New Record Pressing — Dani Offline – Lover’s Discourse
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Dani Offline is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose sound is defined by her sensual, introspective approach to music. Blending her jazz training and R&B sensibilities with poetic lyricism, the name “Dani Offline” speaks to her love of slower and more tactile artistic traditions, kept alive even in the digital age.
Dani Offline’s debut album, Lover’s Discourse, started as a series of diary entries and musical improvisations, inspired by Quiet Storm radio of the 1970s and Roland Barthes’s book, “A Lover’s Discourse,” published in 1978. Across twelve songs, the result is a sound that is tastefully seductive, nostalgic, and yet entirely her own—soulful, mysterious, intellectual, but utterly romantic. In this primarily analog and entirely sample-free work of art, Dani’s ethereal vocals float above lush, jazz-inspired and deeply collaborative instrumentation. Ultimately, we are left with the lingering impression of an album that could itself be sampled and interpolated by future musicians, bridging Dani’s innovation and retro charm with the current wave of contemporary R&B.
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
New from Hightone Records/Craft — Dave Alvin – Blackjack David:
The new deluxe reissue of Dave Alvin’s 1998 album Blackjack David returns October 16. Alvin’s soul-searching storytelling and acoustic sound shine through, from his original traditional title track “Blackjack David” to “Abilene” and “California Snow.” This album strayed from Alvin’s previous work in rock and roll to showcase his powerful vocals, acoustic guitar skill, and ability to connect to the human experience. The reissue also includes two bonus tracks, “Dixie Highway Blues,” and the previously unreleased “Angel on Your Shoulder.” Alvin notes, “It got away and it shouldn’t have, so it’s great to have it be part of the canon now.”
ALSO AVAILABLE AS A WAX MAGE COLLAB EXLUSIVE LTD EDITION /250 COPIES STARTING AT 7PM OCT 16, 2026:
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
New record pressing — Madre Cumbia by Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Fruko and Carmelo Torres.
Three Legends. One Legacy. Madre Cumbia Unites Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Fruko & Carmelo Torres in a Historic Collaboration. Madre Cumbia brings together the ancestral custodians of Colombia’s oldest cumbia traditions, the architect of modern tropical music, and the country’s greatest living accordionists.
Born from Indigenous flutes, African drums, and oral traditions passed through generations, cumbia emerged from Colombia’s Caribbean coast as a communal language rather than a commercial genre. Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto have preserved that language for generations. Carmelo Torres carried it into the cumbia sabanera tradition. Fruko transformed and electrified it for a new era. Together, these musicians represent origin, transformation, and continuity—the living arc of cumbia’s evolution.
Latin Grammy Award-winning Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto represent one of Colombia’s oldest continuously performed musical traditions. Their music preserves the ancestral dialogue between gaitas, drums, and voice that predates the commercial recording industry and has become synonymous with the very origins of cumbia. As custodians of an Afro-Indigenous musical heritage, they remain the definitive link to the genre’s birthplace.
Latin Grammy Award-winning Carmelo Torres carries forward the accordion tradition born in Colombia’s Caribbean plains. A direct heir to the cumbia sabanera lineage shaped by pioneers such as Andrés Landero, Torres is widely regarded as one of the last great acordeonistas gruesos—a powerful, deeply rhythmic style rooted in the same musical communities where cumbia first flourished. His decades of international touring have introduced this regional tradition to audiences around the world. His cultural significance was further recognized through the portrayal of Francisco el Hombre—the legendary accordionist who defeated the devil in a musical duel—in Episode 4 of Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Fruko has been called “a one-man tropical orchestra generator,” and few musicians have left a greater imprint on Colombian popular music. Often described as the Quincy Jones of Colombia, he served as the visionary producer behind the golden era of Discos Fuentes, helping define the sound of modern tropical music through groundbreaking recordings with Fruko y Sus Tesos, La Sonora Dinamita, Wganda Kenya, Afro Sound, and countless others. His unmistakable bass playing, arrangements, and production reshaped Colombian salsa and cumbia, influencing generations of musicians throughout Latin America. Together, these artists embody nearly every chapter of cumbia’s recorded history—from its ceremonial Afro-Indigenous origins and rural accordion traditions to its electrification, international expansion, and enduring legacy. Madre Cumbia is more than a collaboration; it is a gathering of the musicians who have preserved, transformed, and carried one of Latin America’s most important musical traditions across generations.
Together, these artists embody nearly every chapter of cumbia’s recorded history—from its ceremonial Afro-Indigenous origins and rural accordion traditions to its electrification, international expansion, and enduring legacy. Madre Cumbia is more than a collaboration; it is a gathering of the musicians who have preserved, transformed, and carried one of Latin America’s most important musical traditions across generations.
High quality 140 gram vinyl record pressing releases October 20, 2026.
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
New record pressing courtesy of Colemine Records and College of Knowledge — Karate Boogaloo – Acess All Areas:
May it please the people of the known universe that the multi-monikered musical ensemble legally trading as Kay-Bee Funk Music Group are releasing what will alphabetically be their first album, ‘Access All Areas’. Created with Karate Boogaloo’s patented ‘Lovely Recording Technique’ these recordings let you know that everyone’s a VIP when you’re listening to KB.
‘Access’ was the one word maxim philosophically guiding The Old Kar-Boo’s this innings. If a tune became convoluted, to the bin it went. Only those that could be hummed by any and all were kept. This sieve was on hand throughout the whole process, arrangements and forms were kept watertight, bells and whistles to a minimum. If 2024’s ‘Hold Your Horses’ was an epic, ‘Access All Areas’ is a haiku.
The band’s tried and true recording process was dutifully respected save for one wonderful addition, the magnificent ‘Sound Recordings’ helmed by its proprietor and engineer extraordinaire Alex Bennet. Steering the 4 track Ampex 440 off road when required and making sure the vibes were constantly correct, Alex is a bonafide Booger.
Although it feels only a moment, the clock tells us it’s been nearly 20 years since Kay’s Bees first tried to play the songs of their musical heroes, The Meters, Booker T & The MG’s, and The JB’s to name but a few. Since then The Famous Flying Karate Boogaloo Brothers have put one foot in front of the other and distilled their own sound, one that respectfully acknowledges the history of instrumental Funk & Soul music, and reflects the time they’ve spent crafting their distinctive sound.
As bright as each member shines individually, it is a special event when all four planets in the Booger System align. ‘Access All Areas’ is one such eclipse, it is an artistic expression of equal measure by each member and it casts a shadow unique to the occasion. Every second of music was composed and produced with all hands on deck, mixing was handled by Henry Jenkins, artwork by Hudson Whitlock and Callum Riley, and Darvid Thor did things you’d have to see to believe. Music is a team sport and there’s no I in Funk.
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
New record pressing – Spirit of the Bear – Affected By Light:
Spirit of the Bear quickly became one of the most fresh and exciting bands to emerge in the Ohio music scene with their unique blend of indie rock, pop, and electronic sensibilities coupled with their affinity for pop song writing. The band’s years of musical experience are accentuated by their use of two keyboard players, bringing a unique depth to their sound. Consisting of James Harker (lead vocals, guitar), Danny Svenson (keyboards), Ethan Schwendeman (keyboards), and Jamie Vitullo (Drums), the band has shared the stage with acts such as Crowded House, Our Lady Peace, Ra Ra Riot, and Robert DeLong, among others. The members of Spirit of the Bear have 3 dogs and 5 cats, collectively.
Affected By Light is far and away the most personal album for Spirit of the Bear. Two years in the making, from doing our biggest shows to splitting from our label/management, to our singer James being diagnosed with and going through cancer treatment for the nearly the entirety of 2024/2025. This album dives into all of it unapologetically. It’s our most complex and exciting body of work to date, and has something for just about everyone.
New record pressing – Twin Talk – Delights. Available on high quality black record pressing.
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
As we now enter our 18th year of operations, we are excited for the future of the record format, and we look forward to continually implementing our own innovations and advancements in the specialization of making records.
Here is a brief timeline of Gotta Groove Records innovations and contributions to the advancement of the phonograph record format, from the very beginning of rebuilding our pressing machines to the installation of our new DMM cutting lathe:
2009
Gotta Groove Records is founded, and immediately becomes the first pressing plant with its own online ordering system (eventually branded as the Record Builder).
2012
Gotta Groove Records participates in a program with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio which offered up to 40 hours of engineering work for each of nine participating companies in the program. Some of the press augmentations developed during the program are still being used on certain record pressing machines at GGR.
2017
Gotta Groove is the first pressing plant to install a newly-built press made by Nashville-based Record Pressing Machines. This was the first new pressing machine built in the USA in over 30 years.
Also in 2017, in collaboration with Nipro Optics, Inc., a new type of record plating was developed –GrooveCoated Stampers TM— which employs a lubricious plating surface that dramatically increases the lifespan of electroformed nickel record stampers. Some of these stampers can press over 4,000 copies of records before detectable frequency loss occurs in the program.
2019
A second computerized automated pressing machine built by Record Pressing Machines was installed at GGR.
Also in 2019, GGR acquired equipment from the famous record label printing operation Hamlett Printing Service in Nashville. This acqusition allowed GGR to continue offering the so-called “Hamlett Style” overprint labels that many record companies have used for two generations.
2017-2022
Gotta Groove collaborates with Sherwin Williams to produce a new nitrocellulose lacquer formula for the manufacture of blank lacquer master discs. During the course of this five year time period, GGR produced several batches of lacquers using two different types of curtain coating lines (pressurized and non-pressurized), a custom designed spin coating line fabricated by NiPro Optics, as well as a variety of spray systems. While a few records were successfully cut on these GGR-produced lacquers, the project was ultimately abandoned, primarily due to the challenges of curing such discs as well as the internal and external economies of scale limitations for the format. GGR continues to recommend master lacquer blanks produced by the Public Record Company in Japan (so called “MDC’s”).
2023
Gotta Groove Records acquired the record plating operation of NiPro Optics in Irvine, California. The operation was completely dismantled, transported to Columbus, Ohio, and re-installed in a new state-of-the-art industrial facility. Approximately one-half of the equipment arrived in a 53′ trailer on April 10, 2023 and stampers were successfully being manufactured on April 11, 2023. The operation is named The Electromastering Lab, and it produces thousands of stampers per month for several pressing plants in North America, Canada, Argentina, and Lithuania.
Since the initial installation in 2023, the facility has added new technology made by Sibert Industries for the processing of record stampers.
2024
Gotta Groove introduces another new type of record stamper, which is chemically treated after the plating process to give it a more lubricious effect, without the need for a different type of plating. This new type of stamper is called GrooveCoat LiteTM.
2025
Gotta Groove Records and Sonopress enter into a strategic partnership to market a new type of material and manufacturing process for making records — injection molded PET records, marketed as EcoRecords or GrooveWax. This new forumulation and process makes incredibly true sounding records, far superior to any other type of injection molded records produced in the history of phonograph records. Additionally, in 2026, a dramatic new color variant was launched which would not be feasible to make via traditional vinyl pressing — the InkSplosion variant.
2026
Gotta Groove Records installs a new Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) cutting lathe at its Columbus, Ohio plating facility. This new design lathe was developed by Thorsten Scheffner of Organic Music during 2020-2022, and GGR’s is one of three Scheffner lathes built to cut copper blank masters. For the first time in over 30 years, records can be cut onto copper masters in the United States! The first record cut on this new lathe was the album You Get Lost by the band Mantis (cut in early April 2026).
Additionally, GGR will be producing its own copper blank masters at its Columbus plating facility through its self-developed proprietary plating process that yields the softest copper cutting surface that is possible without the use of acid plating. This process is environmentally friendly, as well as safer for its operators when compared to traditional acid plating. The brand name of these discs is GrooveMetal TM, and GGR will supply these blank discs to other cutting houses who currently operate or who add DMM cutting lathes to their studios.
New record pressing — Mahogany – The Dream of a Modern Day (Warren Defever Remaster 2026)
First released on CD via cult Detroit space-rock label Burnt Hair Records in 2000, and on vinyl via Clairecords in 2001, the stunning debut album from 12 string-wielding NYC ensemble Mahogany abides as a perennial touchpoint in the shoegazing canon. The one we listed as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! It’s our favorite record from 2000 and we’re very happy to offer it to you as a Darla record.
Back in print with a 24-bit remaster from original source tapes by Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive/4AD) at Third Man Mastering, the LP edition also features the original die-cut jacket with full-color heavy inner sleeve in matte finish.
The Dream of a Modern Day is Mahogany’s progressive, optimistic idealism made manifest: brilliantly composed, skillfully arranged, and thoroughly expressive. Influenced by the austerity of early Factory Records as well as the grandeur of Cocteau Twins, the signature Mahogany aesthetic combines the robotics of drum machines with the delicacy of richly reverbed guitars, cello, and floating vocals.
The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Prinz, Mahogany dovetails elements of post-punk, shoegaze, and classical into futuristic, architectural compositions. Performing live with artists like Anika, A Place To Bury Strangers, Bloc Party, Broadcast, Interpol, Lovesliescrushing, Luna, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, The Veldt, and Ulrich Schnauss, Mahogany garners continued acclaim with reviews and features in Post-Punk.com, Brooklyn Vegan, NME, and more.
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
New record pressing- Smug Brothers – Pinhole To Vortex:
Most bands spend their careers trying to make important records. Smug Brothers have always kept busy making records that become important to you when you least expect it.
That’s been Kyle Melton’s secret weapon all along. While everyone else is chasing reinvention, fashion, or the Next Big Statement, Smug Brothers keep uncovering another impossible melody, another sideways guitar figure, another chorus that sneaks into your bloodstream and refuses to leave. Each album feels like finding a battered notebook filled with perfect pop songs someone accidentally left behind.
Pinhole to Vortex is that notebook exploding into a universe.
This isn’t simply another collection of irresistible Midwestern indie rock. It’s the sound of a band that’s been quietly perfecting its own private language for decades and suddenly speaking it louder, wider, stranger, and with more confidence than ever before. Every song feels connected by invisible threads—garage rock rubbing shoulders with psychedelia, power pop shaking hands with dream logic, acoustic confessionals giving way to electric storms.
The road to Pinhole to Vortex was anything but hurried.
Recording began in June 2024, overlapping with sessions that would ultimately produce Stuck On Beta. Across four guitar/drums tracking sessions and an additional solo acoustic session, Melton and drummer Don Thrasher—along with bassist Kyle Sowash and guitarist Ryan Shaffer—recorded more than twenty-five songs, continuing to write new material almost until the recording machine stopped rolling. Like all the best Smug Brothers records, the album wasn’t assembled according to some grand master plan—it evolved organically, song by song, surprise by surprise.
“As usual, Don and I tracked the foundations together,” says Melton. “But songs kept appearing. I’d still be writing things for the record during the final sessions.”
That openness gives Pinhole to Vortex an uncommon vitality. Nothing feels overworked. Nothing sounds calculated. The performances breathe with the excitement of discovery, as if the band is constantly surprising itself around the next corner.
Even the album’s emotional finale reaches backward before pushing forward.
Closing track “Drive Open In The Delicate Streams” began life over 20 years ago before resurfacing from memory during the final Fall 2025 recording session. Rather than feeling nostalgic, it lands like the final missing puzzle piece—proof that great songs don’t expire; sometimes they simply wait for the right moment. The recording also reunites the band with former Smug Brother Brian Baker, whose keyboard work lends the closing moments an aching, cinematic grace. That sense of history runs throughout the project.
Before you know what’s happened, “Extra All the Time” has already slipped three or four immortal hooks into your subconscious—the kind of jangling, hyperactive power-pop that makes you wonder why radio surrendered decades ago. Then “Exit to Chagrin” barrels in like a freeway on-ramp to emotional whiplash, guitars ricocheting off each other while Melton sings as though he’s discovered that melancholy can actually dance.
“Kind Enough to Share the Drop” is Smug Brothers performing one of their favorite acts of musical sleight-of-hand: disguising existential ache inside melodies so generous they practically hand you the keys to the kingdom. “Blitz Meridian” arrives all sharp angles and glorious propulsion, a beautiful collision of garage-rock muscle and psychedelic daydreaming that somehow never loses its balance.
And then comes “Picasso Waltzes,” which is exactly the sort of title only Smug Brothers could earn without irony—a woozy, kaleidoscopic slow dance suddenly illuminated by a burst of horns that don’t simply decorate the song, they crack open the ceiling and let the sunlight pour in.
Melton also created the album’s striking front and back cover collage artwork himself, giving Pinhole to Vortex the same handmade, deeply personal aesthetic that defines the music inside. Nothing here feels manufactured. Every sound, every lyric, every visual fragment seems rescued from somewhere meaningful and transformed into something unexpectedly beautiful.
Which has always been the Smug Brothers’ magic trick.
They’ve never relied on volume to command attention. They don’t announce themselves with bombast or spectacle. Instead, they pile melody upon melody, hook upon hook, until resistance becomes impossible. Before you know it, you’ve played the record five times, found yourself humming a chorus while buying groceries, and started wondering why everyone else isn’t talking about this band.
That’s because Smug Brothers have spent decades making albums for people who still believe rock and roll can surprise them.
Pinhole to Vortex doesn’t just continue that tradition. It may very well be the moment when one of America’s most criminally overlooked bands finally reveals the full size of its universe. – Art Jipson
(Gotta Groove Records offers vinyl record pressing and EcoRecord manufacturing for independent labels, musicians, and artists – this post features one of the many records pressed at Gotta Groove in the past month).
