Bristolian promoters Worm Disco Club have been championing SouthWestern talent since their inception in 2014. Having collaborated with Glastonbury Festival on their notorious ‘Wormhole’ stage and hosted the likes of The Comet Is Coming, The Heliocentrics and The Mauskovic Dance Band at their regular club night, the name has become synonymous with quality groove laden goodness, percussive madness, jazz, psych and beyond. Now proudly presenting their label Worm Discs, the collective recruit some of Bristol’s most notable emerging talent for an exploration into the new wave of Jazz emanating from the city. As Andrew Hayes, (Run Logan Run) explains : “Bristol has always had its own sound, but there’s been a new crop of young players come through over the past five years that’s revitalised the scene and expanded its expectations about what jazz music means.”

Featuring the likes of Waldo’s Gift, Run Logan Run (Montreux Jazz Talent Award winners), BaDaBoom, Lyrebird and Alun Elliot, ‘New Horizons’ channels the seismic energy of the sonically rich landscape into 12 progressive, psychedelic, impeccably crafted tracks. The Worm Discs team explain: “The idea for this record began back in 2019. We had been curating parties in Bristol featuring jazz acts from around the UK for several years and had just hosted “The Wormhole” at Glastonbury Festival, featuring an all-star line-up from the scene. Having always felt that Bristol’s exciting jazz scene deserved to be heard, the idea for a label was born. We wanted to showcase some individual creativity and open up a space to try something different.” From the cinematic, post-rock infused intensity of Waldo’s Gift’s “Bergson” to the zen-like, floating melodies of Ishamel Ensemble’s rework of Snazzback’s “Flump” and the angular textures of Run Logan Run’s epic “A Sea Of Apathy And Indifference” - this record is true odyssey from start to finish, for those who really want take a trip down the Wormhole.

TRACK LISTING

1. Waldo’s Gift - Bergson
2. Run Logan Run - 3.3 Encke Ups
3. Waldo’s Gift - Jabba
4. Snazzback - Flump (Ishmael Ensemble Rework)
5. Snazzback - Grook
6. Snazzback - Yum Yum
7. Run Logan Run - A Sea Of Apathy And Indifference
8. Lyrebird - Owl (Interlude)
9. Waldo’s Gift - I’m Not Buying (Feat. Lyrebird)
10. Alun Elliot-Williams - Bourdain (Interlude)

In the late 1980s, disco was taking a backseat to the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco, marking a pivotal shift in musical culture. A dynamic transformation was underway as the younger generation sought a fresh auditory adventure, all while the devastating AIDS epidemic cast a somber pall over the city's nightlife. Amidst this evolving backdrop, a subtle yet distinct sonic movement quietly emerged within the confines of San Francisco’s vibrant club scene, often referred to as The Beat. Although hip-hop, new wave, gothic, punk, and the burgeoning modern rock genre held considerable sway, the pre-rave clubs in SF witnessed the fusion of these genres into a unique amalgam of sound that insiders dubbed The Beat. This musical tapestry encompassed everything from hip-hop and freestyle to industrial, new wave, boogie, Miami bass, and techno - the unifying thread being the distinctive vibe that characterised this eclectic mix.

As house, techno, and raving gradually gained prominence along the West Coast, a distinctive interpretation of these evolving sounds took root. Drawing inspiration from influential hubs like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe, and notably the UK, which saw a wave of talented young DJs migrate to California, San Francisco became the backdrop for its own version of the second Summer of Love. While the exact chronology might spark debate - some recalling '92, while others leaning towards '93 - what remains indisputable is the era spanning from 1990 to 1994, an unparalleled epoch of exuberant dancefloor revelry on the western shores.

In the face of limited backing from major labels or established independent dance music entities of the time, a grassroots movement of labels and producers emerged organically, ardently championing this distinct sound and catapulting it onto the global stage. This sonic identity was deeply influenced by the Beat, acting as a creative wellspring that informed the musical landscape. While the tracks compiled in these volumes might not encompass the entirety of this transformative musical epoch, they offer a vivid snapshot of the melodious tapestry that coloured San Francisco and the broader West Coast during that era. Each track featured stands as a 100% sure shot that was played heavily by DJ Spun back in those very heady days.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Above Board shine a spotlight on this lesser celebrated but pivotal moment in the development of San Fran's underground dance culture.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Single Cell Orchestra - Transmit Liberation 
A2. D.J. Prince Ice - Freestyle 
B1. Trip Ta Funk - Ruby’s Flute (Fresh Mex Mix) 
B2. Triple M - Prisoner Of Passion (Funky Dub Mix) 
B3. MC 900 Ft. Jesus - Killer Inside Me (Meat Beat Manifestation #2) 
C1. Unkown Artist - B1 
C2. DJ Emma - Based (Not So Free Mix) 
D1. Seven - Ease (Seven.1 Mix) 
D2. E.T.I. & Graeme - Blue Dreamers (Edit) 
D3. Spins Inc. - The New Frontier (Club Mix) 

Still on and about after years of the most intense crate digging, gem mining, desperate head-scratching and avid schooling, thirsty as ever for the next musical thrill to wrap our ears and brains around, here comes the fruit of our life-long love story with Japanese electronics, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 1 and Vol.2.

From the soul-fulfilling first crush felt upon hearing the iconic soundtrack of ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’ by Ryuichi Sakamoto onto our release of Inner Science ‘Cosmo Tracks’, through the life-affirming sets of Laurent Garnier at Dijon’s seminal club, l’An-fer, which have at all times nurtured and expanded our taste for Easternmost delicacies, the influence of Japanese music on our vision and endeavours was paramount to the development of our catalogue, whether directly or indirectly.

This first volume gets the ball rolling with a fine assortment of mostly ambient, electronica and deep house-focussed joints. Draped in organic membranes and ASMR-like synth tapestries, K. Inoue’s nu-agey opener ‘Em Paz’ takes us on a ride across the most serene dreamscapes. Jazzing up these lush and oneiric coastal vibes, Gabby & Lopez ‘Drive form the Miracle’ merges a sense of Californian psychedelia with a straight out hard-bop swing. No stranger to our catalogue, Inner Science returns to serve up a crystalline slice of laid-back house on a mystique-imbued tip he holds the secret to. Flip it over and here comes Aquarium with the splendidly immersive ‘Rainy Night in Shibuya’, which very much feels like wandering amidst its neon-upholstered streets and swarming hallways in a bubble of your own.

Naohito Uchiyama treats us to a synth-drenched nocturnal ballad with the ‘80s-inflected vibes of ’Shugetsu’, whereas Keta Ra cuts a path of ethereal sublimation via the mischievously fun and bouncy balearic lounge of ‘equals’. Masterly crafted by Yuu Udagawa, ‘Infinite Possibility’ eases us in a realm where weightless pop and low-slung abstract hip-hop combine to further exhilarating effect. All in harp-driven brittleness and velveteen sub-bass stealth, Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious Lot’ has us drifting to a lavishly orchestrated headspace, laying down an impressive work on textures and arrangements. All in on the sedated drip-tease flex, Sauce81 ’Sign of Secret Love’ is a blast of freaky hedonism, just as ready to cast its hypnotic spell down the sweatbox as it was upon its original release ten years ago.

Languid jacking house tune ’Tai+Dai’ from Keita Sano blows the winds of discoid luvin’ across the room with its impeccable balance of sharp, glimmering synthwork and driving bass onslaughts from the depths. An odd slice of reshuffled folk music, Waltz ‘Folkesta’ makes for some eerie invitation of sorts, enchanting and spookily haunting in equal measure. Back to a fevered, hip-swaying mindset, Kuniyuki hi-NRG jazz number ‘Free’ is an absolute wonder of piano and drums-driven boogie, cut from the same cloth as some of Blue Note’s finest Cuban jazz classics. Rounding off the package, Japanese legend Ken Ishii’s version of Larry Heard’s house Hall-of-Famer ‘Can You Feel It’ is pure bliss in a can, tailored to turn any crowd into a shapeless cloud of balmy euphoria and universal love, whatever the place or time.

Mixed by Ken Ishii at Far East Lab and Skywalker Studios. Published by Truelove Music/TAP.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Kaoru Inoue ‘Em Paz’
A2 Gabby And Lopez ‘Drive From Miracles ‘ (Kaoru Inoue Remix)
A3 Inner Science ‘Alight’
B1 Aquarium ‘Rainy Night In Shibuya (???deepspace Slow Down Mix)
B2 Naohito Uchiyama ‘Shugetsu’
B3 Keta Ra ‘Equals’
C1 Yuu Udagawa ‘Infinite Possibility’
C2 Noah ‘Gemini - Mysterious Lot‘ Written & Produced By Noah, Taken From The Album ‘Noire’
C3 Sauce81 ‘Sign Of Secret Love’
C4 Keita Sano ‘Tai + Dai’
D1 Waltz ‘Folkesta’
D2 Kuniyuki ‘ Free’
D3 Ken Ishii Presents Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas Can You Feel It
(feat. Metropolitan Harmonic Formulas And Naruyoshi Kikuchi) Written By
Larry Heard. Produced By Ken Ishii. Saxophones By Naruyoshi Kikuchi

Leon Russell was one of the most esteemed studio session men in rock history, having appeared on an eye-popping number of records by legends such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Darin, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, the Byrds, and the Beach Boys. Russell's solo work benefited from his amazing collaborators, as the likes of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, various Rolling Stones and others helped Russell put the finishing touches on his albums through the years. The ‘master of space & time,’ Russell blended together Southern soul, gospel, country, rock and piano-man singer/songwriter stylings.

“A Song For Leon” celebrates Leon’s life and career, consisting of iconic acts such as Pixies, Orville Peck, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, U.S. Girls featuring Bootsy Collins and other incredible artists. Showcasing the impact of Leon Russell’s songs, “A Song For Leon” is meant to educate experienced Leon Russell fans by highlighting other versions of his music, but also bring new fans into the fold by highlighting how many of today’s rising musicians have taken inspiration from him.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. Stranger In A Strange Land (Margo Price)
2. Out In The Woods (Durand Jones & The Indications)
3. Tight Rope (Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats)
4. This Masquerade (Orville Peck)
5. Superstar (U.S. Girls & Bootsy Collins)
SIDE B
1. Crystal Closet Queen (Pixies)
2. A Song For You (Monica Martin)
3. Back To The Island (Bret McKenzie & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
4. Laying Right Here In Heaven (Tina Rose, Amy Nelson & Jason Hill)
5. “Prince Of Peace (Hiss Golden Messenger)

Rough Trade Shops and End of The Road reveal their tenth exclusive collaboration CD, featuring music from this year's glittering lineup as selected by festival curator Simon Taffe. Including Angel Olsen, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Future Islands, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Greentea Peng, Fatoumata Diawara, Charley Crockett and many more.

The best keepsake, this is a collectable souvenir that will take you back to your favourite End of the Road years. If you're not able to make it to the festival, or forgot to buy it there, you can order it online and receive it in September

End of The Road offers four days of the most incredible music, comedy and literature. With musical highlights all across the bill including King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Future Islands, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Wilco, and Angel Olsen, End of The Road promises life-affirming times with family and friends with a party worth closing the summer to.

TRACK LISTING

1 Floodlights - Nullarbor
2 Divorce - Checking Out
3 Angel Olsen - All The Good Times
4 Charlotte Cornfield - Cut And Dry
5 Joan Shelley, Bill Callahan - Amberlit Morning
6 Jon McKiel - Mourning Dove
7 Unknown Mortal Orchestra - That Life
8 Panda Bear, Sonic Boom - Edge Of The Edge
9 Horse Lords - Mess Mend
10 Future Islands - King Of Sweden
11 Charlotte Adigéry, Bolis Pupul - Ceci N'est Pas Un Cliché
12 Greentea Peng - Stuck In The Middle
13 Infinity Knives, Brian Ennals - Don't Let The Smooth Taste Fool You
14 Fatoumata Diawara - Nsera
15 Charley Crockett - I'm Just A Clown
16 The Mary Wallopers - Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice
17 Friendship - St. Bonaventure
18 Samia - Kill Her Freak Out
19 Oren Ambarchi - Hubris, Pt. 2
20 John Francis Flynn - My Son Tim

Latin Freestyle was a dizzying, passionate, ultra-modern music. It was the aural equivalent of a can of thirst-quenching Quatro or a Spanish Harlem dance-off, and it became the electronically constructed bridge between disco and house.

Freestyle grew out of the electro sound of the early 80s, combined clean staccato rhythms with morse code synth hooks, and topped them off with emotive, usually female, frequently Latina vocals. There was plenty more going on besides: proto-house piano lines, Cuban percussion, high emotion and synth hooks to die for.

Put together and annotated by Bob Stanley (who also compiled the acclaimed “The Daisy Age” and “Fell From The Sun”), “Latin Freestyle” is the first compilation to cover the whole gamut of Freestyle from its early 80s breakthrough to its early 90s revival. So many classics… Lisa Lisa made the UK top ten with the 808 joy of ‘I Wonder If I Take You Home’. Stacey Q’s cosmically great ‘Two Of Hearts’ came out in 1986, while 1987 saw the likes of Company B’s ‘Fascinated’ and Exposé’s ‘Point Of No Return’ become huge UK club hits.

Today, Freestyle is a scene with a solid collector’s market, and rarities like Janelle’s ‘Don’t Be Shy’ sell for hundreds of dollars. It’s a classic summer soundtrack, finally condensed in one Ace Records compilation – “Latin Freestyle”.

TRACK LISTING

1. Point Of No Return - Expose
2. Don't Be Shy (vocal/radio Mix) - Janelle
3. Lover Girl - Meg
4. Two Of Hearts (12'' Version) - Stacey Q
5. Together Forever (radio Edit) - Lisette Melendez
6. I Wonder If I Take You Home – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force
7. When I Hear Music - Debbie Deb
8. Let's Go (Radio Version) - Nocera
9. Funky Little Beat - Connie
10. Show Me - Cover Girls
11. Nightime - Pretty Poison
12. Fascinated (12'' Version) - Company B
13. Dreamin' - Will To Power
14. Baby Talk - Alisha
15. Take Me In Your Arms - Lil Suzy
16. Thief Of Heart - Cynthia 

Celebrating two decades of IF Music's scrupulous curation through its record shop, a thriving website, album reissues and compilations in collaboration with BBE Music, parties and radio shows, “IF Music Presents You Need This: 20 years” is a 9 track, double vinyl LP beautifully put together by Jean-Claude. Coming, as it does, as the 9th release in the “You Need This” series of compilations curated by Jean-Claude, this album features music that ranges from 1980 (Christine Schaller's spectacular “Fidji”) to exclusive tracks from the likes of Emanative & Liz Elensky (‘Fall Into Me’) and Tenderlonious (‘Dennison Point’) which both bring us up to the present day. It is Jean-Claude's remarkable ear for music that, as with all the previous “You Need This” releases, creates a wonderfully coherent journey through the decades across the four sides of this masterpiece of a compilation album. As mentioned earlier “You Need This: 20 Years” will be released as a double LP pressed on 180 gramme heavy vinyl, cut at 45rpm and on digital. Whether this starts, adds or completes your collection of Jean-Claude's “You Need This” series of compilations, “20 Years” is a must-have and indeed, you really do need this!

TRACK LISTING

1. Sunday Sea Improvisation – Tamar Osborn
2. Fidji – Christine Schaller
3. Fall In To Me (Alternate Version) – Emanative, Liz Elensky
4. Turkish Showbiz – Atilla Engin Group
5. Dennison Point – Tenderlonious
6. Adelie (For Lady D.) – Sylvain Kassap
7. We Are Not Invisible – Ola Szmidt
8. Big Kalimba – Greetje Bijma Kwintet
9. At The Speed Of Light – Sarathy Korwar

We've had a rather tasty delivery of these - two separate releases found at the back of our distributor's warehouse after a recent de-clutter!

Banging 1995 acid on Woody McBride's Communique and Head In the Clouds labels. Not too dissimilar from the euphoric acid that’s doing the rounds at the moment.

Now these have been sitting in a box since mid 90's. So the sleeves are not that mint but the vinyl is totally fine.

"Let's Get Freaky" contains uncompromising acid trax from Dimension 13, Analogue Rencard, Dan Eben and DJ ESP. Those mid-90s drum machines are in overdrive; while distorted, gnarly 303 lines convenge on the madness. Inventive, 3-deck DJs are gonna get plenty of road miles outta these high calibre tools....

TRACK LISTING

A. Dimension 13 - Diving Bell
B. Analogue Rencart - 60 On Byshies
C. Dan Eben - Overrussel
D. DJ ESP - Kleiner

Spanning nearly three decades, "Underground House" hand picks twelve choice nuggets from the world of house music and presents them in their original long form, giving each one a subtle remaster along the way.

From Hardrive's vogue anthem "Deep Inside" way back in '93, right up to 2016's "Back In The Days" by COEO, released on one our favourite modern labels Toytonics; it's a whistle stop tour of some of the finest moments of house music history collated into a handy, reasonably priced double pack. Three tracks pair side and benefiting from a remaster, these tracks are gonna sound high fidelity and cut loud enough to play on any soundsystem.

The perfect present (and education!) for someone just starting their house music journey. Or a functional catch-all double pack for your hard working club / bar DJ. Top stuff.

TRACK LISTING

DISC 1 – SIDE A
A1. Kerri Chandler & Troy Denari - The Way It Goes (Track 1)
A2. M1 - Electronic Funk (Kaje Remix)
A3. Louie Vega & Jay Sinister - Diamond Life (Old School Dub)

SIDE B
B1. Kings Of Tomorrow - In The Night
B2. Mateo & Matos - Feel The Groove
B3. Dj Gregory - Block Party

DISC 2 – SIDE C
C1. Dj Deep - Learn 2 Love
C2. Hardrive - Deep Inside
C3. I:Cube - Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Remix)

SIDE D
D1. COEO - Back In The Days
D2. Johnick - Play The World
D3. Julien Jabre - The Stook (Main Mix)

The unstoppable Smalltown Supersound provide us with a bumper 4-CD package, containing an exhaustive selection of all the remixes that have been done for the artists on the label. From the very first moments of the clattering, incidental chaos of Pita's Jkammer remix, it's clear we're in for a stylistically diverse but enthralling ride through the peripheries of electronic music. 

There are some massive names here, like Four Tet's rework of Lars Horntveth's gorgous 'Tics', or DJ Python's dubby take on Carmen Villain's 'I Trust You'. While some of the pieces here are far removed from the originals, it feels like label boss Joakim Haugland's wish for the remixes to still 'Fit the label's DNA' has been granted, offering a wonderful overview of how much can be achieved with collaborative works like these. If anything, it's good proof exactly how strong the personality of every piece on show here is, never subverting entirely to the remix but ensuring the personality of both the remixer and the remixee shine through. A stunning collection, both diverse and engrossing.  

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A brilliantly diverse, exhaustive selection of the brilliant remixes done for Smalltown Supersound's artists, including reworks of Neneh Cherry, Kelly Lee Owens & Lindstrøm by a huge variety of guest remixers like Four Tet, Thurston Moore and Huerco S. Ace.

TRACK LISTING

Vol 1
1. Jazzkammer – Jkammer Thing (Pita Remix)
2. Neneh Cherry – Spit Three Times (DJ Spinn Remix)
3. Lars Horntveth – Tics (Four Tet Remix)
4. Kelly Lee Owens – Wake Up (Loraine James Remix)
5. Neneh Cherry & The Thing - Accordion (Jim O`Rourke Remix)
6. Bendik Giske - Adjust (Total Freedom Remix)
7. Lindstrøm – Quiet Place To Live (Todd Rundgren Remix)
8. Jazzkammer – Freemix Norwave (Thurston Moore Remix)
9. Tussle - Warning (JD Twitch's Optimo Fuckhead Remix)
10. Lindstrøm – The Contemporary Fix (EYE Remix)
11. Jazzkammer – Chk Error Remix (Merzbow Remix)

Vol 2
1. Lindstrøm – Call Me Anytime (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)
2. Carmen Villain - Borders (Klara Lewis Remix)
3. Prins Thomas - H (The Orb Orbient Mix)
4. Kelly Lee Owens – Corner Of My Sky Feat John Cale (Coby Sey Remix)
5. Carmen Villain – Carmen Villain (Actress Remix)
6. Prins Thomas – D (Hieroglyphic Being Remix)
7. Sunburned Hand Of The Man - The Parakeet Beat (Bjørn Torske Remix)
8. Todd Rundgren – Anything (vocal Outtake, Prins Thomas Edit)
9. Todd Rundgren/Emil Nikolaisen/Hans-Peter Lindstrøm - Lind (Bifrost Mix By EYE)
10. Jazzkammer – Bolomo Vinkingo Lanidelos (Reynols Remix)

Vol 3
A Collection Of Disco, Balearic, Dub Remixes
1. Neneh Cherry - Kong (Parris Remix)
2. Arp – The Past (Studio Version)
3. Bjørn Torske - Night Call (Idjut Boys' Green Beating Version)
4. Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Lovesick (Four Tet Remix)
5. Andre Bratten - Pax Americana (Scan 7 Remix)
6. Prins Thomas – Ambitions (Isolee Remix)
7. Carmen Villain – Subtle Bodies (Huerco S Remix)
8. Bendik Giske – Cruising (Laurel Halo Remix)
9. Todd Rundgren/Emil Nikolaisen/Hans-Peter Lindstrøm – Put Your
Arms Around Me (Stereolab/High Llamas Remix)
10. Bjørn Torske – Nitten Nitti (DJ Harvey's Not Normal Remix)

Vol 4
1. Carmen Villain – I Trust You (DJ Python Remix)
2. Lindstrøm – Faar-i-kaal (Charli XCX Vs Twin Idol Remix)
3. Neneh Cherry & Robyn – Out Of The Black (Joe Godard Remix)
4. Lindstrøm – Vos-Sako-Rv (Fred Falke Remix)
5. K-X-P - 18 Hours Of Love (An Optimo (Espacio) Mix)
6. Prins Thomas – C (I:Cube Remix)
7. Neneh Cherry – Everything (Villalobos & Loderbauer Vilod Remix) 8. Prins Thomas – C (Ricardo Villalobos Remix)
9. Prins Thomas – Urmannen (DJ Nobu Remix)
10. Tussle – Yume No Mori (Alexander Hacke Remix) 

2LP vinyl featuring : Cibelle, Masters At Work, José Padilla, Tom & Joyce, Jazzanova, Quantic, Bebel Gilberto, Dj Gregory, Salomé De Bahia, Suba, The Boyz From Brazil, Negrocan, Mo’Horizons, Flavia Coelho...

TRACK LISTING

DISC 1 – SIDE A
A1. DJ Gregory Feat. Salomé De Bahia - Tourment D'Amour
A2. Bebel Gilberto - August Day Song
A3. Jazzanova - Fedime'S Flight
A4. David K Feat. Rolando Faria - Mas Que Nada (David K Remix)

SIDE B
B1. Trüby Trio - A Go Go
B2. Beatfanatic - Jogando Capoiera
B3. Quantic - Mishaps Happening (Prins Tomas Edit)
B4. Minus 8 - White (New Vocal Version)

DISC 2 – SIDE C
C1. Salome De Bahia - Outro Lugar (Bob Sinclar Remix)
C2. Tom & Joyce - Para Bailar
C3. The Boyz From Brazil - Hi-Fi Trumpet (The Boyz From Brazil Remix)
C4. Kazam Feat. Flavia Cuelho - Misterio
C5. Suba Feat. Cibelle - Felicidade (Buscemi Remix)

SIDE D
D1. Masters At Work Feat. Lilliana Chachian - Brazilian Beat (Kenny Dope Mix)
D2. Mo' Horizons - Hit The Road Jack (Pé Na Estrada) (Radio Version)
D3. Negrocan - Cada Vez (Grant Nelson Vocal Mix Edit)
D4. José Padilla - Bossa Rosa
D5. Almeidinha Do El Gringo - Chorando Sim

All the essential tracks of Funk, sung by the greatest legends of the genre, gathered in a double vinyl, with Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Imagination - Grandmaster Flash - James Brown - Loleatta Holloway - The Whispers - First Choice - Barry White - The Sugarhill Gang - Syl Johnson.

TRACK LISTING

DISC 1 –
SIDE A
A1. Imagination - Just An Illusion
A2. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
A3. Bobby Byrd - Back From The Dead
A4. Johnny Guitar Watson - Superman Lover
A5. Barry White - Change
SIDE B
B1. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
B2. The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
B3. Gwen McCrae - All This Love I'm Givin'
B4. Syl Johnson - Ms. Fine Brown Frame
B5. Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa

DISC 2 –
SIDE C
C1. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
C2. James Brown - Funky Men
C3. The Salsoul Orchestra Feat. Loleatta Holloway - Runaway
C4. Traks - Long Train Runnin'
C5. First Choice - Let No Man Put Asunder
SIDE D
D1. Fat Larry’s Band - Act Like You Know (Radio Mix)
D2. Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
D3. Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (Original 7” Version)
D4. Positive Force - We Got The Funk
D5. Imagination - Music & Lights
D6. The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On

Over the last ten years a strange mycelium was sprouting from the ground of Germany’s sound topography, going widely unnoticed while creeping its way up through the copse of the ubiquitous “Neo-Kraut”, “Diskurs-Pop” and the like. We’re talking about a small underground network of artists and projects with poetic, mysterious names such as Brannten Schnüre, Baldruin, Kirschstein, Freundliche Kreisel and Balint Brösel. Operating in the margins and intersections of folklore, experimental electronics, dreams and nightmares, the “Gespensterland” LP archives and compiles their magic works for the very first time and already today it stands as a contemporary testament with an auratic presence comparable to that of Pordenone’s “Great Complotto”.

Speedy Wunderground - the revered London-based indie label headed up by producer Dan Carey alongside Alexis Smith and Pierre Hall has had numerous professional accolades, personal triumphs and evolved vastly in the last few years at a staggering pace. To note a few of these - Awards: (‘Best Small Label’ at the AIM awards and ‘UK Producer of The Year’ at the Music Producer Guild Awards for Carey). Having released debut singles/early material from a wide range of now well-established acts including: Squid, black midi, Black Country, New Road, Loyle Carner, Kae Tempest, The Lounge Society to name a few, alongside critical praise for Carey across a range of successful production work (Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C. etc) and huge acclaim for the label itself, with The Quietus effusing: ‘The label has become genuinely prestigious. It is not ridiculous to wonder whether one day it will be looked back upon with the same reverence as labels like Factory, Sarah, Zoo or Creation receive today.’

To celebrate they are releasing a limited edition 7” box set (only 250 copies) containing 10 discs, 20 tracks of the original Savage Gary (Dan Carey) dub remixes from their now iconic singles series.

Includes reworkings of tracks by: Archie Bronson Outfit, Toy, Natasha Khan, Scottibrains, JUCE!, Kae Tempest, Loyle Carner, Telegram, Teleman, Peluché, Melt Yourself Down, DEWEY, black midi, Black Country, New Road, All We Are, Alex Kapranos, Tiña, Pynch, PVA, Brodka, moa moa, deep tan and Honeyglaze.

TRACK LISTING

1a – Archie Bronson Outfit - Mr Dan’s Dead Duck Dub
1b – Toy & Natasha Khan - (Here Comes) Dub Bride
2a – Scottibrains - Mr Dan's Shut Eye Dub
2b - JUCE! - Mr Dan's No Brain Dub
3a – Kae Tempest & Loyle Carner - Guts - Mr Dan's Balloon Dub
3b – Telegram - Mr Dan's Inside Out Dub
4a – Teleman - Mr Dan's Strange Dubby Nations
4b – Peluché - Mr Dan's Gammy Eye Dub
5a – Melt Yourself Down - Mr Dan's Another Dub
5b – DEWEY - Mr Dan's Dub Me Over
6a – Black Midi - Savage Gary's Dbdbdb
6b – Black Country, New Road - Athen’s, France - Savage Gary’s Takedown Dub
7a – All We Are & Alex Kapranos - Heart Attack - Savage Gary’s Remix
7b – Tiña - Dicks In The Dub
8a – Pynch - Orla Carey’s Pynch Your Lights Out Dub
8b – PVA - Savage Gary's Christmas Dub
9a – Brodka & Scottibrains - Wrong Dub Party
9b – Moa Moa - Savage Gary’s Candy Dub
10a – Deep Tan - Savage Gary’s Furry Flash
10b – Honeyglaze - Savage Gary's Robber Dub Dub Remix

The selection on ‘Tokyo Glow’ starts with 'Kimugare' a relaxed mid-tempo track by Kumi Nakamura, actually a famous actress who only recorded one album in 1980 for Columbia. The set continues and flows effortlessly with the sunshine grooves of Miyuki Maki, Hatsumi Shibata and cult keyboard player Hiroshi Sato before the pace starts going faster and funkier with New Generation Company, Kengo Kurozumi - with his superb boogie, 'Juggler' - and one of the queens of the genre, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama with 'Tuxedo Connection'. Another fine example on the set is the mid-tempo groove of "I Wander All Alone Part III" by New Generation Company, an aggregate group of some of the best Japanese session musicians led by arranger Katz Hoshi and including Hiroyuki Namba (key), Kazuo Shiina (gtr) and Yutaka Uehara (ds) who all played with Tatsuro Yamashita among many others.

There are many other excellent examples in 'Tokyo Glow', showcasing the diversity and specificity of Japanese City Pop during the late 70s and 80s.

Nippon Columbia opened their much-guarded vaults to curator DJ Natoya. Tracks were remastered in Tokyo and the result, ‘Tokyo Glow’, is a unique insight into a most creative period in Japanese music.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Kumi Nakamura - Kimagure
A2. Miyuki Maki - Indo No Michibata
A3. Haruyoshi Yamashina - Osake To Joke
A4. Sumiko Yamagata - Natsu No Hikari Ni
A5. Hatsumi Shibata - Party Is Over
B1. Makoto Iwabuchi - Moonlight Flight
B2. Hiroshi Sato - Saigo No Tejina
B3. Arakawa Band - Paradise's Dream
B4. New Generation Company - I Wander All Alone (part III)
C1. Kiyohiko Ozaki - Ojosan Oteyawarakani
C2. Kengo Kurozumi - Juggler
C3. Ken Nishizaki - Koi No Paradigm
C4. Jadoes - Simply Another Love
D1. Midori Hara - Aamar Jabar
D2. Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama - Tuxedo Connection
D3. Mizuki Koyama - Oh! Daddy
D4. Haruo Chikada & Vibra-Tones - Sofa Bed Blues
D5. Mitsuko Horie - Chigasaki Memory

Like tributaries feeding a mighty river, the blues encompasses myriad genres and artists – no two alike – but all comprising a powerful current that flows through the rich history of contemporary music itself. Tell Everybody! (21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound), a compilation of new recordings from across the blues spectrum, is a payment of respect and admiration for the musicians carrying this American tradition into this century and beyond.

The album features artists all recorded at Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville and includes new recordings from Auerbach himself, as well as modern titans The Black Keys. From GRAMMY®-nominated blues artists RL Boyce and Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, to lost gems by the departed Leo "Bud" Welch and the storied Ohio guitar legend Glenn Schwartz, to new voices of the blues like Nat Myers, Gabe Carter, and Moonrisers, this compilation is a remarkable journey in 12 songs, a stunning perspective on an artform whose legacy is living and breathing in modern music.

TRACK LISTING

Coal Black Mattie - RL Boyce
Tell Everybody - Robert Finley
Tall Shadow - Moonrisers
Every Chance I Get (I Want You In The Flesh) - Dan Auerbach
Catfish Blues (Mono) - Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
Anything You Need - Gabe Carter
Willow Witchin' - Nat Myers
Don't Let The Devil Ride (Mono) - Leo Bud Welch
No Lovin' - The Black Keys
Daughter Of Zion (Featuring Joe Walsh) - Glenn Schwartz
Buffalo Road - Gabe Carter
Collinwood Fire - Glenn Schwartz 

Northern soul floor fillers of the Eccentric variety. Compiling 17 handpicked gems from across the Numeroverse, this album keeps the faith for both newcomers and veterans alike. Soaring vocals, driving beats, and syrupy strings... expect a blend of classic Motown-inspired sounds with a unique British flair that is sure to get your feet moving. The only northern soul record you’ll ever need. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Out Of Sights - Tears Don’t Care
2. The Sequins - He’s A Flirt
3. Helene Smith - Thrills And Chills
4. Morris Chestnut - Too Darn Soulful
5. The Sensations - Demanding Man
6. The Extremes - How I Need Your Love
7. Ed Crook - That’s Alright
8. Carl Henderson - That Girl
9. Bob & Fred - I’ll Be On My Way
10. Elvin Spencer - Lift This Hurt
11. Syl Johnson - One Way Ticket To Nowhere
12. Eula Cooper - Standing By Love
13. Barbara Stant - My Mind HoldsOn To Yesterday
14. Ty Karim - Lighten Up Baby
15. Stormy - I Won’t Stop To Cry
16. Royal Jesters - Use Your Head
17. Otis Brown - I’m Ready For Love

Coco María and Bongo Joe reunite for the second edition of Club Coco, featuring a sackful of Latin inspired tracks from international bands and producers. All the songs were selected by Coco María, who in recent years has gone from a promising up-and-comer to an ever-present and influential figure in the music industry, widely known for her tireless work shining a light on contemporary, pan-Latin roots music around the world, through both her live DJs sets and eclectic radio sessions.

This compilation brings together several of the most respected and innovative artists on the frontiers of tropical music today. Those who take the energy, melodies and textures of classic Latin music and turn those gems into songs tailor-made for a new generation of music lovers. Simply put, it's a record for those diggers who jump with excitement when they find a vinyl reissue of some Latin star of the past, be it Joe Arroyo, Los Mirlos or Aniceto Molina and then wonder, "This classic music sounds amazing, but where are the bands that are taking these sounds to new places?”

TRACK LISTING

1. Raz Olsher - Pacific Dreams
2. Los Pirañas - Puerta Del Sol
3. Lola's Dice - Sacudete
4. Guess What - Children's Favourite
5. Acid Coco - Seguimos Sonriendo
6. Juan Hundred - Always Ready To Smoke
7. Las Mijas - Ronca (Carta Para Una Mija)
8. Dip In The Dub - La Cumbia Del Sufi Que No Sabia Bailar
9. Chupameeldedo - Metalero
10. Guess What - Stickle Bricks
11. Candeleros - El Bravo
12. Iko Chérie - Lepidoptera
13. Ronald Snijders - Off The Groove
14. Raz Olsher - Vamonos Cocos

In the mid-70s, Bob Shad's cult New York Jazz label Mainstream Records turned to the burgeoning underground Disco scene and released a handful of great singles produced by the likes of Tommy Stewart, Jimmy Roach or Bert DeCoteaux. Featuring artists from the early Disco hotbed including South Side Coalition, Chocolate Syrup and Three Ounces of Love, these singles, proving Shad's great flair, accompanied the rise of the New York club and block party culture that was going to revolutionise the musical landscape a few years later. Most of the singles are officially reissued here on vinyl for the first time, with Three Ounces of Love's "Disco Man" full mix previously unissued on vinyl. Remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris, with liner notes by Charles Waring.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (instrumental)
A2. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (vocal)
A3. South Side Coalition - (Don't You Wanna) Get Down Get Down)
A5. Three Ounces Of Love - Disco Man (part 1 & 2)
B1. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (instrumental)
B2. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (vocal)
B3. Lenny Welch - A Hundred Pounds Of Pain
B4. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign (You Got To Be Mine) (part 1)
B5. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign (You Got To Be Mine) (part 2)
B6. The Dramatics - No Rebate On Love
B7. The Electric Ladies - Nothing Between Us

Salford City Records treat us to a various artists EP of new originals that fall remarkably in line with the rest of the label's piano house and rave reissues that they've faithfully dished out to us over the last 12 months.

Featuring producer MiTM aka Eddie Taylor, and singer songwriter Shelby Carmel - both from Leeds - the EP features three original tracks plus a mash-up style remix of eurodance project JK vs. Nicole J McCloud cleverly entitled "You Make Me Rock The House".

MiTM opens with the rampant piano riifs and fruity vox of "Nasty'er" - which seems to combine Fantazia-era handbag house stylings and the fairground qualities of happy hardcore into a dizzying sugar rush of enjoyment.

Next up, MiTM is joined by James Sammon aka The Pianoman - responsible for Maxime's classics such as "Cast A Spell", and "Tribute To Asha" - for a ingenious mashup which features Nicole's "Rock The House" vocal over JK's "You Make Me Feel Good" instrumental - an instant piano house anthem and one of the crowning glories of the series so far!

Side B sees MiTM hit the accelerator with "Loving You" - utilizing JX's "Son Of A Gun" vocal to devastating effect whilst a jubilant and funky piano and bass groove ensure arms aloft and spirits high. Finally, Shelby Carmel concludes the EP in mighty fine style with an exceptional cover of True Faith's "Take Me Away" - singing the vocal herself, adding fizzy synth stabs and switching up the original's breakbeat for a more 4/4 pounder which flips into an cheeky bassline / 4X4 drop after the breakdown; adding her own personality onto this bona fide rave anthem.

Absolutely top drawer stuff from start to finish. Relive the feels of that golden 90s period with the Salford City Records massive! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: One of my favourites from SCR - not least due to that amazing JK vs. Nicole mash-up. Although retrotastic in nature these are relatively new cuts from the crew - for those with a Maximes, Bowlers or Angles itch they need to scratch.

TRACK LISTING

A1. MiTM - Nasty'er Original Mix
A2. JK VS Nicole - You Make Me Rock The House (Pianoman MITM Bootleg Mix)

B1. MiTM - Loving You Original Mix
B2. Shelby Carmel -Take Me Away

• 4 CD box set celebrating the Madchester/baggy scene and the indie dance crossover.

• Featuring The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, The Charlatans and more.

• With tracks presented in their extended mixes as played at clubs such as The Hacienda.

As the Berlin Wall came down and a new decade beckoned, indie and dance collided and bands like The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets and The Charlatans spearheaded a new music movement dubbed ‘baggy’ or ‘Madchester’. While the focus was on Manchester, it was an explosion that stretched from the Glasgow area with The Soup Dragons and Primal Scream to Liverpool with The Farm, Leeds with the Bridewell Taxis and Flowered Up in London.

The ‘Madchester’ sound incorporated elements of 60s psychedelia, 80s indie, 70s funk and contemporary house and hip hop; 808 State were an electronic dance act, The Stone Roses, a guitar band with a funky rhythm section, Inspiral Carpets used a Farfisa organ associated with 1960s garage punk and Happy Mondays played a truly unique blend of indie funk.

The Hacienda night club in Manchester co-owned by New Order was a catalyst and cultural centre for this music explosion, having played US house music from 1987. Another influence was the increasing availability of MDMA in the city.

Remixes were an important part of the indie dance crossover scene and 12” remixes here include Paul Oakenfold ’s pioneering ‘Think About The Future Mix’ of Happy Mondays’ ‘W.F.L.’, Terry Farley’s mixes of Primal Scream’s ‘Come Together’ and The Soup Dragons’ ‘I’m Free’ and Andy Weatherall’s reconstruction of James’ ‘Come Home’.

Also included are other indie bands who embraced dance music after discovering sampling and the new music technology including Aberdeen’s The Shamen who’d started out as a psychedelic guitar band before evolving into a dance act and Stourbridge’s self-styled grebos, Pop Will Eat Itself whose music metamorphosised from pop punk into a hybrid of rock, hip hop and dance.

Hits include The Stone Roses ‘Fool’s Gold’ (UK #9) and Happy Mondays ‘Step On’ (UK #5) plus there’s dancefloor favourites such as The Charlatans’ debut Hammond groove ‘Indian Rope’ and rarities including the excellent but forgotten ‘Perfect Person’ by Sinister Groove.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE:
1 Happy Mondays - W.F.L. ‘Think About The Future’ Mix (The Paul Oakenfold Mix)
2 Inspiral Carpets – Joe
3 808 State – Pacific State – Origin (12” Version)
4 James - Come Home (Weatherall Remix A.k.a. Skunk Weed Skank Mix)
5 The Farm - Stepping Stone (12” Ghost Dance Mix)
6 Hypnotone – Dream Beam (Ben Chapman Remix)
7 New Fast Automatic Daffodils – Big (Baka)
8 Paris Angels – All On You (Perfume) (12” Version)
9 The Bridewell Taxis – Spirit (LFO Decision Remix)
10 Electronic – Get The Message (DNA Groove Mix)
Future Sound Of London – Papua New Guinea (12” Original Mix AKA Dali Mix)
11 The Beloved – The Sun Rising (Danny’s Love Is… Remix)
12 The Times – Manchester (Single Version)
13 Candy Flip – Strawberry Fields Forever (Raspberry Ripple Remix)

DISC TWO:
1 The Stone Roses – Fools Gold 9.53
2 The Charlatans – Indian Rope
3 Moonflowers – Get Higher (Rather Large In The Bristol Area Mix)
4 Northside - Shall We Take A Trip (12” Version)
5 The Mock Turtles - Can You Dig It?
6 Spin – Scratches (In The Sand)
7 World Of Twist – She’s A Rainbow (12” Version)
8 Sinister Groove – Perfect Person
9 Spirea X – Re: Action
10 The Candy Skins – For What It’s Worth
11 Honey Smugglers – You Are The Sun
12 Airhead – Counting Sheep
13 The Telescopes – Celeste
14 The Hollow Men – Thrilled
15 Spacemen 3 – Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found Here) (12” Version)

DISC THREE:
1 Primal Scream – Come Together (Terry Farley
Extended 12” Mix)
2 Flowered Up – It’s On
3 Saint Etienne – Kiss And Make Up (Midsummer Madness Mix)
4 Inspiral Carpets – Commercial Reign
5 The Shamen – Pro>Gen (Land Of Oz Mix)
6 Intastella – Century (12” Version)
7 Happy Mondays – Step On (Twisting My Melon Mix)
8 The Primitives – You Are The Way (Re-Ravishing Mix)
9 The Wendys – The Sun's Going To Shine For Me Soon
10 Chapterhouse – Pearl (12” Version)
11 Raintree County – Mad Dog
12 King Of The Slums - Bear Wiv Me (Flourescent Mix)
13 A Certain Ratio – Twenty Seven Forever (12” Version)

DISC FOUR:
1 The Soup Dragons - I’m Free (Terry Farley Boys Own Remix)
2 Stereo MC’s – Connected
3 Ruthless Rap Assassins – And It Wasn’t A Dream (Dare To Be Aware Mix)
4 MC Tunes Versus 808 State – Tunes Splits The Atom (Original Rap)
5 That Petrol Emotion – Tingle (Hard Boppin’ Mix)
6 Julian Cope – Love L.U.V. (Beautiful Love Remix)
7 Jesus Jones - Real Real Real (Rhythm 3 - Ben Chapman "Spaced" 12” Mix)
8 The Charlatans – Opportunity Three
9 The Dylans – Lemon Afternoon
10 Pop Will Eat Itself – X,Y And Zee (Electric Sunshine Style)
11 Stan – My Delight (Extended Mix)
12 Cud – Magic (Extended Farsley Mix)
13 Blow-Up – World (Long Version)
14 The Popguns – Crazy
15 Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine – After The Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way)

Esteemed scribe, proper DJ, and discreetly deft twiddler Bill Brewster, drops the latest instalment in his ‘After Dark’ series, for Late Night Tales.

A throbbing, louche and leisurely affair, groove is very much at the heart of this freestyle selection, a vibe which Bill de- scribes as “a basement, a red light and a sound system. Or, as the Beastie’s once rapped, slow and low, that is the tempo”.

There’s Hawaiian drum machine bossa balearica from Island Band, percussive afro post punk from Czech jazz singer Jana Koubkova, and breathy-bubbling-dubwise-slap-bass-soul from Debbe & The Code.

There’s also sultry deep house mood music from Lanowa, infectious bouncy jazz funk breaks from Canada High, and Nail’s life affirming re-edit of singer songwriter Gilbert O Sullivan’s electro pop gem ‘So What’.

Bill’s own studio skills are present and correct too, featuring an undulating bassy version of country troubadour Jeb Loy Nichols, reworked along Alex Tepper under their Hotel Motel moniker, and a chugged-up squelchy disco take on Khruangbin, this time paired with Raj Gupta, as Mang Dynasty.

Chock full of exclusives, tracks are either completely brand new, or available digitally for the first time, whilst others are wallet-rinsing rarities if purchased elsewhere. Whichever way you slice it though, every tune is a highlight, working equally well as standalone nuggets, or within Bill’s fluidly cohesive mix.

Whether he’s taking the roof off a club with his unique selection of deep and tough house music, enchanting a backroom with a genre-bending set of disco, Balearic, rock and hip hop or playing chillout music in a bay in Croatia, Bill Brewster is the man for all occasions.

In a former life, Bill was a punk rocker, a chef and also the co-editor of football magazine When Saturday Comes but has been a record nerd all of his life. He began DJing in the 1980s, but came into his own in the early 1990s, particularly during a two-year stint in New York running DMC’s office, where nights at the Sound Factory and hanging out with Danny Tenaglia gave him the musical grounding you can still hear in his music today.

Bill was also one of the founding residents at Fabric in London, a position he held for five years. There are few still playing regularly today that have his dedication, eclecticism and encyclopedic knowledge of music.

His parallel life is as a writer, and with his long-term part- ner-in-crime Frank Broughton, they have written four books together, including the acclaimed ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life’ (latest edition published last July), ‘How To DJ (Prop- erly)’ and ‘The Record Players’. The pair are also behind the legendary DJhistory.com and their party, Low Life, has been running for nearly 30 years.

He has been working in the industry’s fringes for over 40 years including the running of various labels from Twisted UK and Forensic in the ’90s to Disco Sucks and Anorak in the noughties.

He is one of NTS radio’s new residents for 2023 and his ‘Low Life Loves You’ show is available on the first Tuesday of every month.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A smooth as silk collection of deep lounging groovers, airy disco numbers and thumping percussion, brought together with Bill Brewster's incomparable musical ear. A thoroughly rewarding collection.

TRACK LISTING

2LP
A1 Island Band – Idle Hours 4:55
A2 Chaz Jankel – Manon Manon 4.56
A3 Gilbert O’Sullivan – So What (Nail Edit) 8.44*
B1 Rheinzand – Kills And Kisses (Scorpio Twins Remix) 8.10*
B2 Canada High – Le Chiffre 5.02*
B3 Lanowa – Burning Up 6.38*
C1 Khruangbin – So We Won’t Forget (Mang Dynasty Irreverent Dub) 7.16*
C2 Fernando – 1998 7.00*
C3 Debbe & The Code – Code Of Love 6.02
D1 Jana Koubková - Nijána 6.15
D2 IPG V Hot Toddy – Open Space 7.32*
D3 Smashed Atoms & Backdoor Man – Hey Dreamer 6.50*
*After Dark Vinyl Exclusive

CD
1.T.O.E – Infinite Consciousness*
2.Island Band – Idle Hours
3.Jana Koubková - Nijána
4.Dan Wainwright – Come Home*
5.Jeb Loy Nichols – Don’t Drop Me (Hotel Motel Remix)*
6.Nick Munday – Drum Lock
7.Khruangbin – So We Won’t Forget (Mang Dynasty Irreverent Dub)*
8.Rhythm Plate – We Were Made To Be Artists*
9.Debbe & The Code – Code Of Love*
10.Lanowa – Burning Up*
11.Gilbert O’Sullivan – So What (Nail Edit)*
12.Canada High – Le Chiffre
13.Smashed Atoms & Backdoor Man – Hey Dreamer*
14.Gus Paterson – Arphicelago*
15.Fernando - 1998*
16.IPG V Hot Toddy – Open Space*
17.Carl Finlow – Hyperkagome*
18.Rheinzand – Kills And Kisses (Scorpio Twins Remix)*
19.Chaz Jankel – Manon Manon
* After Dark Exclusive

Since they made their entrance on the reissue stage in 2016 (with the essential reissue of "Fire In My Heart" no less), Isle Of Jura have dropped nothing but fire, proving to have a formidible ear for an unheard hit. Now the crew come through with the first in a series of compilations which blend Dub, Ambient, Downtempo, Boogie and Proto House with a focus on music never before released on Vinyl, sought after out of print titles and some special versions edited specifically for the album.
The intention with this project was to delve deeper into the reissue pond and unearth some lesser known tracks and artists. Highlights include Smackos' (AKA Legowelt) ambient epic ‘We Can Watch Alf In The Hotel Room’, never before released on Vinyl, the dub / psych hybrid of Minus Group’s ‘Black Shadow’, Kash’s sought after ‘Percussion Sundance’ and special edits of Ken Dang and Tabou Combo. As if that weren't enough to tickle your pickle, then the four ambient tools the Jura Soundsystem have cooked up for the finale totally take the cake.

STAFF COMMENTS

Patrick says: After a string of excellent reissues over the past two years, Isle Of Jura drop their first compilation, a mega set of not-on-vinyl heat, out of print excellence and specially edited bangers for disco, house, downtempo and dub fans. Maximum respect!

TRACK LISTING

1. Smackos - We Can Watch Alf In The Hotel Room
2. Astral Engineering - Seashore Dub
3. Minus Group - Black Shadow
4. Ken Dang - Born In Borneo (Jura Soundsystem Edit)
5. Trevor Bastow - Integration
6. Kash - Percussion Sundance
7. Tabou Combo Superstars - Ooh La La (Jura Soundsystem Edit)
8. Blindboy - Traumerei
9. Mix-O-Rap- All Party People (Special Mix) (Go-Go Style)
10. Jura Soundsystem - Jungle Ambient Tool
11. Jura Soundsystem - Ocean Ambient Tool
12. Jura Soundsystem - Time Ambient Tool
13. Jura Soundsystem - Pyramids Ambient Tool 

Sixteen trips might fry the fragile psyche of your average teenager, but us hoary old heads at Brown Acid boiled our brain pans long ago! As such, we’re bringing you EVEN MORE hard rock, heavy psych, and garage rock rarities from the North American wasteland of the 1970s. From L.A. to Youngstown, OH, from Toronto to Charlotte, The Sixteenth Trip has got you covered. As always, original copies of these 45s would cost you a pretty penny—if you could find ’em in the first place. And by now you know the drill: This ain’t no bootleg. All songs are officially licensed.

Our 16th installment kicks off with “Shuckin’ and Jiving,” a seven-minute power jam from L.A.’s kings of garage psych, the Seeds. The song appeared as a single in 1972 with “You Took Me By Surprise” on the flipside. It was the only release on Productions Unlimited, a label created by (or for) the Seeds at the tail end of their late ’60s/early ’70s run as Sky Saxon and the Seeds. Get shucked!

Very little is known about the band Nothing, beyond the fact that “Young Generation” is the flip of “Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” one of four singles released by the ASG label out of Cincinnati in the mid-70s. What we can tell you for sure is that “Young Generation” is a funk-injected hard rock banger of Buckeye State proportions, complete with what sounds like anonymous oral…

Macbeth released their one and only 45 in 1978, with the steamrolling “Freight Train” as the B-side to “Didn’t Mean (To Come This Far).” Boasting a thick-ass riff, a tasty stereo-panned guitar solo and at least one space laser sound effect, this one should satisfy fans of Blue Cheer and Grand Funk alike. Macbeth’s bassist, Ned Meloni, went on to play with UFO guitarist Paul Chapman, Virgin Steele guitarist Jack Starr and do a brief stint with doom legends Pentagram.

As it turns out, Saturday night ain’t just for fighting. One-and-done Canadian psych-rock warriors Sarawest will tell you it’s also for gettin’ “Hot & Heavy,” and they’re not wrong. This swirling 1974 freak rock fuzz-bomb will get the party started every time. And that porno guitar? Outta sight.

After releasing their full-length debut, Cuttin’ Loose, in 1976, North Carolina rockers Brotherhood Of Peace shortened their name to BOP and dropped this single two years later. “Feel The Heat (In The Driver’s Seat)” is freeway funk-rock in the classic Southern style.

Released in 1969 as the flip to “School Daze” (which opened The Eighth Trip in high style), Attack’s "Dream” was written by Thom Strasz. That’s the same St. Clair Shores, Michigan, resident who penned the highly sought-after garage-rock diamond “City Of People” under the name The Illusions in ’66. And this acid-drenched rocker rocks hard.

Brown Acid favorite Marty Soski rides again! After appearing on our third & eighth trips with his band Inside Experience and the fifth with Lance’s “Fireball,” the Ohio guitarist/vocalist graces our 16th with “Marilyn,” the 1976 A-side to “Fireball.” This time, our man unwinds a psychedelic threnody to the artist formerly known as Norma Jean Mortenson, perhaps inspired by Elton John’s then-recent “Candle In The Wind.”

Formed by three brothers—David, Bruce and Barry Flynn, all GM factory workers—along with organist Tom Applegate, The Headstones (also known as simply Headstone) lent their 1974 garage boogie “Carry Me On” to The Fourth Trip. This time, the Midwest psych rockers return with their killer 1975 instrumental “Snake Dance.” You can hear echoes of this particular guitar style in the recent work of Swedish adventure rock overlords Hällas.

The band Clinton might’ve been from Pennsylvania, but that didn’t stop them from writing about New York City. “Midnight In New York” is the flipside to their sole single, 1976’s “Falling Behind.” Stylistically and thematically, it’s not unlike something famous New Yawker Ace Frehley would’ve written for KISS around the same time.

TRACK LISTING

1. Seeds - “Shuckin’ And Jivin'”
2. Nothing - “Young Generation”
3. Macbeth - “Freight Train”
4. Sarawest - “Saturday (Hot & Heavy)”
5. Brotherhood Of Peace - “Feel The Heat (In The Driver’s Seat)”
6. Attack - “Dreams”
7. Lance - “Marilyn”
8. Headstones - “Snake Dance”
9. Clinton - “Midnight In New York”

The Magnificent 7 features the work of some of the heaviest deejays of the period, inspired by the tenets of Rastafarianism, extolling the virtues of living upright in those dread times

Opening with Jah Walton who would go on to greater success as Joseph Cotton in the nineties, followed by Big Youth who had made some of his earliest records with Phil Pratt. I Roy, Jamaica's most literate and articulate deejay, steps forward with two big hits, 'Ital Dish' and 'Musical Air Raid' before two tracks from King Sighta, a young deejay who apparently lost an eye in a factory accident, and who released the eponymous 'King Sighter The One Eyed Giant' album on Terminal that year. Very little is known about Little Wicked, but Big Joe recorded extensively during the seventies for Studio One, Harry Mudie's Moodisc Records and many other top producers although this is his sole recording, released on Chanan Jah in London, for Phil Pratt. The set concludes with Jah Stitch, deejay for Tippertone and Black Harmony sound systems, with another big hit, 'Evilest Thing'.

TRACK LISTING

The Seed You Sow - Jah Walton
Love Jah Jah Children - Big Youth
Ital Dish - I-Roy
Musical Air Raid - I-Roy
Master Off All - King Sighta
Shining Star - King Sighta
Sister Sheron - Little Wicked
Natty Love - Big Joe
Evilest Thing - Jah Stitch

Ok here we go again boogie nuts! The fourth volume of Full Beam!'s infamous "For Gees Only" series is finally upon us. Another 8 nuggets from the depths of Pharaoh Brunson's pyramid suite presented in a super fresh, screen printed gatefold sleeve.

You must know the drill by now - vinyl only, no digital, no tracklist (yet!). Rest assured these are primo boogie bombs that have been doing the rounds at the Red Laser club night as well as exported to all the best underground festivals not to mention receiving 'nuff rotation on Pharoah Brunson's Full Beam! FM radio show on NTS.

Super limited edition - future collectors item. Move quick! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Another top drawer selection from the Pharaoh's cabinet that'd take serious leg work and a few bitcoins to amass on an individual basis. People are already saying this is the best volume to date - and given the pedigree of the last three, that's some serious clout! Worth the entrance fee for the White Limousine (whoops!) track alone - it's (to quote the curator) 'all hitters no shitters' from start to finish.

Originally released on Island Records in September 1998, the soundtrack to the box-office smash film, written and directed by Guy Ritchie, quickly became a must-own album, and is frequently cited as one of the best movie soundtracks of all time.Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels redefined the British gangster film and established Guy Ritchie as one of the greatest directing and writing talents of his generation

Using a frenetic mixture of filmic styles, humour, violence, breakdown of the fourth wall, narration, and vast amounts of swearing, it is hard to imagine a time when this film and its influence was not around. It made a star of the- then unknown Jason Statham, and, amazingly, hard man footballer Vinnie Jones, who as Big Chris, had several scene- stealing moments. Taking his cue from Quentin Tarantino, who had been meticulously curating his film soundtracks since the early 90s, Ritchie made the music to his film tell its own story, complete with memorable snatches of dialogue between many of the tracks. It offers a beautifully eclectic selection of songs from the preceding three decades, plus then-current artists providing some of their best material, such as Hundred Mile High City by Ocean Colour Scene or E- Z Rollers' drum'n'bass masterpiece Walk This Land. Of the heritage tracks, Dusty Springfield sings her sultry take on Spooky; James Brown appears twice with The Boss and The Payback; The Stooges with I Wanna Be Your Dog, and two versions of Pete Wingfield's masterful one- hit- wonder 18 With A Bullet; in its 1975 original and a contemporary cover by Lewis Taylor and Carleen Anderson. And this is only half of it.For lovers of soundtrack albums that create their own unmistakable universe, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a must- have.

TRACK LISTING

Ocean Colour Scene – Hundred Mile High City 3:56
Tom, Nick & Ed – It's A Deal, It's A Steal 0:46
James Brown – The Boss 3:11
Skanga – Truly, Madly, Deeply 3:16
Winston – Hortif**kinculturist 0:14
Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves 3:59
Lewis Taylor & Carleen Anderson – 18 With A Bullet 3:23
Dusty Springfield – Spooky 2:35
John Murphy (2) & David Hughes (7) – The Game 0:55
Harry, Barry, & Gary – Muppets 0:18
Robbie Williams – Man Machine 3:32
E Z Rollers – Walk This Land 3:50
Barr Y– Blaspheming Barry 0:05
The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog 3:05
Tom & Nick – It's Kosher 0:55
The Castaways – Liar Liar 1:51
Plank & Dog – I've Been Shot 0:06
Stretch – Why Did You Do It 3:29
Ed & Soap – Guns 4 Show Knives 4 A Pro 0:21
Evil Superstars – Oh Girl 2:44
John Murphy & David Hughes – If The Milk Turns Sour 0:47
John Murphy & David Hughes – Zorba The Greek 2:56
John Murphy & David Hughes – I'll Kill Ya 0:42
James Brown – The Payback 7:27
The Stone Roses – Fools Gold 4:13
Big Chris – It's Been Emotional 0:03
Pete Wingfield – 18 With A Bullet 4:13

Experience the amazing 50-year journey of rap music with Raised by Rap: 50 Years of Hip Hop. This double-LP vinyl traces the roadmap through rap music from legendary acts to newcomers, offering a comprehensive history lesson and fascinating overview.

Hear some of the greatest hip hop tracks ever released from legendary acts like 21 Savage, A Tribe Called Quest, Bia, Doja Cat, Fugees, Future, Mobb Deep, Nas, RUN DMC, Wu-Tang Clan and more. This limited edition double-LP vinyl is a must-have for hip hop fans and anyone interested in exploring rap music's illustrious past.

TRACK LISTING

LP1
Side A
Genius Rap (7” Single Version) – Dr Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde 
It's Tricky – Run DMC 
It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock 
Can I Kick It? – A Tribe Called Quest 
Summertime (Single Edit) – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince 
Funkdafied – Da Brat
Side B
Insane In The Brain – Cypress Hill 
C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) – Wu-Tang Clan Feat. Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck & Buddha Monk 
Shook Ones, Pt. II – Mobb Deep 
Ready Or Not – Fugees 
N.Y. State Of Mind – NAS 
Watch Out Now – The Beatnuts Feat. Yellaklaw
LP2
Side C
Ms. Jackson – Outkast 
Grindin’ – Clipse 
Hip-Hop – Dead Prez 
Poppin’ My Collar – Three 6 Mafia 
Blow The Whistle – Too $hort
Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You) – UGK (Underground Kingz) Feat. Outkast
Side D
Goosebumps – Travis Scott 
A Lot – 21 Savage 
Streets – Doja Cat 
Mask Off – Future 
Praise The Lord (Da Shine) Feat. Skepta – A$AP Rocky Feat. Skepta
Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) (Remix) – Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
Whole Lotta Money – BIA

• 68 track 3CD box set celebrating the Leeds’ independent scene of the 1980s.

• Featuring Soft Cell, Sisters Of Mercy, Gang Of Four, The Wedding Present, Scritti Politti, The Mission, and many more.

• Including The Mekons, CUD, Delta 5, The Pale Saints, Girls At Our Best, Age Of Chance, The Bridewell Taxis who all stamped their mark on the indie charts and were regulars/favourites on John Peel’s radio show.

Like many Northern cities, Leeds enjoyed an explosion of music triggered by the big bang of punk rock in 1977. Indie labels sprung up to cater for a new wave of bands, who carved their own identity as the 80s dawned. ‘Where Were You’ is the first comprehensive anthology of Leeds’ independent music from that period, through to the end of the 1980s. From punk to goth, indie pop to industrial dancefloor, out-and-out pop to underground psychedelia, the four hours’ worth of recordings here are a celebration of the musical diversity emanating from the city’s studios and clubs.

Co-compiled by Benoit Farvak (Salvation) and Richard Rouska (Rouska Records), ‘Where Were You’ also boasts numerous obscurities which make their debut on CD – including many tracks taken from records now worth a small fortune on the collector’s scene. Overall, this is a fitting tribute to the legacy from one of the UK’s finest northern musical cities.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1. THE MEKONS Where Were You
2. ROUGE Have You Seen Gene
3. JERKS Cool
4. RATS AND DELICIOUS No Time
5. AGONY COLUMN (I Had It) All Worked Out
6. THE NEAT Hormones In Action (In My Heart)
7. GANG OF FOUR Damaged Goods (EMI Version)
8. SCRITTI POLITTI Messthetics
9. THE CITY LIMITS MorseCode Messages
10. EXPELAIRES Sympathy (Don't Be Taken In)
11. THE ALWOODLEY JETS Crash ‘N Burn
12. GIRLS AT OUR BEST Getting Nowhere Fast
13. SHAKE APPEAL My Own Way
14. DELTA 5 You
15. KNIFE EDGE Favourite Girl
16. MUSIC FOR PLEASURE The Human Factor
17. THE SQUARES Buddy Holly
18. MIRROR BOYS At Tiffanys
19. DANCE CHAPTER Anonymity
20. THE BOYS Let It Rain
21. SOFT CELL A Man Can Get Lost
22. ABRASIVE WHEELS Army Song
23. ICON A.D. Fight For Peace
24. THE EXPELLED Government Policy
25. THE UNDERDOGS East Of Dachau

DISC TWO 
1. THE SISTERS OF MERCY Temple Of Love
2. THE MARCH VIOLETS Religious As Hell
3. RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY Beating My Head
4. ANABAS Barricades
5. THE THREE JOHNS Do The Square Thing (7” Version)
6. VICIOUS PINK Cccan’t You See
7. TOM FAZZINI 16 Vessels
8. ANNIE HOGAN Executioners Song (Kickabye)
9. DÉJÀ VU Cut The Cross
10. FLOWERS FOR AGATHA Presentation
11. XERO SLINGSBY AND THE WORKS Hurricane Damage In Leeds (Live)
12. THE HOLLOW MEN Late Flowering Lust
13. ROSE OF AVALANCHE Goddess
14. THE CASSANDRA COMPLEX Moscow Idaho
15. SURFIN DAVE AND THE ABSENT LEGENDS Stateside Centre
16. AGE OF CHANCE I Don't Know And I Don't Care
17. THIRD CIRCLE Last Night Was The Best Night Of My Life
18. THE WEDDING PRESENT You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends
19. PINK PEG SLAX Boy From Leeds
20. DUSTDEVILS Seeds In The Spoil
21. THE MISSION Wasteland
22. SALVATION Thunderbird

DISC TTHREE
1. THE RHYTHM SISTERS Saturday Sunday Lazy Leeds Afternoons
2. RITZUN RATZUN ROTZER Noodleman
3. THE SINISTER CLEANERS Longing For Next Year
4. THE PROWLERS Life’s A Mystery
5. SON OF SAM Goodbye Junkie Jim…
6. LEN LIGGINS Life In Leeds City
7. GOOD SHEPHERDS Wallpaper Man
8. WMTID Go Big Red
9. MDMA Evidence
10. DRUG FREE AMERICA DayGlo Pussycat
11. THE VAYNES Lick The Dirt
12. BAZOOKA JOE Hiding From The Rentman
13. CUD I've Had It With Blondes
14. THE SNAPDRAGONS The Things You Want
15. GROOVIN’ WITH LUCY Lenny’s Lament
16. PURPLE ETERNAL Trip#67 (live)
17. BRIDEWELL TAXIS Wild Boar
18. GHOST DANCE Celebrate
19. PALE SAINTS Sight Of You
20. GOLD FRANKINCENSE & DISK DRIVE Character Assassinator
21. THE EDSEL AUCTIONEER Our New Skin

"Curating and ordering the tracks for a Mr Bongo Record Club is always special You're reminded of the feelings you had when sitting at home with a cassette player on pause trying to compile the perfect mixtape to impress the latest object of your affection, or that friend with whom you share a musical kinship and spark off each other's latest discoveries. Hearing old tracks for the first time or diving into the most upfront selections keeps the fires burning and passions alight.

Here, for volume six, we present recent finds and treasured classics from Brazil, Sweden, the USA, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada. We have included selections by the Brazilian rising star Dora Morelenbaum as well as from heritage-Brazilian musicians and vocalists Hareton Salvanini, Copa 7, and Mirna. There's also the wonderful Brazilian- not- Brazilian take of 'Ye Me Le' by Hazel Scott And The Braza Brasil, plus sublime gospel from the New York Community Choir. We've picked disco and soul rarities by General Lee and Ash Soul, Inc., and for the first time on vinyl, an incredible psych- pop song by the illustrious Matthew Tavares. There are cuts from some of our favourite contemporary Swedish musicians, Sven Wunder and Dina Ogon too."

TRACK LISTING

Dora Morelenbaum - Japao
New York Community Choir - I'll Keep My Light In My Window (12" Mix)
General Lee - Pleasure
The Drive - Africa Bossa
Chiemi Eri - Okosa-Bushi
Manny Corchado And His Orchestra - Pow-Wow
Sven Wunder - Easy Going
Dina Ogon - Bakom Glaset
Vee Gees - Talkin
Mave & Dave - Do You Really Want My Love
Hazel Scott And The Braza Brasil - Ye-Me-Le
Ines Soares - Um Amor Para Toda A Vida
Hareton Salvanini - Estrada
Copa 7 - Copa Sete No Samba
Mirna - A Volta
Dina Ogon - Tombola 94
Unknown Artists - I Do You Love
Ash Soul, Inc. - I Do Love You
Ponderosa Twins Plus One - Bound
Matty - Blood
Shira Small - Eternal Life

'I have such vivid memories of the early 90s when everyone in our community couldn't stop talking about that incredible movement called La Ruta del Bacalao or simply La Ruta. My brother was a regular on the Ruta,
and I can still feel the excitement when he brought home those tapes after a wild weekend. Those AC/TV, Spook Factory, and Spiral cassettes became my ultimate soundtrack back then, and they were probably my first taste of electronic music.' - DJ Katah aka Moon & Mann born and raised in Alicante.

MM Discos pay homage to the dance music of those magical early 90s, particularly that bustling and influential scene that inspired DJs all around the world. We've got Jaisiel, Tech Support, Trepanado, and Clap Kent taking charge, delivering 4 amazing edits that will transport us right back to that golden era of electronic music in Spain: Lar Ruta del Bacalao. Get ready to
dance and let the nostalgia wash over you!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: MM Discos pay tribute to the lesser known but culturally significant La Ruta del Bacalao movement from Spain (which judging by the pictures on google looks much like the Cosmic movement in Italy only with VWs instead of Citroen 2CVs). An ephemeral and magical moment, it's actually a really interesting rabbit hole to jump down if you've a penchant for dance music history! These three tracks seem to display how the scene distilled EBM, techno and punk attitude into their own geo-specific sound.

TRACK LISTING

A1) Jaisiel - Timeless
A2) Trepanado - Abrir Fogo
B1) Tech Support - Dream Space

‘Lounge Psychédélique’ takes you on a journey into the world of Lounge, Exotica and Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, from its early days in the 1950s and 1960s to the current crop of artists championing the Lounge & Exotica sounds today. Compiled by Spencer Hickman & Mark McQuillan for Two-Piers

‘Lounge Psychédélique (The Best of Lounge & Exotica 1954-2022)’ is the third instalment in the Psychédélique Compilation series on Two-Piers, following the critically acclaimed ‘Pop Psychédélique (The Best of French Psychedelic Pop 1964-2019)’ and ‘Garage Psychédélique (The Best of Garage Psych and Pzyk Rock 1965-2019)’.

‘Lounge Psychédélique’ brings together the sounds of Easy Listening, Soundtrack Instrumentals, Exotica, Jazz, Psychedelic, and Space Age sounds all under the umbrella of Lounge Music. The compilation includes legends of the Lounge and Exotica scene, such as Martin Denny, Yma Sumac, Mel Tormé, Herb Alpert, and Les Baxter, alongside legendary composers Hugo Montenegro, Lalo Schifrin, Michael Giacchino. Add some Lounge Jazz from Cal Tjader and the Latin Bossa Nova of Quincy Jones. Then throw in some beautiful oddities from Leonard Nimoy, Pizzicato Five and Mort Garson. Next, mix in some Lounge-Mod moments from Dave Pike and Jack Trombey, KPM library classics from Alan Hawkshaw and Keith Mansfield, and finish with some brilliant modern-day exponents of the Exotica sound Los Bitchos, Ixtaheule and the Percussive Funk Moog party sounds of The Bongolian. The result is a fun and crazy ride through the world of Lounge Music which will bring a smile to your face and a spring to your step. So raise a cocktail glass to ‘Lounge Psychédélique (The Best of Lounge & Exotica 1954-2022) – a sheer joy from start to finish!

‘Lounge Psychédélique’ isn’t meant to be a ‘crate diggers’ album or a compilation of obscure, hard-to-find tracks to outdo your mates. Instead, it is intended to celebrate the Lounge scene and, hopefully, the perfect introduction to this fantastic and beautiful music for any newcomers out there. So let your journey into Lounge and Exotica begin here….

STAFF COMMENTS

Darryl says: Delving into the world of Lounge, Exotica and Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, these cuts are the creme de la creme of the scene. Featuring legends like Martin Denny, Yma Sumac, Les Baxter, Mort Garson, Alan Hawkshaw, Leonard Nimoy, Pizzicato Five, and Keith Mansfield, there’s plenty of delights to raise a cocktail glass to!

TRACK LISTING

Vinyl Tracklist:
A1. Leonard Nimoy – Music To Watch Space Girls By
A2. Martin Denny – The Enchanted Isle
A3. Yma Sumac – Gopher
A4. The Bongolian – B-Boy Toga Party
A5. Los Bitchos – The Link Is About To Die
A6. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)
A7. Michael Giacchino & Nouvelle Modernica Orchestra – Sidereal Day: 3 (Instrumental)
B1. Mel Tormé – Sunshine Superman
B2. Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Mais Que Nada
B3. Lalo Schifrin – Lalo’s Bossa Nova
B4. Quincy Jones – Black Orpheus (Manha De Carnaval)
B5. Les Baxter & 101 Strings Orchestra – Tropicando
B6. Pizzicato Five - ǚ

'Cries From The Youth' rounds up 32 reggae masters produced by the mighty King Jammy.

The revolutionary sound of King Jammy Super Power super- charged 80's dancehalls, shining the spotlight on a new generation of rising stars while bringing 70's elders like Dennis Brown, Sugar Minott and Junior Murvin into the dancehalls.

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Another haul of imperative Jammy productions spanning the late 70s and 80s period as the producer began to lay the foundations of what would become dancehall.

TRACK LISTING

LP Tracklisting
1. Storm Is Coming - Junior Delgado
2. Up-Full One - Dennis Brown
3. Got To Be Strong - Pad Anthony
4. Why Should I - Admiral Tibet
5. Only The Poor Man Feel It - Kentucky
6. Chain Grabber - Johnny Osbourne
7. Cry For The Youths - Wackad
8. Victim Of Babylon - Admiral Tibet
9. World Inflation - Junior Murvin

CD Tracklisting
1. Storm Is Coming - Junior Delgado
2. Up Full One - Dennis Brown
3. Gotta Be Strong - Pad Anthony
4. Only The Poorman Feel It - Kentucky
5. 5chain Grabber - Johnny Osbourne
6. Cry For The Youths - Wackad
7. Why Should I - Admiral Tibet
8. In The Ghetto - Little John
9. E20 - Wayne Smith
10. Jam In The Street - Sugar Minott
11. Possy - Cocoa Tea
12. Sugar Me - Conroy Smith
13. Hot We Say We Hot - Eccleton Jarrett
14. Ram Up Every Corner - Tonto Irie
15. Ram Dance Man - Leslie Thunder
16. You Pack Up And Gone - King Kong
17. Victim Of Babylon - Admiral Tibet
18. His Majesty Reign - Cultural Roots
19. World Inflation - Junior Murvin
20. Stop The Violence - Junior Delgado
21. Don't Take Your Gun To Town - Al Campbell
22. Conscious Lover - Sugar Minott
23. It's Too Late - Michael Palmer
24. Move On - Wailing Souls
25. So Dem Come, So Dem Go - Nitty Gritty
26. In The Ghetto - Richie Stephens
27. Trash And Ready - Super Cat
28. Fuck Fowl - Bunny General
29. Bucket A Shit -Little Twitch
30. Bad Girls - King Everald
31. Mouth A Massy Liza - Super Black

Batov Records is thrilled to announce the release of ‘Middle Eastern Grooves’, a double gatefold LP compilation of standout tracks from the label’s highly successful series of 7” singles released under the same name, hand selected by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi. Spanning from 2015 to the present day, the compilation features a mix of classic favourites, new releases, and never- before-heard gems from some of the most talented emerging artists.

TRACK LISTING

1. Kutiman - Badawee
2. El Khat - Ya Raiyat (Radio Trip Edit)
3. Boom Pam - Uniton
4. Baharat - The Egyptian
5. Les Dynamites - Pop Oud #2
6. Sababa 5 & Shiran Tzfira - Manginat Mahapeha (feat. Matan Caspi)
7. Sababa 5 (feat. Yurika) - Nasnusa
8. Sababa 5 - Baksheesh
9. Eje Eje - Saved From The Jazz
10. Yossi Fine & Ben Aylon - Peres
11. Yuz - Galgalit
12. Baharat - Parsley Disco
13. Romano - Six
14. Buttering Trio - Little Goat (Iza Ktana)
15. Koy Kardeşler - Shürük
16. Şatellites - Deli Deli
17. Cherry Bandora – Esý

Buzzsaw Joint was born of a club offering Londoners the chance to revel in the sounds of deliciously trashy rock’n’roll in all its perverse forms. Cut number nine reveals Double Agent 7’s top-secret tactics. Music festival stage regulars, the London-based DJ duo have a long-running monthly residency at one of the capital’s hippest bars where they make it their Mission45 to spin 50s/60s R&B floorfillers all night long. Bravo team, mission complete.

This compilation represents an initial – and long overdue – foray into the years 1980 - 82, when KLAR! 80 was a cassette label, paired with a shop of the same name in Düsseldorf. Founded by Rainer Rabowski, KLAR!80 released 18 cassettes of varying length and a box set containing three 12” vinyl Eps which fetch handsome prices among collectors nowadays.The KLAR!80 - Ein Kassettenlabel aus Düsseldorf 1980-1982 collection reaches even further back in time than the SAMMLUNG - Düsseldorfer Kassettenmusik 1982-1989 (BB236/2017) collection, similarly curated by Stefan Schneider, which focused on the mid-1980s Düsseldorf cassette scene. It captures the brief period between the end of punk and the looming capitalisation and digitalisation of so many aspects of life.

Soul Jazz Records release a new expanded version of ‘Studio One 007 - Licenced to Ska: James Bond and other Film Soundtracks and TV Themes’, originally only available as a long deleted 7” RSD box set.

This new edition is fully remastered and expanded to a massive 18 super rare and killer cuts from the Studio One empire.

Featuring The Skatalites, Lee Perry, Jackie Mittoo, Bob Marley, The Wailers, Roland Alphonso and The Soul Brothers - rare and classic tracks from Jamaica’s no.1 record label, Studio One.

Extensive sleevenotes discuss the connections between James Bond, Jamaica and Ska music. Jamaica was the setting for ‘Dr. No’, ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ and the recent ‘No Time to Die’, and the home for Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming. There is also an extended essay on The Skatalites and their post modern love and ska-ification of all styles of music, from classical music to TV themes, from detective movies to ‘Fiddler on the Roof’.

Aside from the James Bond-related cuts, this album also includes killer tracks from the secret agent 1969 spoof, ‘Our Man Flint’, the Clint Eastwood-starring Spaghetti Western, ‘Hang ‘Em High’, the Brazilian movie masterpiece, ‘Black Orpheus’, and more besides.

TRACK LISTING

Jackie Mittoo And The Soul Brothers - James Bond
The Skatalites - Dick Tracy
The Soul Brothers - James Bond Girl
The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone Roland Alphonso And The Studio
One Orchestra - From Russia With Love
The Soul Brothers - Thunderball
Jackie Mittoo - Hang 'Em High
The Soul Brothers - Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
The Soul Brothers - 007
Lee Perry And The Wailers - Pussy Galore
The Soul Brothers - Mr. Flint
The Skatalites - Ball Of Fire
The Soul Brothers - James Bond Danger Man
The Soul Brothers - Lawman
The Skatalites - Black Orpheus
The Skatalites - Exodus
The Skatalites - Dr. Kildare
The Soul Brothers - Fiddler On The Roof

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer/ songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: How would you present a compilation of modern day artists covering singer-songwriter Nick Drake's work? Like this! Get them to re-interpret the material in their own individual way, re-imagine if you like, whilst maintaining Nick's original melody and words. We all know the original songs so well; that this record brings them to life so eloquently and sincerely is a huge testament to everybody involved.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain (prelude)
2. Fontaines D.C – Cello Song
3. Camille – Hazey Jane II
4. Mike Lindsay Featuring Guy Garvey – Saturday Sun
5. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road
6. Let’s Eat Grandma – From The Morning
7. David Gray – Place To Be
8. John Parish & Aldous Harding – Three Hours
9. Stick In The Wheel – Parasite
10. Ben Harper – Time Has Told Me
11. Emeli Sandé – One Of These Things First
12. Karine Polwart & Kris Drever – Northern Sky
13. Craig Armstrong Featuring Self Esteem – Black Eyed Dog
14. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road (reprise)
15. Nadia Reid – Poor Boy
16. Christian Lee Hutson Featuring Eleanor Moss – Which Will
17. Skullcrusher & Gia Margaret – Harvest Breed
18. Katherine Priddy – I Think They’re Leaving Me Behind
19. AURORA – Pink Moon
20. Joe Henry & Meshell Ndegeocello – Time Of No Reply
21. Famous Blue Cable Featuring Feist – River Man
22. Liz Phair – Free Ride
23. Philip Selway – Fly
24. John Grant – Day Is Done
25. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain

Blistering come-back from Culted with five multi-tempo’d bangers, something for every tribal gathering from chic Tulum rituals to the brutalism of Eastern-European underground clubs, rounded off by doses of Italian Rasta and Japanese re-imagining of Hungarian folk song. Cult wizardry at it’s finest, once again!

TRACK LISTING

A1 Mario Bianco - Gwada
A2 Tomoo Hata - Budailion
B1 Roe Deers - Colorita
B2 Radial Gaze – Cognate Unika
B3 A-Tweed & Oltrefuturo - Fyah

The Roots of Chicha, compiled by Barbès Records, was originally released in 2007 and became the first recording to popularize psychedelic cumbia around the world.

From the late 60's through the 80's, Peruvians invented a new popular musical hybrid inspired by music from the Americas. In 1968, Enrique Delgado released his first record on Odeon with his new group, Los Destellos, single-handedly creating Peruvian cumbia. He codified the genre early on by using the electric guitar as the primary melodic instrument, and mixing cumbia rhythms with folkloric huaynos, criollo voicings, Cuban guarachas and guajiras, rock, boogaloo, surf, psychedelia, oriental music, classical music, and bits and pieces from Brazil, France, Chile... All Peruvian cumbia bands for the next thirty years would end up drawing from the exact same sources (Grupo Celeste, Los Mirlos, Juaneco Y Su Combo, Manzanita Y Su Conjunto...).

This new wave of Peruvian cumbia came to be known as chicha. Chicha is originally the name of an alcoholic drink, made of fermented maize, which the Incas were especially fond of. In the past thirty years, however, the word has taken on a pejorative connotation. Peruvian cumbia started being called chicha in the late 70s, around the same time that the music came to be viewed as the expression of the slums – the pueblos jovenes. Little by little, the word became an adjective, and people now talk of chicha culture, chicha press, chicha architecture, even of a chicha president, and none if it – you guessed right – is meant as a compliment. Chicha suggests corruption, shady deals, and cholos – a derogatory term for a person of Andean heritage that, of late, is being reclaimed and worn as a badge of honor by the very cholos it was supposed to demean in the first place.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Los Mirlos - Sonido Amazonico
A2. Juaneco Y Su Combo - Linda Nena
A3. Los Hijos Del Sol - Cariñito
A4. Los Destellos - Patricia
A5. Los Diablos Rojos - Sacalo Sacalo
A6. Los Ribereños - Silbando
B1. Compay Quinto - El Diablo
B2. Los Destellos - Elsa
B3. Ranil Y Su Conjunto Tropical - Mala Mujer
B4. Manzanita Y Su Conjunto - Agua
B5. Los Destellos - Para Elisa
B6. Juaneco Y Su Combo - Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo 4:09
C1. Los Ilusionistas - Colegiala
C2. Los Diablos Rojos - El Guapo
C3. Manzanita Y Su Conjunto - El Hueleguiso
C4. Juaneco Y Su Combo - Vacilando Con Ayahuasca
C5. Los Hijos Del Sol - Linda Muñequita
D1. Grupo Celeste - Como Un Ave
D2. Los Destellos - Constelación
D3. Los Wembler's De Iquitos - La Danza Del Petrolero
D4. Chacalón Y La Nueva Crema - A Trabajar
D5. Los Shapis - El Aguajal
D6. Los Mirlos - La Danza De Los Mirlos

One Mile From Heaven is a dreamy travel through the 70's and beyond private singer songwriters scene. There have always been privately-pressed records. A “private” LP is an album that has been composed, performed, recorded and edited usually very- DIY style by the very artist or by an amateur label. A private press record is, above all, an act of the artistic urge. It’s an act that takes place outiside of the industry out of need, out of a lack of knowledge out of love, out of a drive, out of ambition... you can choose among the many reasons. Depending on their genre, origins, time, and above all, quality, some of these efforts have become valuable pieces for the music collector. Having been created behind the canonical history of music written by the industry, every now and then an archaeologist will bring to the surface an artifact they have found in some basement or flea market, or that was kept covered in dust in the shell of some old recording studio soon to be torn down. All these records have their own story, and some are still especially relevant, and others are but small footnotes in the encyclopedia of music that made their way into the margins of the mainstream world.

These are the most limited of editions (and mostly locally made ones) of largely unsociable and mostly unobtainable records--and when found, they areoften exorbitantly priced. Many of these marginalized and onscure artists have stayed alive only through the wonderful work of tireless song rescuers, music lovers, vocational archivists, collectors, and record labels with an idealistic drive. These romantics have been rescuing and indexing a form of music that very few have showed interest in until recent years.This record is a tribute to all of those who managed to make these songs not be lost to time. Above all, this release is a tribute to all those artists who recorded their songs on their own, mostly because they couldn’t keep the music inside themselves.

TRACK LISTING

Maitreya Kali “One Last Farewell”
Gary Higgins “Thicker Than A Smokey”
Alicia May “Summer Days”
Dan Gillmor & Doug McClaran “Ghost Song”
Bobb Trimble “One Mile From Heaven”
Bob Patterson “Friends Of Mine”
Jim Sullivan “Jerome”C
Chuck & Mary Perrin “Corrine”
Dan Modlin & Dave Scott “Loser, Lover”
Billy Hallquist “Persephone”
Richard Goldman “Sweethearts”
Olav Rixen & Ulrich Fausten “Pilgrimade”
Naomi Lewis “More Beautiful”
Jerry And Nancy Stevens “A Little Resolution”
Merrell Fankhauser “On Our Way To Hana”
Michael Angelo “Field Of Lonely Eyes”
Carm Mascarenhas “In The Sun”
Joe & Bing “Daybreak”
Philip John Lewin “Diamond Love”
Michael Yonkers "And Give It To You"

‘Studio One Classics’: Spanning 40 years of the legendary label, this album is a celebration of the music of Studio One Records and features a who’s who of Jamaican Reggae: Bob Marley, The Heptones, Horace Andy, Sugar Minott, Don Drummond, Prince Jazzbo and more. Comes in the striking ‘Wailers’ sleeve.

The apartheid boycott In the 80s, the world – rightly - stepped up its boycott against South Africa’s apartheid government. But this had unexpected and sometimes adverse consequences for South Africa’s music professionals and consumers. Musicians still needed to work live shows both at home and abroad, and to make and sell records. The youth still aspired to clubbing and partying at the weekend after hard, poorly paid jobs under the thumb of an oppressive government. Music was their sanctuary: specifically, African- American inspired soul, jazz, boogie, disco and funk.

Unique diversity producing musical excellence was nothing new for South Africa, even in the 80s: both traditional and jazz music of various genres had been performed, showcased and recorded for decades with the assistance of some of the most skilled and ingenious sound-engineers and producers in the world, the jazz players rivalling their American peers in many cases. But what makes Mzansi 80s popular music unique is that it had to – and for the most part, did- appeal to a multi-ethnic, multilingual population almost like no other in the world, for its geographical size. There may have been many tribal and political differences between Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Tsonga and others day-to-day, but when it came to the weekend, those differences often melted away for a while on the dancefloor. Paul Ndlovu had kwaZulu fans as well as Shangaan followers; Black Moses and the Soul Brothers had followers and fans with everyone..and so on. And everyone- detractors and lovers alike- were content to settle on the monicker ‘Bubblegum’ as a general description. Mzansi took disco- and slowed it down a bit.. ..exactly as 90s and early 2000s South African DJs and mixers took House- and slowed it down a bit to develop Kwaito, Gqom and – later – Amapiano. The Roland TR-707 sampler came along in 1985- at just the right time for the flowering of Mzansi disco and boogie. And in the artful hands of arrangers, engineers and producers such as Peter “Hitman’ Moticoe, whose work figures on several of the tracks here, it became something unique to South Africa.

TRACK LISTING

1. Tsakane
2. Johnny Boy
3. Crocodile's Rock
4. I Was Born In Africa
5. Don't Follow Me
6. Special Angel
7. Blackout
8. Ximamane
9. Dayshift
10. Khombora Mina
11. Pusa Twala
12. Nwananga Washanesera
13. Ku Hluvukile Eka Zete
14. Chomesa

Albert "Alchemist" Thompson's Promise Land, an EP featuring vocals from reggae & dancehall greats Frankie Paul, Joseph Cotton, Prince Malachi & Anthony John, representing a musical collection that has gradually evolved, matured & marinated over the course of the past 32 years - now finally seeing it's first ever release.

Albert Thompson (brother to the great Peter Chemist) was chief engineer at the storied I&I Sound Recording Studio after it moved it's base from Los Angeles to Jamaica in 1989, working with a wide range of heavyweight artists such as Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs & many many more. During some studio downtime in early 1991, Albert laid down the rhythm track (itself a take on Aswad's Love Fire riddim, made most famous by Dennis Brown's iconic Promised land vocal track) with musical assistance from Tony Thomas.

16 years and a move to London later, Albert had founded his Alchemist Recording Studio on Brixton's Acre Lane in a space above the legendary Supertone Records - recording dubplates with talented local artists and touring Jamaican artists alike. Digging out the Promise Land tape, he proceeded to cut these 4 vocals on the version during the course of 2007. Another 16 years gone, and after hearing the tracks following a chance encounter with Albert in South East London, we felt they were finally ready to see release!

TRACK LISTING

1. Frankie Paul - Serious Time
2. Joseph Cotton - Trod In Africa
3. Prince Malachi - Worldwide Poverty
4. Anthony John - Rise Above
5. Albert "Alchemist" Thompson - Promise Land Version

The tenth volume of Numero’s elaborately packaged Cabinet of Curiosities series, L80s finds the group exploring the far-flung corners of the global downtempo underground. This 12-song mix tape weaves icy hot coldwave, Sausalito seafood jazz, Glaswegian goth, makeshift Madonna, Sade spoofs, and Brat Pack balearic into a high-waisted, party-ready pair of danceable denim.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. Cheryl Glasgow - Glued To The Spot
2. Dianne Mower - The Secret Sign
3. Phoebe Cates - Feels So Good (Feels So Right)
4. Isabelle Antena - Naughty Naughty
5. Nika Rejto - More Than Just A Dream
6. Crow Johnson - You Got Me
SIDE B
7. Terry Garthwaite - Me To You
8. Suse Millemann - Patterns
9. Vazz - Breath
10. Elisa Waut - Being Strong
11. Antoinette & Jeff Phelps - Hear My Heart
12. DeMonica Flye - Someday You’ll See

Great compilation of funk / soul / disco / pop from the 70's including tracks from Barry White, Aaron Neville, Gwen McCrae, Positive Force, The Whispers and the classic Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting!!! What more could you want?!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Barry White - Any Fool Could See (You Were Meant For Me)
A2. Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa
A3. Aaron Neville - Hercules
A4. Al Jarreau - The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
A5. Timmy Thomas - Why Can’t We Live Together
A6. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Sun Is Shining

B1. Positive Force - We Got The Funk
B2. The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (Single Edit)
B3. Gwen McCrae - All This Love That I'm Givin'
B4. The Michael Zager Band - Let's All Chant
B5. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
B6. Patrick Hernandez - Born To Be Alive

From 1989 onwards, Richard was an obsessive collector of house and techno music, frequenting legendary London record shops such as Fat Cat, Silverfish, Trax and Red Records. He took record buying trips to New York to find second-hand disco, house and techno 12”s, which were lying around in bargain bins. The selection for this compilation are his own personal favourites from that era. Back then, electronic dance music was young, innocent and fun; it hadn’t been analysed, theorised and fragmented into the multi-genre industry it is today

What you hear on this compilation reflects what he was playing at that time; joining the dots between ambient, techno, tribal house, breakbeat and early trance productions from the UK. Much house and techno from the US, Belgium, Germany and Holland has been well documented, but some of the more obscure British productions are lesser known and need to be showcased.

Hopefully, these tracks will inspire and educate a new generation of electronic music fans who weren’t born then and also trigger some acid flashbacks for the older ravers as they take a trip down memory lane.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Centuras - Tokyo
A2 Bandulu - Amaranth - Love Lies Bleeding
B1 Strontium 90 - Rave On The Congo
B2 Orr-some - We Can Make It
C1 Biff'um Baff'um Boys - Bombing
C2 Epoch 90 - V.l.s.i. Heaven (Zone Mix)
C3 Mind Over Rhythm - Kubital Footstorm (Global Beatmix)
D1 Dream Frequency - Dream The Dream
D2 As One - Isatai
D3 Uvx - Elevator (Trancefloor Transporter)

Ed Banger Records turns 20 in 2023 . The famous iconic French Electro Label proudly presents his very first Best Of , entitled “Support Your Local Record Label (Best Of Ed Banger Records”)”. 10 Classic Club Hits from 2003 to now, from “D.A.N.CE” , “We Are Your Fiends” & “ “Baby I’m Yours” to “I<3 U So” & “The Sun” .

TRACK LISTING

1. Justice “D.A.N.Ce”
2. Breakbot “Baby I’m Yours”
3. Busy P “Genie”
4. Uffie “Pop The Glock”
5. Cassius “I<3 U So”
6. Justice X Simiian “We Are Your Friends”
7. Myd “The Sun”
8. Sebastian “Embody”
9. Mr Oizo “Positif”
10. Dj Mehdi “Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit) 

Welcome to Silberland - where the streets are paved with strobes. Home to neon lights, straight lines and open roads, this futurist fantasy was first founded in the mid-seventies, when Germany’s creative class chose musical therapy in order to indulge their shared hallucination of a new Europe. Fuelled by the catalytic fusion of globalisation and new technology, the world was turning ever faster and the kosmische generation were ready to keep the pace. With synthesisers, rhythm computers and human metronomes turned to a gallop, these electronic innovators set modernity to a motorik beat, and Bureau B’s second trip into Silberland cuts right to the thrust of the genre.

The set begins with the propulsive opener from Harald Grosskopf’s 1986 LP Oceanheart, in which pristine sequences play in counterpoint atop a mechanical kick, hurtling forward until the rest of the kit catches up. Live drums take centre stage for Cluster’s feverish “Prothese” and the time travelling “Elektroklang” by Conrad Schnitzler, which foreshadows industrial and techno innovations while maintaining a primal punch. You offer astral ascension on “Son Of A True Star”, weaving proggy square waves and pulsating arps around an irresistible shuffle from mysterious percussionist Lhan Gopal (Grosskopf in disguise), before the optimistic “Für Dich” fuses classic kosmische chords with Thomas Dinger’s pummelling beat. Asmus Tietchens’ detuned keys and drum machine samba are imbued with a punk spirit shared by Moebius Plank Neumeier’s discordant jazz-tanz jam “Search Zero”. “Beat For Ikutaro”, plucked from a mid 80s demo tape by Camouflage keyboardist Heiko Maile, swerves into icy electroid territories where moonlit melodies ride robotic riffs and a whirring low end. The cassette energy continues with the mechanised boogie of Lapre’s “Flokati”, a funkier take on the style in wonderful contrast with Adelbert Von Deyen’s breakneck, straight shooting “Time Machine”, a massively motorik night drive down the A7 which finally runs out of gas at the compilation’s midpoint. Günter Schickert takes us inside the fuel pump on the weird and watery “Puls”, while the charmingly disruptive Faust complete the pitstop via the blasted blues of “Juggernaut”, a fuzzbox stampede which builds from ratchet whirrs to a V8 purr in no time at all. Moebius & Plank return sans Neumeier for the deep and dubby “Feedback 66”, all murmured vocals and surging pedals powered by a seismic bassline from Holger Czukay, whose collaborations recur throughout the duo’s 1980 classic Rastakraut Pasta. Wheels spun and rubber burned, we move up through the gears via the airy tones of Roedelius to arrive at the high tension electronics of Serge Blenner’s “Phonique”, an anxious amalgam of insistent percussion and agitated sequences from the French import’s 1981 release. Moebius & Beerbohm’s “Subito” follows in a flurry of tribal drumming, guttural distortion and corrosive drone, a synthesised translation of punk spirit which mellows into the soft focus serenade of Tyndall’s “Wolkenlos”, a thrilling contradiction of pastoral motifs and breathless tempo. Pyrolator’s 1981 creation “180°” maintains the lightening pace, lurching forward in bursts of chaotic drum programming and sampler abuse, sending us spinning out into the strange beauty of Die Partei’s “Guten Morgen In Köln”. Enmeshing fragments of musique concrète and yearning guitar with throbbing sequences and a rigid rhythm grid, the duo signpost a melodic destination finally delivered by Streetmark keyboardist Dorothea Raukes under her Deutsche Wertabeit alias. A fitting finale, “Auf Engelsflügeln” radiates human warmth and cosmic wonder, serving electronic emotion from start to finish.

STAFF COMMENTS

Darryl says: Bureau B are one of the greatest labels in the game, and responsible for some of the greatest records in electronic music history, so when they bring you a compilation, you listen. Every bit as brilliant as you'd expect, this is a beautifully curated and perfectly paced cosmic synth tome.

TRACK LISTING

01. Harald Grosskopf - Eve On The Hill (bureau B Edit)
02. Cluster - Prothese
03. Conrad Schnitzler - Elektroklang
04. You - Son Of A True Star (bureau B Edit)
05. Thomas Dinger - Für Dich (bureau B Edit)
06. Asmus Tietchens - Bockwurst á La Maîtresse
07. Moebius Plank Neumeier - Search Zero (bureau B Edit)
08. Heiko Maile - Beat For Ikutaro (Tape 52) (bureau B Edit)
09. Lapre - Flokati (bureau B Edit)
10. Adelbert Von Deyen - Time Machine
11. Günter Schickert - Puls (bureau B Edit)
12. Faust - Juggernaut
13. Moebius & Plank - Feedback 66 (bureau B Edit)
14. Roedelius - Band 068 3 Bock Auf Rock (nicht Verwendetes Stück)
15. Serge Blenner - Phonique
16. Moebius & Beerbohm - Subito
17. Tyndall - Wolkenlos (bureau B Edit)
18. Pyrolator - 180°
19. Die Partei - Guten Morgen In Köln
20. Deutsche Wertarbeit - Auf Engelsflügeln (bureau B Edit)

After Larry Weinstein heard the 1985 tribute album Lost In The Stars - The Music of Kurt Weill, he was inspired to film the follow-up, September Songs – The Music of Kurt Weill. This 94-minute music video was recorded in an abandoned warehouse in Toronto where musicians performed a series of songs by Kurt Weill. The lineup included Lou Reed, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Elvis Costello, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, and David Johansen amongst others. September Songs was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural Program and won five Gemini Awards.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Nick Cave - Mack The Knife (From The Threepenny Opera)
2. PJ Harvey - Ballad Of The Soldier's Wife
3. David Johansen - Alabama Song (From The Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny)

Side B
1. Teresa Stratas - Youkali Tango (From Marie Galante)
2. Elvis Costello - Lost In The Stars (From Lost In The Stars)
3. Lotte Lenya - Pirate Jenny (From The Threepenny Opera)
4. Charlie Haden - Speak Low (From One Touch Of Venus)

Side C
1. The Persuasions - Oh, Heavenly Salvation (From The Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny)
2. Betty Carter - Lonely House (From Street Scene)
3. Teresa Stratas - Surabaya Johnny (From Happy End)

Side D
1. Mary Margaret O'Hara - Don't Be Afraid (From Happy End)
2. Lou Reed - September Song (From Knickerbocker Holiday)
3. Bertolt Brecht - Mack The Knife (From The Threepenny Opera)
4. William S. Burroughs - What Keeps Mankind Alive? (From The Threepenny Opera)

Please don't call it Doo Wop! This is Vocal Group Madness!!! 14 Bam-A-Lam Vocal Group Rockers from the 50's & 60's for your next Dance Party. The album is a compilation of obscure and definitely rocking tracks from the archives of some of the coolest vocal harmony groups of the era, including The Ideals, The Eventuals, The Neons, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. Most of these tracks were previously only available on hard-to-find vinyl records and have been carefully remastered to bring them to their full sonic potential.

The highly esteemed, A7 Edits lines up Volume 6 in their much sought after, official edits series. Four feel good dancefloor re-works of obscure Afro-disco gems, plucked from the extensive Africa Seven vaults.

Opening up the EP, John Talabot & Pional take on Cameroon’s Ekambi Brillant giving a deep electronic twist to ‘Afrika Afrika’ before Ghana’s Gyedu Blay Ambolley gets his disco funk heater ‘Highlife’ re-edited by Alan Dixon.

On the B, another double dose of Cameroonian cuts, as Jacques Renault breathes new life into the jazz funk joint from Michael Amara - New Bell and Pasteur Lappe’s standout hit ‘Na Real Sekele Fo Ya’ gets a housed up edit from Escapade.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Ekambi Brillant - Afrika Afrika (John Talabot & Pional 'Lost Scripts')
A2. Gyedu Blay Ambolley - Highlife (Alan Dixon Edit)
B1. Michael Amara - New Bell (Jacques Renault Edit)
B2. Pasteur Lappe - Na Real Sekele Fo Ya (Escapade Edit)

50's Rhythm & Blues with an eye on Caribbean/Latin sound. Here is a collection of fine and long forgotten examples, but without the Pig Latin that Louis Jordan or Slim Gaillard were so famous for. We dug deep in the vaults, recorded from very good 78s or old shiny vinyl, that was as closest as possible to the original quality. - Hit dat Jive and dig it! 

É Soul Cultura Vol. 1 seemed to land at exactly the right moment. Post-lockdown, optimism was back on the rise and the dance floors swelled again. For many listeners, Manchester based DJ Luke Una's intriguingly woven pattern of new, old, rare and under-discovered music from around the world became the soundtrack to rejuvenated positivity. Piccadilly Records (that's us!) made the release their top compilation of the year, with Rough Trade placing it as their number two. The enthusiasm from the industry was mirrored by record buyers and demonstrated that in the right hands, moving through genres, tempos and decades can make perfect musical sense.

This second volume gives another opportunity for Luke to share his journey of the past four decades of staying up late and getting transcendental whilst listening to holy grail music as the city slept. It at times ventures into the deeper, spiritual, soulful, downtempo, experimental aspects of his tastes. From the conscious, street soul fusion gospel of Veronica Mickie's 'Lost Children', to an excursion into Swiss, psych, progressive rock in the form of Pyranha, then onto the classic Indian music-inspired electronic workout of Andi Otto's 'Bangalore Whispers'. Luke hints at his softer side in Avis; a sweet, obscure cover version of Minnie Riperton's 'Baby, This Love I Have', as well as championing local heroes in the shape of Manchester's Yargo and their driving, obscure, proto-house belter, 'Marimba'. There's also Japanese, electronic, slo-mo heaviness from 1979, courtesy of Bach Revolution. House music is integral to the É Soul sound and is represented by Nav Aktah's deep remix of Mr Scruff, and then there's Isis 'In Essense'; a track of such majestic brilliance that it has never left Luke's record bag.

The selection is eclectic, global, and plucked from different times and spaces. In theory, perhaps they shouldn't work together, but there is a mysterious link that makes them gel as a whole. That's what Luke does best. He creates a sort of musical alchemy, unifying the diverse.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: There's a reason Luke's first compilation was such a massive hit in the shop, and Volume 2 takes all of the afterparty energy of the first and stretches the outer limits of the sound field into more spiritual, off-piste excursions. Perfectly collated, researched and presented.

TRACK LISTING

Real Thing - Children Of The Ghetto
Avis - Baby, This Love I Have 
Veronica Mickie - Lost Children
Rare Silk - Storm (Arp Duppy Chip Mix)
LFO - Shove Piggy Shove
Bach Revolution - D.E 108
Andi Otto - Bangalore Whispers (feat. MD Pallavi)
Unnayanaa & Irfan Rainy Feat Ibtisam - Taht Min Aini (Alberghina Remx)*
Michael De Albuquerque - We May Be Cattle But We All Got Names
Pyranha - Clepsydre
Yargo - Marimba
Okyerema Asante & Black Fire - Play A Sweet Rhythm On Them Drums (feat. Plunky)
Mr. Scruff Feat. Nke - Giffin (Taken Re-edit Speechless Dub Mix)
Isis - In Essense
Frank Hatchett - Malibu Nites

* Vinyl Only Track.

After a bit of down-time, Spacetalk Records returns with something special: a stunning compilation of obscurities, rare cuts and secret weapons compiled by label co-founder Danny McLewin under his Skyrager alias.

Although most widely known as one half of Psychemagik, McLewin has long been regarded as one of the UK’s most decorated crate-diggers – a DJ and record dealer recognised for his ability to unearth slept-on gems, private press obscurities and campfire-friendly curios. He’s already showcased his curatorial skills on a string of acclaimed and now sought-after comps – see Psychemagik’s Magik Cyrkles, Magik Sunrise and Magik Sunset Pt 1 & 2 – but Traces of Illusion marks the first time McLewin has put together a collection as Skyrager.

There’s no grand concept behind Traces of Illusion, though McLewin’s selections are universally tactile, sun-baked and effortlessly summery, evoking images of nights spent camped out in the Californian desert or beneath the vibrant canopy of an English forest at dusk. As you’d expect, there are no well-known anthems or ‘big tunes’ here, just an inspired selection of largely unknown musical nuggets oozing in quality.

For now, the track list is under wraps but you can be sure there are plenty of highlights to savour amongst the 15 tracks which all add up to an eye-opening, head-soothing journey through the dustiest corners of McLewin’s record collection.

• Ace Records is thrilled to be working with seminal singer-songwriter, toast of this year's Olivier Awards and all-round Sheffield legend Richard Hawley on this, the first volume of a compilation series of some of his favourite singles. This is a selection of 28 7''s that Richard has collected on his travels around the globe, through friends, family, collectors, word of mouth, thrift shop finds, pub jukebox gems and everything in between. Richard refers to the glue that joins these selections together as 'Little Bangers' as they are all mini hand grenades; bright lights that explode and fizzle out, some big names, some rarities, some lost souls, some obscurities, some by artists he actively enjoys knowing almost nothing about other than they want to get him on his feet and dance. Many are garage instrumentals, exposing the guitar-line as lead melody and the art of telling a story without lyrics.

• As Richard puts it, 'I’m fascinated by the 7-inch single because of the discipline of it. A 7-inch single can only contain a certain amount of information... So, you have to learn the discipline of cramming all that information and craft into a short space of time. If you imagine this album as a piece of bacon, there’s absolutely no fat on it at all. It’s just juicy meat. There aren’t flabby recordings, they are very nimble.'

• We're extra proud that the Hendrix Estate have allowed us to include Curtis Knight & The Squires' ferocious and never previously licensed 'Hornet's Nest' which naturally we proudly kick off with. We feature the five-minutes-plus long version that has never been released before. The pace never slackens, taking in the Shadows, Link Wray, the Troggs, the Champs, Jimmy Gordon and so many more besides. It's joyful, it's relentless, and you can listen to it on repeat for a thousand miles.

To give Richard the last word: 'My advice to everybody, is keep on the surfboard, motherfucker. These records have kept me on my surfboard for decades, you know what I’m saying?'

STAFF COMMENTS

Laura says: Richard Hawley was schooled on rock’n’roll; his dad was a musician in the 60s and 70s and growing up he was always surrounded by musicians. So, it’s no surprise that he’s compiled these 7” gems from that era, collected on his travels. As he says: “They’re called Little Bangers because they’re like miniature musical hand grenades!”

TRACK LISTING

SIDE ONE
1. HORNET'S NEST –
Curtis Knight & The Squires Feat. Jimi Hendrix
2. NASTY - The Time Keepers
3. PATH THROUGH THE FOREST - The Factory
4. GET ON THIS PLANE - The Premiers
5. SCOTCH ON THE SOCKS - The Shadows
6. QUASIMOTO - The Road Runners
7. LAZY REBEL - Twangy Rebels
SIDE TWO
1. SWINGING DRUMS - Ronny Kae
2. CUTTIN' OUT - Rockin’ Ronald & The Rebels
3. HONKY - The Ho-Dads
4. BLACK NIGHT - Cheryl Thompson
5. LONG LINE RIDER - Bobby Darin
6. POPPIN' POPEYE - Link Wray
7. HOT-ROD - King Curtis
SIDE THREE
1. FEELS LIKE A WOMAN - The Troggs
2. CUTTIN' OUT - The Pirates
3. WHERE YOU GONNA GO - Art Guy
4. NEB'S TUNE - Ahab & The Wailers
5. BUZZZZZZ - Jimmy Gordon
6. JUNGLE WALK - The Dyna-Sores
7. SURFIN' & SWINGIN' - Les Brown Jr
SIDE FOUR
1. TAHITI - Jimmy & Stan
2. BAWANA JINDE - Al Duncan
3. DEAD END PART 1 - The Executioners
4. REQUIEM FOR LOVE - Bobbie Gentry & Jody Reynolds
5. 3/4 MASH - The Champs
6. EL GATO - The Chandelles
7. IT’S NOTHING TO ME – Sanford Clark

After a long break, Dub Disco is back with a special package of magical edits. Georg Wedel gets us underway with the exotic, lilting, soft-rock belter "König Dub", which is suitably littered with drifting tape delays as Wedel chops up elements with a deft hand. Aussteiger switches tact for a southern flavoured, porch-rock groove with gospel undertones and irresistible guitar line. No idea where he's dug this from but it's pretty special indeed.

Onto side B and Polyplay deploys a swung, 3/4 future dubber, complete with soulful beatdown vocals on "Durch die Nacht". Craftsmen concludes this head turning set with "Desperado" which pairs pitched up female vox to a rigid breakbeat and gentle subs; a curveball end of night track that completes this odd ball but infectious set beautifully. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Another well sourced and re-jigged smattering of oddball dance music from the Dub Disco cartel. Certain to cause head turns, beard twiddles and forceful track ID requests.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Georg Wedel - König Dub
A2 Aussteiger - Yusuf Dub
B1 Polyplay - Durch Die Nacht
B2 Craftsman - Desperado

Since launching in early 2020, Claremont 56’s Claremont Editions series has served up two impeccably curated and lovingly curated compilations of label rarities, unheard archive cuts and brand-new music. Two years on from the release of the second volume, C56 boss Paul Murphy has finally got round to compiling a third instalment, and as you’d expect it’s full of attractive, sun-soaked treats.

The set introduces us to a handful of label debutants. German collective Neumayer Station, a group who emerged from the same musical and social circle as existing Claremont 56 artists Fürstattl, contribute two cuts: ‘Unterführung’, an evocative, low-slung, reverb-laden fusion of krautrock and horizontal psychedelic dream-pop featuring Fürstattl’s Frank Mollena and Patrick Göbel, and the subtly jazz-flecked krautrock hypnotism of ‘Crossings’, a cut whose atmospheric intent and well-placed dub delays make it undeniably Balearic.

Speaking of Balearic, experienced musical daydreamer Mike Salta finally makes his Claremont 56 bow, joining forces with regular collaborator Marty Mortale on the deliciously tactile, warming, electric piano-sporting sunset shuffle of ‘Seashore Redemption’. The final new addition to the C56 family is Taichi Arakawa, the DJ/producer behind Japan’s Café Goofy. His track, ‘Ocean Sunrise’, is a gorgeously dreamy and kaleidoscopic shuffle through drifting synth-sax, slow-motion beats, immersive pads and layered synthesizer melodies.

As with its predecessors, Claremont Editions Volume Three also boasts fresh, unreleased material from label stalwarts. Jpye, whose Samba With You album was one of the label’s highlights of 2021, once again joins forces with regular collaborator Renato – and newcomer Michael T – to deliver a dose of club-ready Balearic samba smothered in glistening jazz guitar licks, lazy synth solos and languid electric piano licks (‘Va Là-Bas).

Ferdi Schuster, who released his sole album to date on the label back in 2019, offers up the pastoral, folksy and hand percussion-heavy brilliance of ‘The Fuzz Version’, while C56’s own in-house trio, Hillside (AKA Paul Murphy, Alex Searle and Patrick Dawes) deliver the utterly gorgeous and cinematic ‘Pole Vault’ – a delightful hat-tip to classic library music featuring brilliant brass and string arrangements from Michele Chiavarini.

Rounding off another excellent package are two remixes from the vaults: Bosq’s pitched-up, Latin-tinged Balearic jazz-funk interpretation of Hillside’s deeply personal and emotive ‘For Daniel’ (a revision previously only available digitally) and a previously unheard revision of Paqua’s ‘The Visitor’ from Idjut Boys’ Conrad McDonnell, a long-time friend of the label. His take is predictably magical and dubbed-out to the max, with Quinn Luke’s evocative vocals seemingly drifting above sparse, stripped-back beats, echoing guitars, hissing cymbals and hazy bass.

To complete the package, Claremont Editions Three features a specially commissioned cover painting from Andy Kehoe, an illustrator whose distinctively colourful, detailed and fantastical images are a perfect match for the vividly evocative music contained on the LP. 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Hillside - Pole Vault
A2. Hillside - For Daniel (Bosq Remix)
B1. Mike Salta & Mortale - Seashore Redemption
B2. Jpye & Renato - Va La-Bas (feat Michael T)
B3. Taichi Arakawa - Ocean Sunrise
C1. Neumayer Station - Crossings
C2. Paqua - The Visitor (Conrad's Love Shark Mix)
D1. Neumayer Station - Unterfuhrung
D2. Ferdi Schuster - The Fuzz Version

Celebrating twenty-five years since its release as rgirl2 – the label’s first LP – Rocket Girl is reissuing its seminal compilation A Tribute to Spacemen 3 on double vinyl with spot varnish sleeve in May 2023.

First repress since its original release in May 1998.

Widely acclaimed at the time of its release (garnering rave reviews in the UK, US, Canadian and European music weeklies and monthlies), the collection sounds as fresh and inventive as it did three decades ago. Launched at a time when tribute albums were prevalent, A Tribute to Spacemen 3 stands apart from other covers albums in that it not only redecorates S3’s songs in a bold new palette of colours, but also acts as a time capsule documenting a very specific wave of 90s US and UK bands that shared many sensibilities – ‘postrock’ might be the catch-all genre, but their music also encompassed psych, slowcore, analogue electronica, dream pop and space rock to varying degrees – and many of whom (Mogwai, Low, Arab Strap, Bardo Pond) have gone on to reap major critical and commercial success, and are still thriving today. In 1998 the LP was a gateway for fans of Spacemen 3 to discover these relatively unknown experimental artists operating on small independent labels either side of the Atlantic – today it is a celebration of the timeless innovation and longevity of that scene.

As author Richard Milward states in Rocket Girl 20, the 2019 book illuminating the history of the label: ‘In no way is [the LP] a collection of imitators simply regurgitating Spacemen 3’s songs sound-for-sound – rather, the compilation celebrates the purity and bravery of Pierce’s and Kember’s song writing (themselves never averse to a transformative cover version) while showcasing the originality and diversity of those bands they have inspired.’ It is the simultaneous simplicity and otherworldliness of S3’s songs that make them perfect fodder for reinterpretation, the band’s ‘three chords good, two chords better, one chord best’ mantra providing a solid, tantalising foundation for these bands to experiment with freely. Throbbing and humming with equal parts euphoria and melancholia, over the course of the album’s 69 minutes the tracks slide from slithering stoner psych (Asteroid #4’s ‘Losing Touch With My Mind’) to hymnal delicacy (Amp’s ‘So Hot (Wash Away All of My Tears)’ and Mogwai’s crisp, glockenspiel-chiming ‘Honey’) to zero-gravity lounge jazz (Transient Waves’ closer, ‘Billy Whizz’). There are radical reworkings: the oozing fuzztone lava of Bardo Pond’s ‘Call the Doctor’, and not least Arab Strap’s startling take on S3 live mainstay ‘Revolution’, replete with aggressive, crunching drum machine and the lyrics delivered down the telephone in Aidan Moffatt’s laconic Falkirk drawl – ‘a change, a solution, a wee… a wee revolution’ – before its explosive climax.

A bonus addition to the original tracklisting, Füxa’s ‘Amen’ nestles seamlessly between Flowchart’s off-kilter lullaby-like ‘Ode to Street Hassle’ and Accelera Deck’s uplifting ‘I Believe It’. Purely instrumental through the 1990s, Rocket Girl stalwarts Füxa have employed various vocalists and experimented with cover versions in recent years, and founding member Randall Nieman provides his own voice for this transcendent take on ‘Amen’, the pulsating synths and defiant refrain (‘I don’t mind dying Lord… Amen, Amen, Amen…’) exemplifying what made Spacemen 3’s music so special: the blissful purity of repetition, and the ever sincere, everlasting call to take themselves – and the listener – higher.

Since its release, A Tribute to Spacemen 3 has not only opened the ears of S3 fans to these kindred artists, but also caught the attention of the Spacemen themselves. After hearing Low’s elegantly faithful rendition of ‘Lord, Can You Hear Me?’ – a track that feels all the more heart-rending today, after Low vocalist and drummer Mimi Parker’s passing in 2022 – Jason Pierce was inspired to rerecord the song himself for Spiritualized’s 2001 LP Let it Come Down, and reached out to Parker to provide backing vocals. As he told Electric Sound: ‘Her voice was astonishing. It was so pure it was like a soundwave.’

A Tribute to Spacemen 3 remains Rocket Girl’s fastest seller, the original 1000 glittery vinyl and 1000 CD box sets (the first 50 with bonus keyring and incense sticks, the ever-present scent at Rocket Girl HQ) having sold out rapidly upon release. While the 1998 artwork depicted the iconic S3 transmitter logo in silver foil on a sleek black background, the 2023 reissue recasts the sleeve in an aluminium-effect sheen, suggestive of a space rocket: the symbol that links both the Rugby band and this label. It is a special pairing. In reissuing the record, Rocket Girl once again invites fans of Spacemen 3 to discover these like-minded artists that have since become seminal in their own right – and today, the reverse is equally likely: fans may well pick up this LP on account of its inclusion of bands like Mogwai, Low or Bardo Pond and, through it, initiate themselves into the intoxicating world of Spacemen 3, a group whose bold legacy and influence shows no sign of fading

TRACK LISTING

A1) Bowery Electric ‘Things Will Never Be The Same
A2) The Asteroid No.4 ‘Losing Touch With My Mind'
A3) Mogwai ‘Honey’
B1) Flowchart ‘Ode To Street Hassle’
B2) Fuxa ‘Amen’
B3) Accelera Deck ‘I Believe It’
B4) Arab Strap ‘Revolution’
C1) Bardo Pond ‘Call The Doctor’
C2) Frontier ‘Hey Man’
C3) Low ‘Lord, Can You Hear Me?’
D1) Amp ‘So Hot (Wash Away All Of My Tears)'
D2) Piano Magic ‘How Does It Feel’
D3) Transient Waves ‘Billy Whizz’

• A 76 track celebration of all things Manchester from 1977 to 1981.

• A comprehensive look at the city’s sounds featuring Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order, The Fall, John Cooper Clark, Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, The Freshies, Slaughter & The Dogs, Magazine and many more.

• Includes tracks featuring many future stars of the Manchester music scene, such as Mick Hucknall (Simply Red), Martin Coogan (The Mock Turtles), Graham Massey (808 State), Mike Joyce (The Smiths) and Chris Sievey (Frank Sidebottom).

Back in 2017, Cherry Red unveiled a mammoth 7-CD compendium entitled ‘Manchester North Of England’, which attempted to document the city’s vibrant music scene from punk to Britpop. Six years on, ‘Keeping Control’ is the sequel, a modest triple-disc retrospective concentrating on music from the punk and post-punk years.

‘Keeping Control’ boasts the “name” bands out of Greater Manchester from that period, however, the underlying musical story of this box set lies with the lesser-known Manchester Musicians Collective. A catalyst for many musicians at the time, the MMC organised gigs, other activities and encouragement to the many and varied talents emerging in the region during punk and its aftershocks.

Louise Alderman, co-founder of the Manchester Musicians Collective, has written a foreword for the box set, which is named after the MMC’s short-lived fanzine. Via Louise’s band mate in Manchester Mekon, Frank Ewart, we also have a few previously unissued tracks by acts closely affiliated with the organization. At the time, the Collective was celebrated across two albums, ‘A Manchester Collection’ and ‘Unzipping The Abstract’ (both 1980) – and most of the artists from these releases are represented.

Beyond the MMC, Manchester enjoyed a thriving independent scene from 1977 onwards, inspired by Buzzcocks’ debut EP on New Hormones, Rabid, TJM, Object Music, Absurd, Bent and last but certainly not least Factory … each of them carved a different furrow. Outside of the gravitational pull of London, which exerted such a strong pull across the South of England, Manchester evolved its own unique identity, often mixing sharp humour with seemingly bleak, desolate-sounding music (reflecting the city’s hardship during that time).

STAFF COMMENTS

Darryl says: Following Cherry Red’s 2017 ‘Manchester North Of England’ 7CD box set, this trimmed down 3CD follow up concentrates on the punk/post-punk scenes. Across its 76 tracks ‘Keeping Control’ features Mancunian legends such as the Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order, The Fall, John Cooper Clark, Durutti Column, ACR, Magazine and many more.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1 BUZZCOCKS Orgasm Addict
2 SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS The Bitch
3 THE NOSEBLEEDS Fascist Pigs
4 THE DRONES City Drones
5 THE PANIK Murder
6 V2 Nothing To Do
7 JILTED JOHN Jilted John
8 GYRO Central Detention Centre
9 SALFORD JETS Lookin’ At The Squares
10 JOHN THE POSTMAN’S PUERILE Kawalski Of The Seaview Has Got The Best Hairstyle I’ve Ever Seen
11 ALBERTO Y LOST TRIOS PARANOIAS Fuck You
12 JOHN COOPER CLARKE I Don’t Want To Be Nice
13 THE TEARDROPS Pompous
14 PASSAGE Slit Machine
15 SPHERICAL OBJECTS Sweet Tooth
16 STEVE MIRO Smiling In Reverse
17 JOY DIVISION Digital
18 THE SMIRKS American Patriots
19 NOTSENSIBLES Lying On The Sofa
20 48 CHAIRS Psycle Sluts
21 EDDIE FICTION UFO Part 2
22 MELLOTRON Warriors From Space
23 SPEED She’s All There
24 GENOCIDE Renegade
25 SISTER RAY Suicide
26 EDDIE MOONEY & THE GRAVE I Bought Three Eggs
27 GERRY AND THE HOLOGRAMS

DISC TWO
1 THE FALL Flat Of Angles
2 STEROID KIDDIES Seaside Teaser
3 DIRECT HITS Back To The Sixties
4 FOREIGN PRESS Crossfire
5 CRISPY AMBULANCE Motorway Boys
6 I.Q. ZERO Insects
7 ACCIDENT ON THE EAST LANCS. We Want It Legalized
8 THE OUT Who Is Innocent?
9 GODS GIFT These Days
10 MUD HUTTERS Danger
11 PATHETIX Love In Decay
12 PRIVATE SECTOR Just Wanna Stay Free
13 THE FRANTIC ELEVATORS Hunchback Of Notre Dame
14 FAST CARS You’re So Funny
15 MISS KATE Ebony Eyes
16 GROW-UP The Best Thing
17 PROPERTY OF… Dance Like You’re Dead *
18 THE DISTRACTIONS Doesn’t Bother Me
19 THE DURUTTI COLUMN Sketch For Summer
20 BET LYNCH’S LEGS Riders In The Sky
21 THE HOAX Storm Trooper
22 MANICURED NOISE Metronome
23 MAGAZINE A Song From Under The Floorboards
24 VIBRANT THIGH Walking Away
25 ENIGMA Play With Fire
26 THE STILL 9.5
27 SPURTZ Boyfriends Or Your Money Back
28 THE CHARLIE PARKAS Space Invaders

DISC THREE
1 IF ONLY Puppet Masters
2 THE CHEATERS (I Wanna Be A) Policeman
3 MANCHESTER MEKON Must Have More Wheels
4 BATHROOM RENOVATIONS Apathetic Hell
5 THE LIGGERS Recorded Or Live *
6 SECTION 25 Knew Noise
7 THE DIAGRAM BROS. There Is No Shower
8 THE THINGS Pieces Of You
9 DISLOCATION DANCE Familiar View
10 MARTIN HANNETT The Music Room
11 BLUE ORCHIDS The Flood (Demo) *
12 KEVIN HEWICK Haystack
13 ELECTRA COMPLEX Magic *
14 HAMSTERS Animal
15 BITING TONGUES You Can Choke Like That
16 THE FRESHIES Wrap Up The Rockets
17 LUDUS Hugo Blanco
18 MOTHMEN Temptation
19 A CERTAIN RATIO Waterline
20 BEE VAMP Lucky Grills
21 NEW ORDER Everything’s Gone Green

Combines volumes 13 + 14 in the Exotic Blues & Rhythm series on one compact disc. Originally released on limited edition 10" vinyl! Enjoy amazing and danceable tunes from the late 50s and early 60s - a handful of Popcorn dancefloor smashs, a few grinding Tittyshakers, awesome Rhythm & Blues - most of them with an exotic twist! 27 tracks.

Yo! Boombox is the new instalment of Soul Jazz Records’ Boombox series on the early days of hip-hop on vinyl and features some of the many innovative underground first-wave of early rap and disco rap records made in the USA in the period 1979-83.

The album includes the first releases of seminal groups such as Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and The Funky Four Plus One More through to a host of rarities and little-known obscurities such as the Carver Area High School band’s ‘Get Live 83’, an awesome record made at a Chicago high school.

The album is released as a deluxe triple LP complete with 3x full inner sleeves of extensive sleeve notes, exclusive photography and original label artwork. There is also a very-limited one-pressing only special deluxe version that comes with an extra bonus super-rare 7” single of ‘Magic’s Rap’ by Magic’s Trick, aka ex-marine Magic Fraga, a record that was only ever available on US military bases! The album also comes as a deluxe double CD pack with 30-page booklet and slipcase.

Yo! Boombox also features the stunning photography of Sophie Bramly, one of a very select group of photographers (alongside Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, and Joe Conzo) who were allowed full access to document the exciting early days of hip-hop in New York.

These first exuberant wave of innocent, upbeat, party-on-the-block rap records were the first to try and create the sounds heard in community centres, block parties and street jams that first took place in the Bronx in the mid-1970s. Where the first DJs – Flash, Kool Herc and Bambaataa – were back-spinning, mixing and scratching together now classic breakbeat records like The Incredible Bongo Band’s Apache or Babe Ruth’s The Mexican, these first pre-sampling rap records were all made using live bands, often replaying then current disco tunes. As Chic’s ‘Good Times’ was to ‘Rappers’ Delight’, the songs here feature then-current dancefloor hits such as the Tom Tom Club’s ‘Genius of Love’, Cheryl Lynn’s ‘To Be Real’, MFSB’s ‘Love Is the Message’ while MCs rapped over the top, creating a unique new sound. In fact, the links between disco and rap date back earlier to the ‘party style’ MCing of figures such as the legendary DJ Hollywood or radio DJs like Frankie Crocker.

This new Soul Jazz Records collection celebrates these first old-school rap records, bringing together rare, classic and obscure tracks released in the early days of rap.

TRACK LISTING

Vinyl Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. The Carver Area High School Seniors - Get Live '83 (7.43)
2. Mike T - Do It Any Way You Wanna (6.53)
Side B:
1. Chapter III - Real Rocking Groove (Rap & Breaks) (6.34)
2. Sinister Two - Rock It, Don't Stop It (7.59)
Side C:
1. Sangria - To The Beat Y'all (5.18)
2. Funky Four Plus One More - Rappin' And Rocking The House (6.54)
3. The Just Four - Girls Of The World (Genius Rap & Breaks) (7.07)
Side D:
1. Eye Beta Rock - Super Rock Body Shock (8.42)
2. Funky Constellation - Street Talk (Madam Rapper) (9.49)
Side E:
1. Kool Kyle The Starchild - Do You Like That Funky Beat (Ahh Beat, Beat) (8.38)
2. The Just Four - Jam To Remember (6.56)
Side F:
1. Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five - Super Rappin' No. 2 (7.18)
2. Silver Star - Eei Eei O (7.16)

7" Single (comes With LP Format SJRLP530-7 Only)
A. Magic's Trick - Magic's Rap (4.19) MONO VERSION
AA. Magic's Trick - Magic's Rap (4.19) STEREO VERSION

CD Tracklisting:
CD1
1. The Carver Area High School Seniors - Get Live '83 (The Senior Rap) (7.43)
2. Mike T - Do It Any Way You Wanna (6.53) Click At 0.43
3. Chapter III - Real Rocking Groove (Rap & Breaks) (6.34)
4. Sinister Two - Rock It, Don't Stop It (7.59)
5. Sangria - To The Beat Y'all (5.18)
6. Funky Four Plus One More - Rappin' And Rocking The House (6.54)
7. The Just Four - Girls Of The World (Genius Rap & Breaks) (7.07)
CD2
1. Eye Beta Rock - Super Rock Body Shock (8.42)
2. Funky Constellation - Street Talk (Madam Rapper) (9.49)
3. Kool Kyle The Starchild - Do You Like That Funky Beat (Ahh Beat, Beat) (8.38)
4. The Just Four - Jam To Remember (6.56)
5. Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five - Super Rappin' No. 2 (7.18)
6. Silver Star - Eei Eei O (7.16)
7. Magic's Trick - Magic's Rap (4.19)

Imagine a world in which you are permitted, by a warlock, to go back in time to use an advanced yet primitive submarine to investigate the deepest waters in and around Japan, for the first time in human history. You are not permitted, but two Japanese scientists were allowed on such an aquatic adventure!

Here we have an underwater in-submarine field recording of their adventures, intermixed with a slippery-watery score, that surely represents the lurking fresh surroundings of the deep as they retreat further and further to the bottom of the ocean. The cameras, the retracting mechanical sea tentacle, their communication devices, are all audible now for you, as Deep Sea Animals is played out as a fresh digital radio play. All the audio has been preserved at Studio Isabellalei, by Milan W. from the original laserdisc, which was a part of the cinematic curatorial program at the opening for Spencer Clark’s album Avatar Blue, in Antwerp, Belgium.

With a purchase of the vinyl album of Deep Sea Animals on Pacific City Discs, you not only return to the prehistoric times of 1986, when two brave Japanese submarine pilots were to record deep underwater creatures, but you are also thus thrust back in time to Antwerp 2018, to a romantically titled, Event Horizon Cactus Cooler Laserdisc Theater. Just as well, the proceeds of this disk, tirelessly edited by Spencer Clark, will be donated to the preservation of the ocean, via the inspiring Sylvia A. Earle’s foundation, Mission Blue. Its not that you may or may not believe what I am now discussing with you, its that you can believe, because this disk is real, and thanks to Pacific City and Discrepant we will ride further into the super-natural realms of real life.

What an amazing experience,
Spencer Clark,
Athens 2023.

A globe spanning ( France, Italy, Germany, USA, Belarus, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Canada ) covers album of the late great Marc Bolan songs starting with the earliest cover in 1965.

Covering a huge range of genres and styles.

A response to the U.S Hit album Angel Headed Hipster which opened up the songs of Bolan to a new American audience by using big names and TV advertising …this concentrates on quality recordings by lesser known artists 

TRACK LISTING

CD Tracklist
Disc 1
1. Beyond The Rising Sun (Il Faut Trouver Son Coin De Ciel) - Sylvie Vartan
2.The Third Degree - Andy Ellison & Boz Boorer
3. Menthol Dan - Andy Ellison & Boz Boorer
4. Pictures Of Purple People - Automatic Shoes
5.Child Star - Witchwood
6.Chateau In Virginia Waters - Swervedriver
7. Stacey Grove - Marsha Hunt
8. Travelling Tragition - Fair Folk (CD Only)
9. Eminesque Head - Puretongue (CD Only)
10. Cat Black (The Wizard’s Hat) - Chris Connelly & The Liquid Gang
11. Lofty Skies - Automatic Shoes
12. Wind Cheetah - Catherine Lambert
13. Elemental Child - The Charms
14. Visit - Tarwater
Disc 2
1. Cosmic Dancer - Mair 
2. Lean Woman Blues - Alison MacCallum (CD Only)
3. Jeepster (Alt Version) - The Polecats
4. Raw Ramp - Black Bombers
5. Ballrooms Of Mars - Kelly Reilly
6. Spaceball Ricochet – Speedtwinn
7. Life’s A Gas - Mexican Dogs
8. Children Of The Revolution - Burn It To The Ground 
9. Life Is Strange ( Dziunaje Zyccio) - Illa Falazynski
10. Calling All Destroyers - Rachel Stamp
11. Soul Of My Suit - Chris Braide
12. Visions Of Domino - Schwefel
13. Prelude – Jewel - Buick Mackane

Vinyl Tracklist:
Side A
1.Beyond The Rising Sun (Il Faut Trouver Son Coin De Ciel) - Sylvie Vartan
2.Third Degree - Andy Ellison & Boz Boorer (Exclusive)
3.Pictures Of Purple People - Automatic Shoes
4.Stacey Grove - Marsha Hunt
5.Chateau In Virginia Waters - Swervedriver
6.Child Star - Witchwood
Side B
7.Cosmic Dancer - Mair (Exclusive) 
8.Wind Cheetah - Catherine Lambert
9.Elemental Child - The Charms
10.Visit - Tarwater
11.Cat Black ( The Wizard’s Hat ) - Chris Connelly & The Liquid Gang
Side C
12.Children Of The Revolution - Burn It To The Ground 
13.Lofty Skies - Automatic Shoes
14.Ballrooms Of Mars - Kelly Reilly
15.Spaceball Ricochet – Speedtwinn
16.Jeepster - The Polecats
17.Soul Of My Suit - Chris Braide
Side D
18. Calling All Destroyers - Rachel Stamp
19. Menthol Dan (Dan The Sniff) - Andy Ellison & Boz Boorer
20. Raw Ramp - Black Bombers
21. Life’s A Gas - Mexican Dogs
22. Life Is Strange - Illa FalaZynski
23. Visions Of Domino - Schwefel 

The popularity of Brazilian music from the 60s, 70s and 80s has experienced quite the renaissance; artists such as Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Arthur Verocai, Joyce et al, have become household names to an international audience passionate about global sounds.

However, even for die- hard fans and collectors of Brazilian music of the past, discovering contemporary Brazilian artists is not always easy, nor accessible. But, if you know where to look, you will see that there is a resurgence well underway that can be epitomised by an exciting new wave of Brazilian artists beginning to break through and gather momentum overseas. It's with thanks to Sound and Colours, a website devoted to promoting Latin American music and culture, that we can help shine a light on one particular collective, bursting with creativity and camaraderie.

'Hidden Waters: Strange and Sublime Sounds of Rio de Janeiro' is compiled by Joe Osborne (founder of specialist Brazilian music platform Brazilian Wax) and Russ Slater (editor at large of Sounds and Colours). Focusing solely on the 'Rio Scene', rather than taking on the mammoth task of tackling Brazil as a whole, this collection presents 20-plus ground-breaking artists selected from Rio's resurgent music scene. By presenting a snapshot into the pulse of the city and the vibrant musicians that live in it, 'Hidden Waters' collates tracks from a wide spectrum of musical genres from the avant-garde edge to bossa nova, samba, Candomblé, lofi rock, jazz and funk.

'Hidden Waters' showcases musicians such as iconic Rio mainstays Negro Leo & Ava Rocha, Brazilian jazz upstart Antônio Neves, critically lauded Avant- pop trailblazer Thiago Nassif, breakthrough artists Ana Frango Elétrico and Letrux, lofi psych rocker Lê Almeida, plus the Latin Grammy-winning Bala Desejo who are set to explode onto the world stage. The music featured on 'Hidden Waters' is unequivocally Brazilian, swelling with samba, bossa nova, funk, and jazz. But it's within the album's blend; from sunny psychedelia to dusky synth- pop via experimental electronics, that marks the compilation as the sound of modern, multicultural Rio.

This comprehensive compilation comes with album artwork designed by Rio music's leading album artwork designer, Caio Paiva. It features essays by professor and music critic Bernardo Oliveira and music journalist Leonardo Lichote, plus extensive notes on each track by the artists themselves.

Featuring ground-breaking artists from Rio's resurgent music scene, intent on bringing an avant-garde edge to bossa nova, samba, jazz and funk.

TRACK LISTING

Ana Frango Elétrico - Saudade
Pedro Fonte - Clichê
Bala Desejo - Lua Comanche
Ava Rocha - Boca Do Céu
Exército De Bebês - Avós Da Experiência
Thiago Nassif - Soar Estranho (feat. Arto Lindsay, Vinicius Cantuária & Gabriela Riley)
Negro Leo - Mulato
Mari Romano - Amélie
Rosabege - Sigo Num Site Mármore
Dora Morelenbaum - Vento De Beirada
Cadu Tenório & Juçara Marçal - Candombe - La Cacundê Iauê
Jonas Sa - Gigolô
Troá - Bandeide
Marcelo Callado - Simbora (feat. Silvia Machete)
Ovo Ou Bicho - Moços
Lê Almeida - Apreço Antigo
Vovô Bebê - Briga De Família (feat. Ana Frango)
Joana Queiroz - Dois Litorais
Raquel Dimantas - Flecha Azul
António Neves & Thiaguinho Silva - Das Neves
Letrux - Dorme Com Essa
Os Ritmistas - Sambolero

It's time to face the music. Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful. Featuring a stellar line-up of tracks perfect for any hero saving the galaxy.

TRACK LISTING

1. "Creep" (Acoustic Version) - Performed By Radiohead
2. "Crazy On You" - Performed By Heart
3. "Since You Been Gone" - Performed By Rainbow
4. "In The Meantime" - Performed By Spacehog
5. "Reasons" - Performed By Earth, Wind And Fire
6. "Do You Realize??" - Performed By The Flaming Lips
7. "We Care A Lot" - Performed By Faith No More
8. "Koinu No Carnival" (From "Minute Waltz") - Performed By EHAMIC
9. "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" - Performed By Alice Cooper
10. "San Francisco" - Performed By The Mowgli's
11. "Poor Girl" - Performed By X
12. "This Is The Day" - Performed By The The
13. "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" - Performed By Beastie Boys
14. "Dog Days Are Over" - Performed By Florence + The Machine
15. "Badlands" - Performed By Bruce Springsteen
16. "I Will Dare" - Performed By The Replacements
17. "Come And Get Your Love" - Performed By Redbone

Elkka’s deep intuition is the unifying thread throughout Cardiff-born DJ and producer’s illustrious career. Vibrant releases for Local Action, Ninja Tune and her own label and party, femme culture, have marked her as an unstoppable force within the London underground. This recognition metabolised when she was awarded BBC’s prestigious Essential Mix of the Year in 2021, spotlighting her radiant blend of classic house, breakbeat and experimental electronica to the world over.

As the next curator of DJ-Kicks, Elkka is voyaging through rave euphoria. “This is a really special moment for me because DJ-Kicks has been a formative part of my musical education,” she says. An intoxicating journey through Chicago house and disco, leftfield techno, UK bass and electro-punk, Elkka conjures up an atmosphere that is as primed for the club as it is the listener’s interior world. 

TRACK LISTING

CD Tracklist:
01. Elkka - Attention, Lovers
02. Shake - Music Is The Only Way (I Can Communicate)
03. Paula Tape - Panamericana
04. Dauwd - La Nota
05. East-West - Can’t Face The Night (Club Mix)
06. Omri Smadar, Roy Shpilman - Adama
07. Pelada - No Hay
08. Herbert - Keep Time (Nobody)
09. UK Electro, Gerd Janson - ICA Beats Part 1 (Gerd Janson Edit)
10. Dan Curtin - Particle Dawn
11. Carli - Lights & Strobes
12. Jensen Interceptor - Lean Before The Interview
(Ft. Assembler Code)
13. Surusinghe - BAD GIRLS
14. Elkka - Hands
15. Anna Wall - Memories
16. Hodge, Peder Mannerfelt - All My Love
17. Mark Broom - Silenced Part 2
18. Elkka, Jeigo - Body
19. Jeigo - IHaint
20. Villager - Monocyclical
21. Breaka - Living
22. Mark Pritchard - Give It Your Choir Ft. Bibio
23. Patty Waters - Why Can’t I Come To You


LP Tracklist:
A1. East-West - Can’t Face The Night (Club Mix)
A2. Omri Smadar, Roy Shpilman - Adama
B1. Herbert - Keep Time (Nobody)
B2. Dan Curtin - Particle Dawn
C1. Jensen Interceptor - Lean Before The Interview (Ft. Assembler Code)
C2. Elkka - Hands
C3. Hodge, Peder Mannerfelt - All My Love
D1. Elkka, Jeigo - Body
D2. Villager - Monocyclical
D3. Breaka – Living

Delving into the deepest recesses of raï, this compilation serves as a tribute to its roaring years, but also as a rejuvenation of the genre in its sulphurous, subterranean version.

Through the pre and post-independence years, from 1950 to 1970, raï urbanised itself, with a generation listening to the traditional sounds, but also and mostly listening to twist, French variété and rock music. Including 6-page booklet with liner notes in French and English and download code.

TRACK LISTING

Cheb Hindi - A Moi La Libert?
Houari Benchenet - Malika
Chab Mohamed Sghir - Khalouni
Chaba Fadila - Kii Kount Ouelite
Cheb Tahar - Djehida
Cheb Djalal - Mohal Nahna
Benchenet - Ghir Hiya Salbetni
Cheb Kader - Reggae Ra?
Chab Hamouda - Zahri Mate
Cheb Khaled - Li Bini Ou Binek
Nordine Sta'fi - Rouh Ya L'mersoul
Chaba Amel - Lala Kusti
Chaba Malika Meddah - Sid Houari Ya Mlah
Tchier Abdelgani - La'roussa Jate?

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2023 EXCLUSIVE.


Soul Jazz Records’ new Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul: Gospel, Funk and Soul at the Crossroads 1971-83 is a one-off limited-edition heavyweight special-edition coloured vinyl pressing + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2023.

The album draws upon the extensive links between black American gospel music and soul music, showing how the sensibilities of gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Andraé Crouch and others crossed over into secular soul music during this period.

Many of the most successful soul artists – from Aretha Franklin to Al Green, The Staple Singers to Sam Cooke – all drew upon their upbringing in the church for their musical inspiration. This album discusses how important the links between the black church and soul music were in creating soul music and spotlights some of the many important (and also little-known) gospel artists who walked this line between sacred music and soul, funk and disco in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul shows how sacred gospel music was at home with Stevie Wonder, Blaxploitation-style funk and produced music celebrated both in New York’s underground discos (The Paradise Garage, Studio 54, etc) and later sampled by the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Mary J Blige.

TRACK LISTING

A
1. Andraé Crouch & The Disciples - Satisfied (3.07)
2. Shirley Caesar - Jesus Children Of America (4.19)
3. The Meditation Singers - Trouble's Brewin' (5.01)
B
1. The Clark Sisters - You Brought The Sunshine (5.49)
2. Dorothy Norwood - Let Your Feet Down Easy (2.42)
3. Shirley Caesar - Jesus Is Coming (3.50)
4. Swan Silvertones - If You Believe Your God Is Dead (3.11)
C
1. The Alvin Darling Ensemble - Is There Anybody Here? (3.24)
2. Roscoe Robinson - There's A Creator (3.10)
3. Destiny - Nothing Can Stop Me Now (2.57)
4. The Meditation Singers - Good Old Gospel Music (4.32)
5. Keith Barrow - Everything Is Gonna Be Alright (3.07)
D
1. Roscoe Robinson - Elijah (2.33)
2. Dyson's Faces - Till I've Got This Feelin' Of Love (3.45)
3. The Violinaires - The Upper Way (3.24)
4. Leomia Boyd And The Gospel Music Makers - Higher In Jesus' Love (2.53)
5. Keith Barrow - The Right Road Now (3.06)

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2023 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

Soul Jazz Records’ new 20th anniversary one-off limited-edition heavyweight specialedition coloured vinyl pressing + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2023 of Soul Jazz Records’ classic Studio One Ska. 

A blistering collection of non-stop Ska classic tunes from Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s legendary Studio One Records, Jamaica's foundation label of reggae music. Featuring classic cuts from the originators of Ska alongside a heavy dose of superb rarities from the mighty vaults of 13 Brentford Road - pure fire!

Studio One Records and the seminal in-house band The Skatalites created and defined Ska in the process making Jamaican music famous throughout the world. This compilation features classic vocal and instrumental tracks from The Skatalites, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Delroy Wilson alongside super-rare tracks from the likes of Ken Boothe, The Maytals, Jackie Mittoo, Tommy McCook and many more.

Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s musical empire was founded on Ska, the first explosive and most exciting music to come out of the newly independent Jamaica, which soon spread across the world. This album is a celebration of the music of Studio One Records’ seminal Ska releases and features a who’s who of the most important artists and musicians in the history of reggae. Studio One is often described as both the University of Reggae and the Motown of Jamaica.

“Utterly brilliant collection of Ska music. Essential stuff” - Q 

"There are a million ska compilations around, but this selection outshines them - yet another blinder from Soul Jazz“ - Wallpaper 

"This shows the Soul Jazz Records vault digger’s gold standard of quality” - Mojo

“Every side collected here is a classic” - All Music

TRACK LISTING

A
1. Jackie Mittoo – El Bang Bang
2. Ken Boothe & Stranger Cole – Arte Bella
3. The Wailers – (I'm Gonna) Put It On
4. The Skatalites – Addis Ababa
B
1. Roland Alphonso – President Kennedy
2. Joe Higgs – (I'm The) Song My Enemies Sing
3. The Skatalites – Beardsman Ska
4. Delroy Wilson – I Want Justice
C
1. Tommy McCook's Orchestra – Sampson
2. The Ethiopians – I'm Gonna Take Over
3. Tommy McCook – Freedom Sounds
4. The Maytals – Marching On
D
1. The Skatalites – Exodus
2. Roland Alphonso – Look Away Ska
3. Don Drummond – Don Cosmic
4. Roland Alphonso – Scambalena
5. Andy & Joey – You're Wondering Now

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2023 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 22ND ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.



IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 24TH).





New one-off limited-edition heavyweight special-edition coloured vinyl pressing + 28-page booklet insert + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2023 of Soul Jazz Records’ ‘Gipsy Rhumba: The Original Rhythm of Gipsy Rhumba in Spain 1965 – 1974’.



Soul Jazz Records’ Gipsy Rhumba is the first album ever outside of Spain to focus on one of the most exciting musical culture clashes ever that first took place in the early 1960s.



Primarily known as the creators of Flamenco, Gypsies from the Catalan region of Spain came up with a fascinating hybrid style – Gipsy Rhumba – which blended together Latin and Rhumba music of Cuba and the Caribbean together with their own Flamenco, as well as the emerging Rock and Roll from America.



The extensive booklet contains definitive sleevenotes by the musicologist Jose Manuel Gómez, record designs and stunning photography from the celebrated photographer Jacques Leonard.



“A capsule of supercharged clapping and joyous vocals’” - The Guardian



“Must-have’ ‘You all know Gipsy Kings’ blend of flamenco and Latin rhythms … but where did this convergence of Latin music styles occur? This compilation demonstrates how mid-1960’s Barcelona hot-housed gypsy musicians who employed the rumba rhythm… Gipsy Rhumba unearths a forgotten corner of Europop” - The Sunday Times



“Musicologists aren’t the only ones who will enjoy pulling at the threads that bind this particular sound clash … Messing with the traditional form is daring at any time, but the result was something quite fantastic, potent and intriguing, full of marvellous grooves and compelling rhythms” - Irish Times

TRACK LISTING

A
1. Rabbit Rumba – Nuestro Ayer
2. El Noi – Labios Morenos
3. Los Gitanos Polinais – En El Fondo Del Mar De Lima
4. Antonio González – Sarandonga
5. Peret – La Fiesta No Es Para Feos
B
1. El Gitano Portugués – Fui A Bahía
2. Maruja Garrido – Ché Camino
3. Juncal Y Sus Calistros – Tequila
4. Moncho Y Su Wawankó Gitano – Orisa
5. Peret – Voy, Voy
C
1. Dolores Vargas "La Terremoto" – Anana Hip
2. Chango – El Guapo
3. Ramonet Y Sus Rumberos – Bacalao Salao
4. Lola Flores Y Antonio González – Meneíto Men
5. Dolores Vargas "La Terremoto" – A-Chi-Li-Pú
D
1. El Noy – El Loco
2. El Noi – Sí, Compay
3. Chacho Y Sus Rumbas – El Pan Y Los Dientes
4. Maruja Garrido – Amanecí En Tus Brazos
5. Antonio González – Levántate

As Wigan Casino celebrates its 50th Anniversary you may be forgiven for thinking that those hallowed All-Nighters are but a fading memory from a time passed by. That couldn’t be further from the truth! The impact that it had on the thousands that attended the regular Saturday night gatherings was profound. The spirit of the Casino lives on in the hearts and souls of the faithful and is honoured by the multitude of Soul Nights, All-Nighters, All-Dayers and Weekenders up and down the country throughout the years. Gone, but not forgotten! The term “Northern Soul” was coined a few years before the inaugural All-Nighter at Wigan Casino – 23rd September, 1973 – but it certainly came of age during its unprecedented eight year reign. It is also encapsulated in the three songs featured here that, collectively, became known as the “Three Before Eight”. The last three records played every Sunday morning, signalling the end of the all-night session. This special edition anniversary release features all three legendary tracks, and for the first time, sequenced in the same running order as they were played.

TRACK LISTING

1. Time Will Pass You By
2. Long After The Night Is Over
3. I'm On My Way

A brand new volume in the successful Stag-O-Lee series titled Exotic Blues & Rhythm. Enjoy amazing and danceable tunes from the late 50s and early 60s - a handful of Popcorn dancefloor smashes, a few grinding Tittyshakers, awesome Rhythm & Blues - most of them with an exotic twist! 14 songs on nice 10" vinyl (only)!

Future Jazzers, notorious experimentalists and outfield eccentrics stumble onto the dancefloor. In the 90s. In the UK.

From an electronic music perspective, the period 1992 to 1996 in the UK that this compilation celebrates, was one of dizzying sonic diversification.

It was also a particularly turbulent time in the UK, not only politically and economically, but also culturally too. Economic catastrophe in ‘92 was followed by widespread poverty, a cost of living crisis and countless political scandals. Meanwhile, John Major’s Tory government pandered to its political base via unpleasant, authoritarian legislation that seemingly sought to crush rave culture, alternative lifestyles, and traveller communities. The UK was not so much a ‘Happy Land’ – to quote the name of this compilation – as an angry and divided one. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Throughout, the music created by producers based across these Isles remained uniquely British, speeding up a process begun in the late 1980s through the emergence of street soul, bleep & bass and breakbeat hardcore – musical styles whose roots in multicultural inner-city communities made them distinctly different from the Black American sounds that had inspired their creators. It was here, rather than in the indie pubs of Camden, that real musical revolutions were taking place.

This deep diving selection brings together some truly adventurous and original electronic music from this period, much of it very hard to find. Major label outings connect with white label oddities with ease. Perhaps it could even be argued that many of these unearthed gems fit more easily into DJ sets in 2023 than they ever did at the time. The off-kilter swing of Richard D James’ obscure and highly sought after Strider B outing, ‘Bradley’s Robot’ is joined by further rare cuts from Cabaret Voltaire and the Black Dog, and artists as diverse as Ultramarine, Herbert, Fretless AZM, and Radioactive Lamb, amongst others.

This collection has been lovingly selected, compiled and mastered for maximum sonic playback. This very special release boasts sublime pastoral themed artwork, as well as informative and passionate liner notes by celebrated music scribe Matt Anniss (‘Join The Future’).

TRACK LISTING

A1. Cabaret Voltaire - Soul Vine (70 Billion People)
A2. Ultramarine - Happy Land (ft. Robert Wyatt)
B. Thunderhead The Word By Eden - True Romance
C1. Xeper - Carceres Ex Novum
C2. Herbert - Housewife
D1. Liquid Son - Big Decision
D2. Syzgzy - Meditation

Gather together beneath the sun as we journey through the rhythmic sands of time, Paul Hillery, an esteemed collector and vinyl hunter, presents his follow-up to the highly acclaimed "We Are The Children Of The Sun." Andrew Male of MOJO Magazine calls the album "One of the most emotionally uplifting and hazily beautiful compilations of recent years." "Once Again We Are The Children Of The Sun" is a shimmering collection of rare finds, reminding us that we have more to connect us than to divide us.

The music encompasses a broad range of sounds, starting in Cajun country with Will & James Ragar, their handmade acoustic guitars allowing for soaring vocals. Along with many of the tracks featured on this compilation, "As the Day Grows Tired" is reissued on vinyl for the first time. Experience the previously unreleased cover of "Milk and Honey" featuring Kat Barnard and Greg Foat, a versatile mainstay of the UK jazz scene. Discover the first-ever vinyl release of "Kayenta Crossing" by William Eaton Ensemble, capturing the austere presence of Monument Valley. Immerse yourself in Wendy Grace's jazz-folk masterpiece "More Than Hope" and the acoustic ambience of "Golden Hour" by Aria Rostami.

Paul Hillery and BBE present a compilation of styles and genres, fusing together to make private press wants accessible as a springboard for further listening pleasures. "Once Again We Are the Children of the Sun'' is an eclectic selection mixing styles, year and tempo, painstakingly gathered and presented with a great deal of love.

STAFF COMMENTS

Darryl says: Another Paul Hillery compilation, and this one’s the follow up to last year’s impeccable ‘We Are The Children Of Sun’. His legendary crate digging talent shows no sign of drying up with these amazing obscure psych, folk, rock and jazz gems from across the world.

TRACK LISTING

1. As The Day Grows Tired - Will & James Ragar .
2. Crazy Days - Forest
3. Free And Easy - Cunningham Corner
4. More Than Hope - Wendy Grace
5. Tight Tonight - Bengt Liedman
6. Soul Shadow - Corill
7. Come And Take Me By The Hand - Varela
8. Just A Thought - Just Us
9. Time - Mike Baumann & Thom Huntington
10. Write Your Lucky Number - Darrell John
11. Going Back In Time - The Freeze Band
12. Ice Cold - Godspeed
13. Moonshine - Orion
14. Milk And Honey - The Greg Foat Group Feat. Kat Barnard
15. Golden Hour - Aria Rostami
16. Fate (Demo) - Bugatti & Musker
17. Peace Train - Garth Fletcher
18. If Life Was A Ferris Wheel - Mark Capanni

"We've now been at this since 2010 and over the years we've really tried to deliver the kind of house music (and beyond) that we would play, listen and dance to ourselves. We really tried to avoid the dangerous traps of following trends which in the long run can water down labels to just a music portal instead of a music brand with character.
Basically, we aim to deliver our own musical personality via artists and producers that we love and respect. To sum things up, we are proud to present ‘Local Talk - 13 Years Later’.

Hard to believe 13 years of soulful grooves, jazzy house and funky broken beats have passed through the pressing plants of Local Talk. Proudly long serving and independent with a justifiable loyal following. Ahead of a full compilation we get four exclusive tracks that’ll you’ll only find on this 12” sampler. From the tumbling beats and bright pianos of “Real Change” by Soul Renegades to the moody organs and squelchy bass of Nico Lahs “Happenstance” via the swirling deep house of “Light Years Away” (Wipe The Needle) and frenetic high speed jazz of The James L'Estraunge Orchestra’s “Broken Spells” - it’s a thoroughly Local Talk flavoured affair throughout. Recommended. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Local Talk celebrate thirteen years in the business with a various artists EP showcasing their current, highly skilled roster. It's jazzy house fusion all the way as the team deploy the LT patented blends of spacey keys, swung drums and live instrumentation. A winning formula that's kept the label at the front of the more tasteful disc jocks across the world for well over a decade.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Soul Renegades - Real Change
A2. Wipe The Needle - Light Years Away
B1. The James L'Estraunge Orchestra - Broken Spells
B2. Nico Lahs - Happenstance

This is a compilation of sweet soul and R&B from Plut Records. 11 tracks (7 unreleased) mostly by Lenus Guess. A couple of moody instrumentals are featured, but vocal harmony groups are heard for the most part. And for the most part this music has been silent since it was recorded and put back on the shelf. Each cut is transferred from master tapes. And for those who want to know about the people, the time and the place; it’s Norfolk, Virginia - early to mid seventies. Extensive liner notes with 8 page insert and full color sleeve. For fans of Tramp, Numero, AOTN, and the first Plut record by Raw Soul. Recommended!

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Lenis Guess/The Royal Robins - No Steps Away
2. Little Wink/Eddie's 25th Century Band - Sentimental Love (instrumental) 
3. Jack & The Mods - Don’t Wake Me Up
4. The Symbolics - Find Yourself Another Baby
5. Deltones Ltd - Keep My Company With You
6. Deltones Ltd - You Don’t Believe I Love You

Side 2
1. The 35th Street Gang - Your Love Gave Me Peace Of Mind
2. Jato Vondel - You Don’t Miss Your Water (Til Your Well Runs Dry)
3. Jato Vondel - How Long Have I Been A Fool
4. Deltoned Ltd - You Don’t Believe I Love You (instrumental) 
5. The Symbolics - Home Ain’t Home

Hey Hey Hey!!

Once again, following the first 3 volume in the "Blues With A Rhythm" serie, we are giving the incredible voices of Rhythm N'Blues, the ability to shout! these recordings are carefully compiled in their rare original 45 rpm glory mastered to LP format. Hey! Hey! The blues are Alright!

Feat – Lloyd Price, Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez, Ricky Allen, Billy Lamont and more..

Hoo Wee Sweet Daddy!

Once again, following the first 3 volume in the "Blues With A Rhythm" serie, we are giving the incredible voices of Rhythm N'Blues, the ability to shout! these recordings are carefully compiled in their rare original 45 rpm glory mastered to LP format. Hey! Hey! The blues are Alright!

Feat Roy Brown, Billy Lamont, Paul Gayten, Billy Bland and more..

Hey Miss Fancy!

Once again, following the first 3 volume in the "Blues With A Rhythm" serie, we are giving the incredible voices of Rhythm N'Blues, the ability to shout! these recordings are carefully compiled in their rare original 45 rpm glory mastered to LP format.
Hey! Hey! The blues are Alright!

Feat Roscoe Shelton, Harold Burrage, Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppers and more..

After a year of sold-out tours, thousands of vinyl sales on their imprint In Dust We Trust, and their fifth Boiler Room set, New Zealand siblings Chaos In The CBD round off a decade-spanning career with a ‘fabric presents’ mix. The duo’s grasp of house music history is showcased as they create a slick and nostalgic journey through the genre’s hidden gems – making it fabric’s most challenging licensing project to date, with much of the music available digitally for the first time. Louis and Ben see the project as an ode to those underappreciated tunes that made a huge impact on them. Their exclusive ‘Higher Elevation’ blends in with the rest as an everlasting house cut with its delicate dreamy keys, fluffy bass and a groovy loop. The highlight-heavy comp boasts a personable album cover shot in Egypt, adding an extra layer of individuality to this stand out release.

TRACK LISTING

VINYL:
A1 Chaos In The CBD - Higher Elevation [fabric Records]
A2 Ronin - Romantic Yearnings [Night Lights]
B1 J.D. Hall - Into You (Johnathan Morning Mix)
B2 Raymond Castoldi - The Jungle [X-Ray Records]
C1 Hanna - You & Me [Room Records]
C2 Miquifaye Ft Javairia Ali - Never Let You Go (Cosmic Vision Vocal Pass) [Metaphor]
D1 Psychedelic Research Lab - Tarenah (Chill Mix) - 2021 Remaster [Gyroscopic Recordings]
D2 Z-Formation - Secret Departure [Hi-Bias Records]

CD:
1. Paradise Presents Afrikali - Out Of The Jungle (Dancing Flute Mix) [Easy Street Records]
2. Z-Formation - Secret Departure [Hi-Bias Records]
3. Turntable Terror Trax - Fingers [Low Frequency Recordings]
4. Hanna - You & Me [Room Records]
5. Ronin - Romantic Yearnings [Night Lights]
6. Chris Brann - Journey To The Centre [Peacefrog Records]
7. Miquifaye Ft. Javairia Ali - Never Let You Go (Cosmic Vision Vocal Pass) [Metaphor]
8. Raymond Castoldi - The Jungle [X-Ray Records]
9. Psychedelic Research Lab - Tarenah (Chill Mix) - 2021 Remaster [Gyroscopic Recordings]
10. Deep Sided - Fly You [Chicago Deep]
11. Joshua - Worry No More [Prescription]
12. The Element - Oh You Got Me (The Deeper Than Deep Mix) [Nervous Records]
13. Byron Burke Presents Komputer Kidz - String Section [Nettwerk Productions]
14. Chaos In The CBD - Higher Elevation [fabric Records]
15. Dana Kelley Aka Dr. Pompeii - Sassparilla Tea (Deep Dub Mix) [Fourth Floor Records]
16. Brothers Of The Undergound - Gotta Love [MixxRecords]
17. The Logic Box - Seven [Adult Only Records]
18. JUZU A.K.A. MOOCHY - Lugar Precioso (The Drums De Fuego Version) [Sacred Rhythm Music & Cosmic Arts]
19. Blak Beat Niks - I’ll Be There (Kerri Chandler’s Brazilian Vibe) [Large Records]
20. Morada - Night On Earth (Alex Neri Dub Mix) [DWBoys]
21. Box Clever - I'll Eat You (If You Were A Box) [Conceive Records]
22. Sound Clash Republic - Raunchy After Dark [Junk Rock Records]
23. J.D. Hall - Into You (Johnathan Morning Mix) [Sunfire Records]

Bongo Bongo Bongo! The mere uttering of the word conjures up dreams and images of parties, beaches, tropical vacations, beatniks and poets, goatees and cha-cha heels, drinking espresso in coffee shops, and of the freedom of the road while getting your kicks on Route 66.

Fuzzy dice, bongos in the back. Bongo Rock! Bongo Fury! Bongo Madness! Beat on a pair of bongos and watch the party begin! SOME SKIN is designed to get that party started. Just throw the platter on the Hi-Fi and let it spin. We've put together a group of rare selections, the majority of which are previously unreleased and come from quite possibly the most diverse group of individuals to ever metaphorically step foot onto a bongo comp. Dig?

TRACK LISTING

Inspector Bongo - Jack Costanzo
Wild Percussion - Tak Shindo
Singing Bongos - Rena Hall
Where's Tim Schellenbaum's Violin? - Jill Kroesen
Cinco Sin Titulo - Herb Schoenbohm's Quintet Ipanema (Ft. Manfredo Fest)
Escuadron De Policia - Jack Costanzo
Why Don't You Go To Hell! (Quero Que Va Tudo Pro Inferno) - Herb Schoenbohm's Quintet Ipanema (Ft. Manfredo Fest)
Cigarillo - Jack Costanzo
Bongo Birthday Surprise - Nicholas Carras
Trinidad Blues - Rena Hall
Where's Tim's Guitar? - Jill Kroesen
Boyle Heights - Jack Costanzo
The Idea Of The Greater Age - Sun Ra & His Arkestra

The Mothership has come! It has arrived in the form of the strictly limited collection box “Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe”, containing all singles released on the label between 2019 and 2021. The Höga Nord – galaxy resounds of all good between strict electro and loose jams, fluffy krautrock and moist world music to underwater techno and space funk. Although, what it is that defines the Höga Nord sound is not genres, instead it is, to cite Mathias Nilsson, founder of and boss for the label, music “strongly connected to fantasy, to the creative world.” Creativity over profit!

The collection is an overview on Gothenburg’s underground music and on an international scene that breathes similar air as the local Swedish acts that Höga Nord Rekords has chosen to highlight. The kinship between Jesse’s 80’s varnish sports car-electro and Purple Desert Rain God’s more traditional mountain sound can appear distant but the artists come together in their free spirited approach to their own productions – what all acts on this collection has in common is that they move toward something new, something beyond the genre they are in.

“Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe ” mark the closer for Höga Nords first run. The 2010s are over and the 2020s lies open for further investigation of the cream of the Swedish and international of underground scenes!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Cosmic, EBM, DnB, drug-chug... it's all there in this 3rd crucial, catch-all collection from our Gothenburg buddies. One of our favourite labels of recent times - the DIY aesthetic and stylistic direction is some of the strongest around and their roster, varied, innovative and highly creative! In short, an imperative and beautiful release - not least because of the sexy silk scarf that you get alongside the records!

TRACK LISTING

Record 1 - A. Global Tracks - Hither Green
Record 1 - B. GlobalTracks - Shelley
Record 2 - A. Kanot - Bottenmannen
Record 2 - B. Kanot - La Danse Des Corneilles
Record 3 - A. Tecwaa - Cï
Record 3 - B. Tecwaa - Xentæh
Record 4 - A. Dame Bonnet - Portamento
Record 4 - B. Dame Bonett - Dark, Slow
Record 5 - A. Birds - Transcendental Phases
Record 5 - B. Birds - Tunnel Vision
Record 6 - A. Purple Desert Rain God - Invisible Matter
Record 6 - B. Purple Desert Rain God - Bridge To Nowhere
Record 7 - A. Jesse - Possibilities
Record 7 - B. Jesse - Shazzy
Record 8 - A. The Exorcist GBG - Stonerdisco
Record 8 - B. The Exorcist GBG - Superstandard
Record 9 - A. Timothy J. Fairplay - Pathfinder Theme
Record 9 - B. Timothy J. Fairplay - UFOs Over China
Record 10 - A. Pink Skull - Taki Chrome
Record 10 - B. Pink Skull - Strummer Maxx

Dance Craze is a 1981 concert film recorded at various venues throughout 1980 at the height of the 2Tone movement featuring exclusive live recordings by The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat, Bad Manners and The Bodysnatchers. This new expanded edition features the previously unreleased 27 track soundtrack, along with the original 14 track vinyl album, remastered from the original production masters.

TRACK LISTING

Nite Klub (Film Soundtrack Version)
The Prince (Film Soundtrack Version)
Ne- Ne- Na- Na- Na- Na- Nu- Nu (Film Soundtrack Version)
007 (Shanty Town) (Film Soundtrack Version)
Three Minute Hero (Film Soundtrack Version)
Ranking Full Stop (Film Soundtrack Version)
Big Shot (Film Soundtrack Version)
Concrete Jungle (Film Soundtrack Version)
Swan Lake (Film Soundtrack Version)
Razor Blade Alley (Film Soundtrack Version)
Missing Words (Film Soundtrack Version)
Let's Do Rock Steady (Film Soundtrack Version)
Lip Up Fatty (Film Soundtrack Version)
Madness (Film Soundtrack Version)
Too Much Too Young (Film Soundtrack Version)
On My Radio (Film Soundtrack Version)
Easy Life (Film Soundtrack Version)
Rough Rider (Film Soundtrack Version)
Man At C&A (Film Soundtrack Version)
Inner London Violence (Film Soundtrack Version)
Night Boat To Cairo (Film Soundtrack Version)
Twist And Crawl (Film Soundtrack Version)
Wooly Bully (Film Soundtrack Version)
Too Much Pressure (Film Soundtrack Version)
Mirror In The Bathroom (Film Soundtrack Version)
One Step Beyond (Film Soundtrack Version)
Nite Klub (Reprise) (Film Soundtrack Version)
Concrete Jungle (Album Version)
Mirror In The Bathroom (Album Version)
Lip Up Fatty (Album Version)
Razor Blade Alley (Album Version)
Three Minute Hero (Album Version)
Easy Life (Album Version)
Big Shot (Album Version)
One Step Beyond (Album Version)
Ranking Full Stop (Album Version)
Man At C&A (Album Version)
Missing Words (Album Version)
Inner London Violence (Album Version)
Night Boat To Cairo (Album Version)
Too Much Pressure (Album Version)
Nite Klub (Album Version)

Before I’m gone I’d like to see us turn the corner and give up being spoilers of the land . . . In 1975 Wallace ‘Wally’ Smith Broecker published a paper that popularised the term ‘global warming’ and against a backdrop of change and environmental uncertainty, a musical concept album was commissioned. ‘Wilderness America / A Celebration of the Land’ – is a musical exploration of our place within the cycle of living things. All compositions were specially commissioned for the album and blended with natural sounds recorded in the wild – lending the entire project a conceptual air that still feels fresh today.

The journey begins with the sun rising in the atmospheric haze of ‘Dawn’ – a track composed by new-age innovator Iasos. Gospel singer Walter Hawkins soon drops in with the soulful but ever so funky ‘Metropolis’ backed by a heavy array of session musicians with Patrick Gleeson, Ed Bogas and Tom Salisbury all adding their own misty magic to the album. David Riordan is the sorcerer conjuring up many of the compositions and also takes vocal duties on the evocative ‘Mountain’ and the climatic ‘Before I’m Gone’.

‘Wilderness America / A Celebration of the Land’ was born when environmentalist Emily DeSpain Polk assembled a group of California residents to participate in a groundbreaking conservationist project. Christening the group SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preservation) Emily needed funds and began a project to produce a promotional nature based music album. To acquire the financial backing Emily would need to source a musician of some calibre. Contacting Cliff Branch from ‘Warehouse Sound Co.’ she was told the man she was looking for was David Riordan. David Riordan had been around the music business for several years, first with The Yankee Dollar, then Sugarloaf and then Sweet Pain, he saw huge success with the single ‘Green Eyed Lady’. David had worked on Cliff Branch’s ‘Warehouse Sound Co. & Friends’ albums and then released his solo album, ‘Medicine Wheel’.

But bored of touring he made the move to more concept-driven albums. First with ‘Christmas in San Francisco’ and then, in quick succession, ‘Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land’. Riordan, along with Peter Scott, a music producer friend in San Francisco, began piecing together an idea for the album. They brought in Ed Bogas to do string arrangements and Tom Salisbury to conduct. David had also asked his friend Patrick Gleeson if he knew of any R&B/Gospel singers in the Bay Area, and they soon added gospel singer Walter Hawkins into the mix. Other than the track ‘Metropolis’, which was recorded in LA, the rest of ‘Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land’ was recorded and mixed by Richard Beggs at the San Francisco studio of Francis Ford Coppola.

Coppola was filming ‘Apocalypse Now’ at the same time – so in between studio sessions, the musicians were able to view the seemingly never-ending film rushes arriving from the Philippines. Eventually, the record produced by David Riordan and Peter Scott drifted onto the radar of vinyl obsessives and selectors as several of its key tracks began popping up on mixtapes and sales lists. It wasn’t long before this privately pressed, art-funded masterpiece became something of a holy grail for collectors. At long last, a re-issue of this masterpiece is now available on EBALUNGA!!! Records.

Paul Hillery – May 2022.

Paul is a heathen, conceivably, but not, I hope, an unenlightened one, who’s handpicked compilation albums have been released on the labels BBE and RE:WARM – he is also the curator at Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours.

Attention, we are here "undercover", there are no well-known covers. Some of the tracks selected are rare, others unknown or forgotten - but all are excellent and blended in an impeccable mix, in line with previous the Harlem Shuffle compilations... All Killer, No Filler! Reggay undercover is an exciting musical kaleidoscope of Jamaican and Reggae music from the early 60s through to the mid 70s.

In the 1950s, Jamaican dancehall regulars were crazy about the haunting sounds of American Rhythm & Blues. But in the mid-1950s, Rock 'n' Roll began to replace RnB in America, and Jamaican dancehall owners like Duke Reid and Clement Dodd turned to local musicians to record their own versions of American RnB. The trend of covering foreign hits exploded during the Ska heyday of the early 60s and continued through the Rocksteady and Reggay eras. Jamaican musicians have covered virtually every genre of music, from jazz and rock to film scores, television soundtracks, pop, classical music and more. Over the years, they have also recorded many "versions" of already existing covers. Cover of cover of cover… Admittedly, some of these covers were futile but many were sublime as this new and eclectic collection of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggay nuggets, compiled by the very competent and very charming D.J. Héléa, brilliantly demonstrates.

For the first time on vinyl, here are the most celebrated bangers and anthems from the Colombian label TraTraTrax, including last summer's hit 'Xtasis' by Nick León, DJ Babatr and Pearson Sound. Gotta say - I'm sure the hook of that "Xtasis" track has been used by some reality TV show! Anyway, it's a hard-edged, high energy Colombian dance classic which Pearson Sound galvanzes further on his remix
. 
Ecuador's Nicola Cruz continues to push the boundaries of electronic music with his ancenstral and exotic tropes rushing through "Se Pone Caliente" - all gated to bugger giving it a very hollographic feel.  

Finally "Metal Parce" is remixed by Badsista and sounds like a mix of UKF snares, tumbling cumbia rhythms and a tribal mentality. Sure to get hammered by everyone from Ben UFO to Bradley Zero. Big tip on this record folks!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tasty global dance record which is hard to categorize but easy to enjoy.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Nick León Feat. DJ Babatr - Xtasis
A2. Nick León Feat. DJ Babatr - Xtasis (Pearson Sound Remix)
B1. Nicola Cruz - Se Pone Caliente
B2. Luca Durán Feat. Parco Palaz - Metal Parce (Badsista Remix)

Jorge Ben is surely one of the world's greatest all-round musical artists He is internationally renowned and vastly influential as a vocalist, musician, performer and phenomenal songwriter. Famed for penning 'Taj Mahal', which was the source for Rod Stewart's 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?', and also 'Mas Que Nada', one of Brazil's most iconic anthems, Jorge Ben is a powerful musical force. A simple glance at his impressive back catalogue reveals a master of his craft, with a depth and quality that is seldom paralleled. For 'Tudo Ben' we take a side-step, focusing on Jorge Ben's songs that have been performed by other artists. Complied by Mr Bongo, Greg Caz and Sean Marquand, this collection features the Brazilian legends Elza Soares, Claudette Soares, and Wilson Simonal, alongside prodigious artists such as Marijô, Os Brazoes, and Doris Monteiro to name but a few. The selection covers a wide range of genres including samba, bossa nova, MPB and batacuda workouts. Many of the songs featured have become staples in Mr Bongo DJ sets over the years and are some of our most loved classics. As with many of history's great songwriters, Jorge Ben's songs transcend genres and styles, they can be covered and reinterpreted, yet the quality of the writing holds up to the standard of the original. In the dark days of the mid to late 2000s when the end of vinyl seemed inevitable, Mr Bongo released 'Tudo Ben' on CD only. Years later, they finally get to put this right and present it for the first time on vinyl with alternative artwork by Mr Krum.

TRACK LISTING

Tracks: Salinas - Tenha Fé, Pois Amanhã Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer
Elza Soares - Pulo, Pulo
Sonia Santos - Speed
Osmar Milito - Rita Jeep
Wilson Simonal - Zazueira
Osmar Milito - Quem Mandou
Doris Monteiro - Se Você
Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear
Wilson Simonal - Que Pena
Osmar Milito - Morre O Burro, Fica O Homem
Os Originais Do Samba - Lá Vem Salgueiro
Os Brazões - Carolina, Carol Bela
Wilson Simonal - Crioula
Claudette Soares - Eles Querem É Amar
Os Incríveis - Vendedor De Bananas
Wilson Simonal - Brasil, Eu Fico
Cyro Aguiar - Rei Do Maracatu
Wilson Simonal - Resposta
Elza Soares - Mas Que Nada
Wilson Simonal - País Tropical
Os Originais Do Samba - Cadê Tereza
Marijô - Fio Maravilha
Os Originais Do Samba - Tenha Fé, Pois Amanhã Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer
Os Brazões - Que Maravilha
Os Mutreteiros Grilados - Cosa Nostra
Os Originais Do Samba - Falador Passa Mal

‘Studio One Space-Age Dub Special’ is a brand new Studio One release on Soul Jazz Records which draws on more rare and classic dubs taken from the mighty vaults of Studio One Records.

Most of these tracks are taken from Studio One’s superb long out-of-print series of dub albums released between 1974 and 1980, such as ‘Zodiac Sounds’, ‘Ital Sounds and System’, ‘Roots Dub’, ‘Dub Store Special’, ‘Juks Incorporation’ and others. Many of these classic dub albums were originally released only in Jamaica in shortrun pressings with special silk-screen printed sleeves, all with striking minimal designs, and which now fetch many, many hundreds of pounds.

These tracks, credited to the Dub Specialist, use the original music tracks to seminal Studio One rhythms, which are broken down, reconstructed, and manipulated using the studio mixing desk as an instrument. With these albums, producer Clement Dodd and engineer Sylvan Morris helped create some of the finest dubs ever known.

The cover shows Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd in orbit, an image inspired by DJ Lone Ranger‘s 1982 ‘Badda Dan Dem’ album for Studio One, the cover of which portrays Sir Coxsone at the controls of a spaceship with the DJ in space.

The tracks on ‘Studio One Space-Age Dub Special’ are mainly instrumental cuts with occasional snippets of original vocals brought into the mix. Lone Ranger’s complete vocals feature on ‘A Lie Gal A Tell’, a superb six minutes plus dubbed out piece of musical madness. Also included are a selection of rare dub versions that only ever appeared on rare singles.

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Intriguing release (all new releases), credited to Dub Specialist yet mining the wealth of Studio One-released source material to create shimmering new dubscapes that refract the past through a space echo and a reverb. Dub heads will need no convincing on this one!

TRACK LISTING

1. Dub Specialist - Red Neck
2. Dub Specialist - Marcus Dub
3. Dub Specialist - Accra
4. Dub Specialist - A Lie Gal A Tell
5. Dub Specialist - Squash Dub
6. Dub Specialist - Pick Up The Version
7. Dub Specialist - Saucy Perila
8. Dub Specialist - RoaringReggae
9. Dub Specialist - Still Water Version
10. Dub Specialist - My Man (Part 2)
11. Dub Specialist - Disco Dub
12. Dub Specialist - Tricky
13. Dub Specialist - Illiteracy Version
14. Dub Specialist - Wailing Sounds
15. Dub Specialist - Juk’s Inc.
16. Dub Specialist - Barb Wire Version
17. Dub Specialist - Queen Of The Rub
18. Dub Specialist - I A See I

Blacklips Bar: Androgyns and Deviants — Industrial Romance for Bruised and Battered Angels, 1992–1995 is a compilation combining original recordings and select DJ tracks from the vaults of Blacklips Performance Cult, a collective of underground performers, artists and drag queens who took to NYC’s Pyramid Club stage every Monday night at 1 am to perform original plays. The broad spectrum of emotional expression, ferocity, humour and transgression evident in these collected recordings are a further indication of the group’s oeuvre.

In 1992, ANOHNI founded Blacklips Performance Cult with collaborators Johanna Constantine and Psychotic Eve. Originally intended as a cabaret and DJ night, the constellation of people drawn to Blacklips soon melded into a late night ensemble in which members took turns writing scripts that were then performed by the group. Blacklips continued a tradition of urban queer subcultural resistance embodied within the writings of Jean Genet, John Rechy, and the post-punk feminist Terence Sellers. Inspired by Lotte Lenya, Candy Darling, and Leigh Bowery, Greta Garbo and Sister Dimension, performers took the stage primarily to entertain and address each other, while entertaining late-night thrill seekers.

Staging collectively conceived plays set Blacklips apart from other expressions of creativity in nightlife of the era, aligning the group with predecessors such as The Cockettes, Angels of Light, Bloolips and Theater of the Ridiculous. Blacklips members built sets from garbage and industrial refuse that they found in the streets of the East Village, in homage to Jack Smith and the aesthetics of post apocalyptic punk. The group staged spectacles that were alternately surreal, slapstick, emotional and absurd. This weekly laboratory also served as the first showcase for ANOHNI’s music. Some plays included gory revisions of Jack the Ripper and Frankenstein. Offerings such as Clayworld functioned as intergalactic morality plays.

Satirical appropriations of Josef von Sternberg’s The Blue Angel, Adrian Brook’s The Glass Arcade, and Boys in the Band, feasted on a century of queer culture. Plays such as Death! and The Funeral of Fiona Blue often ended with “a pile of dead bodies” on stage, reflecting the impact AIDS was having on the downtown scene.

Androgyns and Deviants places you squarely within the shiny black brick walls of the main dance floor at the Pyramid, bathed in shards of light from the disco ball, waiting for the show to begin amongst a gaggle of stragglers, queens, and voyeurs. A montage of sound bites, original recordings, and Blacklips DJ favorites emanate a sense of Blacklips bar’s joie de vivre. Remastered original recordings by ANOHNI, including an unreleased version of “Rapture,” as well as the never before released composition “The Yellowing Angel” suggest the feeling of suspension that would sometimes interrupt the hysteria.

Also included on the Androgyns and Deviants compilation are DJ tracks by artists including New York legend Joey Arias in his incarnation as BIllie Holiday, LA death rock founder Rozz WIlliams, avant-garde icon Diamanda Galás, UK punk pioneer Dave Vanian, underground actress Edith Massey, London surrealist Leigh Bowery and his band Minty, and the fictional characters Meng and Ecker, a pair of transsexual menaces who wrought nightmares across an anarchic landscape, the brainchild of Manchester publishing house, Savoy. Studio recordings by Blacklips stars add depth to the mix, including "Your Cigarette” by Blacklips duo coke, James F. Murphy’s hardcore camp bonanza “Satan’s ‘Lil’ Lamb”, Sissy Fitt’s “Sister Morphine” and Ebony Jet’s soulful rendition of Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love”.

Dialogue, sound effects and ambient textures counter the raging gender panic of Princess Tinymeat’s “Angels in Pain” and Divine’s defiant Hi-NRG anthem “You Think You’re A Man”. This cacophony of passion, stark violence, beauty, heartbreak and maniacal humour suggests a lost world in which you might once have wandered into a bar on Avenue A late at night and paid $5 to see The Revenge of Blacklips, The Ghosts of the Pyramid, The Shysters, Death, CHOP!, or What a Lovely Day to Control The World, catching a glimpse of one of the final expressions of queer subculture in NYC prior to the advent of the internet and social media. .

TRACK LISTING

DISC 1
SIDE A
1. Shoot Yer Load - Meng & Ecker
2. Good Morning Heartache - Joey Arias
3. Punks, Get Off The Grass - Edith Massey
4. Ladies And Gentlemen - ANOHNI (as Precious Liar)
5. Satan's Lil' Lamb - James F. Murphy
6. Janet Vampire - ANOHNI And Pearls
7. Stairs - Uncertain Journey - Christian Death
8. Disrupt Their Lives - Vito Russo (with Gary Reynolds)
9. Rapture - ANOHNI (as Fiona Blue)
SIDE B
1. Double-Barrel Prayer - Diamanda Galás
2. Sister Morphine - Sissy Fitt
3. Natasha - Tammy Taste Test
4. You Think You're A Man - Divine
5. So Disgraceful - Marilyn And The Movie Stars

DISC 2
SIDE C
1. Satellite Of Love - Ebony Jet
2. Fuck You - Dean And The Weenies
3. People Are Small - ANOHNI (as Justin Grey)
4. Angels In Pain - Princess Tinymeat
5. Your Cigarette - Coke
6. Tenterhook - Dave Vanian
7. Suspecting Mrs. Shyster - Sissy Fitt (as Carol TooGood)
8. The Yellowing Angel - ANOHNI Featuring Johanna Constantine
SIDE D
1. 13 Ways To Die - Dr. Clark Render
2. Useless Man - Minty
3. My Final Moments - Kabuki Starshine
4. Golden Showers - Meng & Ecker
5. Love Letters - ANOHNI (as Fiona Blue)
6. Blacklips - ANOHNI (as Precious Liar)

The first of a three-volume set of mind blowing LPs compiling the finest of the 60’s and 70’s output from the most legendary Argentinian label of all time: Music Hall. And what a start this is! An amazing selection of soon to be rediscovered hits ranging from pure garage madness to exotica, soul, instrumentals, 60’s beat or hard rock.

Kalita are proud to unveil the second volume in their ‘Borga Revolution!’ compilation series, focussing on the phenomenon of ‘Burger Highlife’, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond. Featuring both highly sought-after recordings by artists including Atta Frimpong and D.J. Lawyer Okyere, as well as seminal performances by greats such as Pat Thomas, A.B. Crentsil and Alan Cosmos, Kalita once again come to the rescue of audiophiles, DJs and music-lovers alike with ‘Borga Revolution! – Volume 2’. Spread over a double-LP housed in a gatefold sleeve. Accompanied by a 12-page booklet featuring extensive interview-based liner notes on each artist and never-before-seen archival photos.

The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds to the region. By the turn of the decade the country was also enduring economic turmoil, with rising poverty, military dictatorships and long periods of enforced curfews (amongst other factors) making it impossible for artists to survive.

As a result, many Ghanaian artists with a broader outlook began to pursue their careers in the West, moving to both Europe and America in search of stardom. It was here that Ghanaian musicians developed a digitised version of highlife music which fully embraced Western contemporary music styles and newly introduced technology such as the DX7 synthesizer and various drum machines.

It is in this context in which the evolution of Ghanaian dance music and the emergence of ‘burger highlife’ was born. With the ‘Borga Revolution!’ series Kalita endeavour to tell this story, with prominent and lesser-known musicians’ accounts and documentary evidence providing a comprehensive understanding of this shift to the digital age.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Atta Frimpong - Bepo So Dua
A2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Soca For Your Pleasure
A3. A.B. Crentsil - Mama Dwen Meho
B1. D.J. Lawyer Okyere - Ohia Kan Nye Ya (Medley)
B2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Onua Gyae
B3. Pope Flyne Ackah - I Think You Are Right (Jepense Que Tu A Raison)
C1. Atta Frimpong - Yaako
C2. Pat Thomas - Obae
C3. Mawuli Decker - Mawu Nafako Nam
D1. Nana Aboagye Da-Costa - Sikyi (Medley)
D2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Yebi/Fontonfrom 

The first of a three-volume set of mind blowing LPs compiling the finest of the 60’s and 70’s output from the most legendary Argentinian label of all time: Music Hall. And what a start this is! An amazing selection of soon to be rediscovered hits ranging from pure garage madness to exotica, soul, instrumentals, 60’s beat or hard rock.

The first of a three-volume set of mind blowing LPs compiling the finest of the 60’s and 70’s output from the most legendary Argentinian label of all time: Music Hall. And what a start this is! An amazing selection of soon to be rediscovered hits ranging from pure garage madness to exotica, soul, instrumentals, 60’s beat or hard rock.

If you were smart enough to get your grubby paws on the first Scrap Metal compilation, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you’re in for with our second installment. Featuring long-lost gems from ultra-rare 45s and private press singles—plus one previously unreleased banger—Scrap Metal 2 maintains a steady NWOBHM course. Packed with infectious outliers and supremely talented one-and-done metal warriors from the crucial British movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s (and some killer American obscurities inspired by them), this collection delivers all the fist-pumping, riff-mongering and flashy solos of heavy metal’s golden age. As always, every track has been officially licensed and every artist gets paid.

TRACK LISTING

01. JJ’s Powerhouse – Running For The Line
02. Storm Queen – Raising The Roof
03. Jameson Raid – It’s A Crime
04. A.R.C. – Homemade Wine
05. Metropolis – The Raven
06. Prowler – Temporary Insanity
07. Christian Steel – Need Your Love
08. Black Rose – Sidewinder
09. Dark Age – Star Trippin’
10. Sorcery - Whales

A tribute to the late Kenny Hawkes, London's dark lord of house music. Lovingly selected and curated by Luke Solomon, Jonny Rock and Leon Oakey.

Running from 1995 to 2002, 'Space' was a Wednesday night founded by Kenny Hawkes and Luke Solomon. It inhabited the underground world of Bar Rumba right in the heart of London's West End and took place each and every week. Kenny and Luke had both been regular fixtures on infamous London Pirate Radio station 'Girls FM', and were seeking a suitable place to play the kind of music they supported on their respective radio shows. They were presented with a weekly opportunity at Bar Rumba and snapped it up.

'Space' was THE place for 7 solid years, hosting local and international guests from the house music community week in week out, to 200+ hardcore and dedicated followers. Regular guest bookings read like a 'who's who' of the music scene with sets from Derrick Carter, Andrew Weatherall, DJ Harvey, Tom Middleton, A Man Called Adam, Ralph Lawson and Huggy, Harri and Domenic, Francois Kevorkian, Salt City Orchestra, Carl Cox, Chez Damier and Ron Trent.... the list goes on and on and on! Music from seminal record labels such as Classic, Prescription, Cajual, Paper, Relief was played on rotation amongst a killer mix of Disco classics, alternative 80s music, left-field B-sides and techno. The night undeniably became a cauldron of amazing music and midweek hedonistic chaos.


As Soho changed beyond recognition and clubbing moved Eastwards, Kenny and Luke decided to call it a day. Sadly, Kenny Hawkes died in 2011, leaving a huge hole in the dance music community. Kenny was a legendary figure with an unmistakable sound and DJ style, he had a warped sense of humour and a huge personality and he continues to be dearly missed by all to this day.

As a tribute to Kenny, his musical partner in crime Luke Solomon alongside 'Space' regular and DJ / Editor supreme Jonny Rock, and former Classic Records label boss Leon Oakey have joined forces to celebrate his life through music. 3 years of tweaking, pooling music and clearing tracks have culminated in 2 very special double albums. A collection of 'Space' classics, underground jams and the tracks that shook the Shaftesbury Avenue dancefloor, shaping one of London's most revered midweek sessions.

All profits from the compilation will be donated to the British Liver Trust.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Kenny Hawkes - Dance For Me (Original)
A2. Cine City - Are You Sure Joe?
B1. J Knights - The Knock
B2. Quakerman - Schlamm Me
C1. Round One - I'm Your Brother (Chicago's Twisted Mix)
C2. Incognito - Everyday (Masters At Work Everydub)
D1. The Daou - Surrender Yourself (Ballroom Mix)

Real tasty various artists EP showcasing the best of the Devoted roster. Based in Liverpool this underground label has been knocking around for the last 15 years or so, touching in deep Detroit and UK house flavours.

First up is a deep and percussive rehash of Apologist & Unsettled's "Zabriskie Point" by Inbetween DJs. Techy and stylish, it'll warm up the more forward leaning dances superbly. Followed by "Maybrook" a sublime, smokey downtempo affair by French producer Each which should appeal to the DJ Shadow fans with its heady, stoned emotion. Next up is Mike Rez '"The Diary": a moody dubby techno affair which swells and plumes with an unnatural radiance.

We finish off with Barry Wenham presents Jean Bon Bon bringing us a slice of early 90s New York house with his track "Brooklyn". 4 Tracks of varying styles showcasing the labels versatility.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Nice EP from our mates over in Liverpool. All unbeknownst producers to me until now. A tasteful smattering of house, dub-tech and downbeat. Check!

TRACK LISTING

Apologist & Unsettled - Zabriskie Point (Inbetween DJ's Remix)
Each - Maybrook
Mike Rez - The Diary (Askani Remix)
Barry Wenham Presents Jean Bon Bon - Brooklyn

In association with DJ Amir and 180 Proof Records, BBE Music presents ‘Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Volume 1’, a new compilation taking in just a few highlights from the short-lived but hugely influential jazz imprint. With a raft of Strata material now entering entering the BBE Music catalogue for the first time, joining together with already-released gems such at the long-lost Charles Mingus live album ‘Jazz In Detroit’, we asked 180 Proof founder and Strata catalogue curator DJ Amir to compile a selection of tracks as an introduction to the uninitiated. Over to DJ Amir to tell us more: I carefully selected my top-choice select tracks that have not been already bootlegged or comp’d in the past; from the well-known fan favourites, to the obscure, to the previously unreleased cuts. This is by no means an exhaustive and comprehensive compilation, but these are the songs that truly represent the catalog and help to tell the story of Strata. I thought it would be fitting to begin the compilation with one of my all-time favourites from the catalog, ‘Beyond the Dream’ by Kenny Cox, a spiritual groover, highlighted with the haunting mellotron strings and soulful vocals from Detroit legend Ursula Walker. And I absolutely love the ending, with the chanting of “Vamonos Que Ya Fiesta Se Acabo” (“It’s time to go because the party is coming to an end”)! When I originally issued the previously unreleased album ‘Mirror, Mirror’ by Sam Sanders in 2013, the track ‘Face At My Window’ that features an unknown vocalist instantly became a fan favourite thanks to its hypnotising vocals and mellotron strings. How could I not include my all-time track from Lyman Woodard, ‘Saturday Night Special’? This track represents the best of that lo-fi jazz funk organ groove and bass combined, again, with those mellotron strings. And after meeting Lyman in 2008, I became even more of a fan! His magnum opus that is ‘Saturday Night Special’ began my journey to re-introducing the world to the Strata label. After a chance discovery of a Strata master with only the letters ‘TJ’ written on the front, I took a chance and digitally transferred the master. Unfortunately, the master was in awful shape, but what I discovered was truly a stunning recording! At first, I thought I was listening to a young Shuggie Otis but then I quickly realised that I was not Maulawi Nururidin, to a few previously unreleased gems from Ursula Walker, Mixed Bag, and the Soulmates, hopefully, you’ll be inspired to dive deeper into the Strata catalog! Enjoy! Amir Abdullah aka DJ Amir All of the original albums from which these tracks were chosen are now available to download or stream wherever you find your music.

TRACK LISTING

Beyond The Dream
Tune For L.N.
Face At My Window
People We Got To Do Better
Noh Word
Joy Road
Time Is Wasting
Root In 7/4 Plus
Salsa Pt. 1
Maiden Voyage
You're The One
Where Is The Place?
Saturday Night Special
Inner City Player
Island Song
All But Blind

Stag-O-Lee Presents – Primal Beats From The Basement - For Dancers Only Rhythm & Blues Club.

For Dancer Only is the legendary club night of Bill Kealey, the hard-drinking, energetic collector and vinyl hunter from Dublin. Almost every weekend he is out and about with his 7" vinyl case and makes the crowds happy. Since he's been doing it for a few decades, he belongs to the absolute Champions League of those who deal with Rhythm & Blues of the 50s and all its varieties.

This is his first compilation and Stag-O-Lee claim it's one of the best Stag-O-Lee has ever released.

Futurismo present their new anthology series: Altered Vision, beginning with SUBURBAN ANNIHILATION The California Hardcore Explosion / From The City To The Beach: 1978-1983.

This aggressive collection draws from California’s rich history of punk, more specifically hardcore: a new sound that eschewed melody for intensity, a sound that took punk harder and faster, a sound intrinsically American. Whilst hardcore was also burning over on the East Coast, it was in California that it had ignited and sprawled, a sonic punch in the face that raged socio-political disdain and total abandonment for commercialism, fuelled by a crumbling American Dream and the collapse of family values.

Suburban Annihilation takes you from the major cities, to the coastal towns, to the SoCal suburbs, showcasing some the most important bands of the West Coast. Blasting off with the Adolescents ‘I Hate Children’, it heads from the year zero of Middle Class’s ‘Out Of Vogue’ to the surf punk of Agent Orange’s ‘Bloodstains’, from the blues tinged outlaw of The Gun Club’s ‘She’s Like Heroin to Me’ to the classic anti-anthems: ‘Live Fast Die Young’ by the Circle Jerks, lifted from their seminal Group Sex album, and the hardcore staple ‘California Über Alles’ by the Dead Kennedys. Also present are so many other bands integral to the era: T.S.O.L, Wasted Youth, Germs, Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies, Negative Trend, Flipper and many more.

Though the music was designed to repel, this historical document has been lovingly designed to remind us that this genre created some of the most immediate and acutely-realised music ever produced. Making this collection of choice cuts essential for long-time fans of hardcore and punk, just as those new and inquisitive about one of the most angry and pissed off genres to have given birth in America. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Words can't adequately express how incredible this record is. While the Gun club's psychobilly assault and Dead Kennedys' laser guided genius were very much appreciated this side of the Atlantic, much of the rest was not, only making it over on limited numbers as obscure imports for the curious. A tragic omission. The California hardcore scene, diverse, wild, aggressive shot through with irreverence, had no peers at the time. These acts were the inspiration for many bands who went on to dominate the American punk and alt-rock scene. Do yourself a favour.

TRACK LISTING

1. Adolescents - I Hate Children
2. Middle Class - Out Of Vogue
3. Agent Orange - Bloodstains
4. Dead Kennedys - Chemical Warfare
5. Simpletones - I Like Drugs
6. Suicidal Tendencies - Fascist Pig
7. T.S.O.L. - Abolish Government/Silent Majority
8. Circle Jerks - Beverly Hills
9. Wasted Youth - Fuck Authority
10. The Gun Club - She’s Like Heroin To Me
11. Redd Kross - Burn Out
12. China White - Live In Your Eyes
13. Circle Jerks - Live Fast Die Young
14. Negative Trend - How Ya Feeling?
15. Eddie And The Subtitles - American Society
16. Channel 3 - Manzanar
17. Flipper - Ha Ha Ha
18. Rikk Agnew O.C. - Life
19. Social Distortion - Playpen
20. Dead Kennedys - California Über Alles
21. Shattered Faith - I Love America
22. The Weirdos - Helium Bar
23. Middle Class - Insurgence
24. Germs - Communist Eyes
25. Adolescents - Kids Of The Black Hole