them, so that it reaches deep into the heart”, explains Steve; “So, our collaborations here are about creating small moments of beauty and hope, to speak stillness and love amidst the chaos. It’s what NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE can do – create collaborations of so many different styles and tastes. We’ll do more!”

Throughout the lockdown and the ensuing, ongoing re-set of the world, Heatherlyn has been busy online with live weekly concerts via her Heatherlynmusic Facebook page, her ‘Storydwelling’ talk-show, as well as guesting on other podcasts, events and online gatherings – continuing to share her passion that love is a powerful force of hope and healing, and that music is a uniquely powerful expression of love.

Heatherlyn, Steve Bassett and EP producer Ben Grace are all part of NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE – an international collective of musicians, troubadours, poets, writers, rebels, provocateurs, and activists exploring the ancient Bible wisdom known as “the beatitudes”. Heatherlyn co-wrote and performs on 5 songs on the critically acclaimed ‘Nine Beats to the Bar’ album – itself available on all digital music site/platforms Worldwide as well as on CD & deluxe 180g Double Vinyl from this very website.

To view/buy the “Nine Beats to the Bar” CD (Click here)

To view/buy the “Nine Beats to the Bar” Double Vinyl (Click here)

July 9, 2020 • No Comments

July 10th sees the single “Call ‘Em Out (Euro Remix)” by Nine Beats Collective ft. Eric Leroy Wilson available WORLDWIDE on all digital music sites & platforms.

With dynamic music and free verse poetry  “Call ‘Em Out (Euro Remix)” is unpredictable, melodic, with a hard-edged beat. Eric delivers deep lyrics that channel the revered USA theologian/civil rights activist Howard Thurman. This is music with a message, shards of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop essence pulling the listener in. The unfurling, swirling quality of the track is underpinned by the heart and soul of Eric’s passionate and emotive spoken word.

Eric wrote the lyrics after one of the initial creative hothouse sessions with other Collective members who had come together to share thoughts, ideas and collaborative talents. He shares, “[One of the] NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE shared this idea that was just so evocative about calling forth ghosts of those things that need to be woken up in our lives; so I’ve written “Call ’Em Out” which attempts to call out and evoke those ghosts of our better selves that are inside of us.”

NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE is an international collaboration of world class musicians, artists, and songwriters who have come together from different continents, different cities, and different experiences, exploring the ancient biblical wisdom known as ‘the beatitudes’. Malibu-based

The original version of “Call ‘Em Out” is found on the NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE double album NINE BEATS TO THE BAR. Acclaimed by critics, it is an eclectic soundscape of R&B, soul, rock/pop, acoustic threads, classical, jazz/funk, African vibes, and a hint of gospel. It is available on all digital music site/platforms Worldwide and on CD and deluxe 180g double vinyl from this website

To view/buy the “Nine Beats to the Bar” CD (Click here)

To view/buy the “Nine Beats to the Bar” Double Vinyl (Click here)

July 7, 2020 • No Comments

Rare CD copies of Ben Okafor’s 2001 “Shadows” album have been unearthed and we are pleased to say that they are now available via the shop on this very website – while stocks last!

Plankton Records partner Keith Dixon explained: ” About 20 years ago, our friend BEN OKAFOR had released 2 cassette albums on his own record label, Roadsweeper Records, in his homeland of Nigeria. He wanted to release them on CD and we (Plankton) came alongside to help him with sorting out the artwork, mastering and production of the CDs in the UK and then shipping them to Nigeria.”

“We picked ‘Shadows’ as the first album to manufacture as it featured all new unreleased recordings and also included two songs that had not been released on any Ben Okafor release anywhere else. For the record, the second release was called ‘Rhythm & Creed’ and although it went through all the origination processes we never got to manufacture CD copies. From memory, the difference between the two albums is that ‘Rhythm & Creed’ was a compilation of existing recordings taken from Ben’s earlier releases”

“Coming right back up to date – Due to an enquiry via Ben’s (and our) old friend Paul Vincent we trawled through all the product we have in storage at Plankton HQ and to my surprise and delight I unearthed an unopened box of ‘Shadows’ CDs so we have added this great title to our website shop – but once they’re gone, that’s it!”

To view details of the album in our discography section, which includes some song excerpts and a direct link to the album in this website’s shop CLICK HERE

May 29, 2020 • No Comments

Uganda based and multi award winning artist Ambassada is part of the international band NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE. On their album ‘Nine Beats to the Bar’ he wrote and performed the wonderful track ‘Kosi’ with Nine Beats Collective producer Tony Bean from the UK.

The song became the start of an idea  and Ambassada set up and organised the much anticipated project originating for East Africa – the KOSI EA ALL-STARS single. He has brought together high-profile artists from Uganda and Kenya: Pallaso, Eddy Kenzo, Arrow Bwoy, Beenie Gunter, Nina Roz, Jabidii, Dufla, Wamboi Katee and Ghetto kids to re-imagine, add to and remix the original song. The new version is called ‘Kosi (All Star Remix)’ and the project’s aim is to empower and motivate a new generation of African youth

KOSI is short for kosisikeleli – one of the punchlines in the former Tanzanian and South African national anthem, meaning ‘freedom’. The song’s title was chosen to inspire, motivate and encourage a new generation of young people to free their minds to a positive outlook and attitude to life.

“I know what it is like to live on the streets, I have been there, and I can tell you that there is another way” says Ambassada; “The Nine Beats Collective project for which I originally wrote this song is all about living out the old wisdom of the teachings of Jesus from the bible, know as ‘the beatitudes’ in today’s new world – and I believe this new generation is ready to hear it and live it! That’s why all of us artists have collaborated on this new version of KOSI – it’s time for Kenya, Uganda and East Africa’s youth to seize the day for a better future.”

We have released the brilliant single today (May 29th) onto all major digital music sites/platforms Worldwide (with the exclusion of some mainland Europe territories). Ten per cent of sales of the single will go to The Ambassada Foundation, set up by Ambassada to practically help and support children and young people from incredibly tough situations. With such a talented group of artists joining forces, KOSI is set to start to make a difference and impact the creative/music media of East Africa and beyond with sound, visuals and positivity.

Watch the official video on YouTube: CLICK HERE

December 16, 2019 • No Comments

Our only Christmas album (so far!), the beautiful celtic influenced “Emmanuel” album by VIVIENNE NEVILLE & LIZ CLARKE has been receiving renewed interest from a few radio stations in the UK this year following enquires about it via a Facebook posting we did a few weeks ago. Songs from the album have now been added to several radio station playlists.

One radio contact sent us this message. “This is a fabulous album. Chilled and spiritual. It will be featured on my shows”.

Another said, “Thanks again for sending us the Emmanuel album by Vivienne and Liz as requested. Just to let you know that out of the many fine tracks on the album we have chosen Vivienne’s ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ as one of our ‘12 Songs of Christmas’ and this will go out on this week’s Sunday Lunch show. It will also feature on a stand alone ’12 Songs of Christmas’ special programme which will be on during the festive period”.

We at Plankton, have always known that it’s a special album and it won lots of critical acclaim when it was released and we think that it does reflect and remind us that the miracle and birth of Jesus is the centre of all our Christmas celebrations. The album is available on CD from our website (CLICK HERE) and on all digital music sites and platforms Worldwide – check out your fav site.

Watch the short promo video (2 mins) for the album (CLICK HERE)

November 12, 2019 • No Comments

Brilliant USA singer/songwriter (and member of Nine Beats Collective) HEATHERLYN is releasing a 3 song solo acoustic EP called ‘Songs of the Season’ on November 29th. The EP features 2 Heatherlyn originals and a cover of a not so well-known Christmas carol.

Heatherlyn shared about the EP “For me as a little Heatherlyn, Thanksgiving to Christmas was actually the most wonderful time of the year. Growing up with a single mom who had a high school education, we were often under resourced. I wore hand-me-downs and we received the church’s Thanksgiving dinner baskets. During that time, we visited with my aunts, uncles, cousins and Grammy. Grammy had a small fake white Christmas tree that I loved to decorate and until she died, these were the best of times. Since we didn’t have a whole lot of money, my mom, being very crafty herself, would also find a project for us. Every thanksgiving we would begin creating Christmas ornaments from beads and chenille sticks! And we would make a gift – the same gift but personalized – for each of my Aunt’s families. For me, these are some of my most cherished childhood memories, some of the best quality time with my mom, and the season felt abundant because we were creating together, and the gifts we made were material symbols of all the love and gratitude with which we had created them.