One of the cult acts of the heyday of London clubland in the early 1990s, the Ballistic Brothers consisted of later-X-Press 2 members Ashley, Rocky and Diesel, alongside David Hill and Uschi Clansen.

Both of their ‘vs. Eccentric Afros’ releases have legendary status, with Vol. 1 featuring their classic ‘Blacker’. After the reissue of the first instalment last year, Acid Jazz are set to release the second set.

‘Blacker’ reprises here in the form of ‘Divine Fact (Blacker 2)’ and the ‘Marden Hill Sween Green Jam Mix’, showing the crosspollination of the ‘90s London club scene, where hedonists could find many routes and possibilities.

A vital snapshot of a very unique place in time, specially remastered for this Acid Jazz release, set in a spined sleeve for the first time, with a beautiful expansion of the original artwork.

TRACK LISTING

1. Delancey Street.. The Theme
2. Unhooked And Lost
3. Save The Children
4. Blacker (Marden Hill Sweet Green Jam Mix)
5. Jam Jah
6. Divine Fact (Blacker 2)
7. Goodvibes… Goodnight
8. Anti Gun Movement

Acid Jazz presents a very special compilation marking the 40th Anniversary of group label Countdown Records. Countdown was originally founded by Eddie Piller, Maxine Conroy and Terry Rawlings and distributed by legendary UK independent Stiff Records. The label reflected the burgeoning Mod revival scene of the mid ‘80s, alongside a vibrant New Wave sound, as Ed began to find his way as a label executive. It was a fresh and unique take on Mod that attempted to place the scene’s main acts in the mainstream world. It almost worked too. But despite the brilliance of the signings, it was tripped up by the demise of Stiff, and the corporate domination of the mid-80s charts. Lessons would be learned and applied with Piller’s next label Acid Jazz, where Countdown refugees such as James Taylor, and Mother Earth’s Chris White went on to greater success. This collection tells the label’s story through the best of its musical output, from mainstays such as Makin’ Time, The Prisoners and The Kick, alongside classics and and rarities from their groundbreaking compilations, from which this release in turn takes inspiration.

TRACK LISTING

1. Pump It Up – Makin’ Time
2. Whenever I’m Gone – The Prisoners
3. I Can’t Let Go – The Kick
4. Falling For You – Long Tall Shorty
5. I Don’t Need No Doctor – Fast Eddie
6. Guilty – The All Jacks
7. The More That I Teach You – The Prisoners
8. Here’s My Number Baby – Makin’ Time
9. Dreams Come True – The Combine
10. Don’t Ever Change – The Ambassadors
11. Stuck On The Edge Of A Blade
12. Ivor The Engine Driver – The Daggermen

Spring Revisited is a collaboration between Ace Records and Acid Jazz, with a series of special vinyl releases throughout 2025.

It will feature 20 top mixers creating exclusive mixes from the storied New York label Spring, which made its name in the 1970s with hits from The Fatback Band, Millie Jackson and Joe Simon.

Those working on the project include Dimitri From Paris, Kenny Dope, Dave Lee, DJ Spinna, Opolopo, The Reflex, Cosmo Murphy, Folamore, Joe Claussell, and more yet to be announced.

The opening salvo sees Dimitri from Paris take on Millie Jackson’s dance floor classic ‘We Got To Hit It Off’; a vibrant reconstruction created with access to the original tapes that cleverly updates the track for modern club land.

On the flip, Opolopo give us their own take, which adds an electric touch to the proceedings, especially on their ‘deeper’ mix.

Acid Jazz’s 12-inch release features these four mixes on a limited edition of 500 copies, housed in a sleeve that looks like it was mailed for you to play in 1979 from your favourite record pool.

TRACK LISTING

1. We Got To Hit It Off – Dimitri From Paris Liberated Woman Mix
2. We Got To Hit It Off – Dimitri From Paris Liberated Woman Dub
3. We Got To Hit It Off – Opolopo Mix
4. We Got To Hit It Off – Opolopo Deeper Mix

One of the cult acts of the heyday of London clubland in the early 1990s, The Ballistic Brothers consisted of future X-Press 2 members Ashley, Rocky and Diesel, alongside David Hill and Uschi Clansen.

Both of their ‘Vs. Eccentric Afros’ releases have legendary status, with ‘Volume 1’ featuring their classic ‘Blacker’. After the reissue of the first instalment last year, Acid Jazz are set to release the second set.

‘Blacker’ reprises here in the form of ‘Divine Fact (Blacker 2)’ and the ‘Marden Hill Sween Green Jam Mix’, showing the cross-pollination of the 1990s London club scene, where hedonists could find many routes and possibilities.

A vital snapshot of a very unique place in time, specially remastered for this Acid Jazz release and set in a spined sleeve for the first time, with a beautiful expansion of the original artwork.

TRACK LISTING

Delancey Street... The Theme
Unhooked And Lost
Save The Children]
Blacker (Marden Hill Sweet Green Jam Mix)
Jam Jah
Divine Fact (Blacker 2)
Goodvibes… Good Night
Anti Gun Movement

Long-lost 1973 album from unsung hero Graham Dee – a fixture of the London session scene in the ‘60s, and later prolific songwriter, producer and A&R Man. Released on vinyl for the very first time.

Sounding like a long-lost film soundtrack, ‘Mr. Super Cool’ is highly evocative of its time and offers a fascinating insight into early ‘70s record-making. It was recorded at Sarm East, with arrangements by Gerry Shury.

The album was recovered from an unmarked quarter-inch tape from a house clearance, after Graham himself had passed on an incomplete acetate to Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller, who tells the whole story in the sleevenote to accompany the groovy layout.

TRACK LISTING

1. Mr. Super Cool
2. You’re A Dream Maker
3. Cold Harbour Lane
4. Turn And Look Behind
5. Corner Of The World
6. Answer Man
7. Don’t Let The Music Get You Down
8. You’re My Lady (It’s Been A Long Time)
9. Life’s A Roundabout
10. So Much I Want To

The James Taylor Quarter were the original group on the Acid Jazz scene, and 'In The Hand Of The Inevitable' was their 1995 triumphant Top 40 return to the Acid Jazz label.

Recorded over a year, produced by James Taylor and Acid Jazz Records founder Eddie Piller, it was a thrilling compendium of everyone’s favourite musical influences, from Hammond grooves, funk rock, and Mizell Brothers inspired fusion. It became James’ best-selling album, and in retrospect his most popular album amongst his fans.

The original vinyl issue was missing two tracks that were on the CD and this 30th Anniversary Edition is released on double vinyl with those two tracks now included. The release includes picture sleeve inner sleeves with in-depth sleeve notes by Acid Jazz’s Dean Rudland and new pictures from the album sessions, housed in a wide-spine sleeve.

TRACK LISTING

1. Love Will Keep Us Together
2. 3 Mile Island
3. Free Your Mind
4. Haitian Breakdown
5. Good Thing
6. Let’s Get Together
7. Segue No. 1
8. Stepping Into My Life
9. Whole Lotta Love
10. Journey
11. Sounds Of Freedom
12. Keep On Moving
13. In The Hand Of The Inevitable
14. Astral Plane*
15. Love Ballad*

*CD Only

Following their acclaimed debut ‘The Summoned’ on Acid Jazz in 2023, Mama Terra return with a new album - ‘Chameleons: Live Interpretations of Herbie Hancock’.

The album recasts Hancock’s iconic works in a new, live setting, as a basis for both homage and exploration, with ‘Headhunters’ being a prime influence for leader Marco Cafolla.

The album grew out of Jazz FM’s ‘Classic Albums’ series, and was recorded live at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival in June 2024. The performance demonstrates the prowess of Mama Terra as a live outfit.

Led by Marco Cafolla (Keyboards), musicians include Konrad Wiszniewski (Tenor Sax), Rachel Lightbody (Vocals), Ross David Saunders (Upright Bass + Mix Engineer) & Doug Hough (Drums).

Known for their fresh and invigorated take on spiritual jazz, with soul and R&B influences, Mama Terra showcased at the 2024 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, alongside a host of festival and jazz club appearances. ‘Chameleons’ shows a band in ascendency. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Chameleon
2. Watermelon Man
3. Cantaloupe Island
4. Butterfly
5. Sly
6. Vein Melter

Matt Berry returns with his first new solo album since 2021’s ‘Blue Elephant’. This time he delivers a Soul and West Coast Psych-inspired collection of songs, which attach an innate sense of melody to a lush, contemporary take on classic recording techniques. All of this is allied with Matt’s rich voice and unique lyrics.

The album’s opening single ‘I Gotta Limit’ is a sharp, pounding number with vocal duties shared with Kitty Liv. Elsewhere, there are collaborations with Eric D Johnson of The Shins, and Golden Globe-winning actress Natasha Lyonne. In the past four years Matt has been busy with a number of projects, including his Library Music collaboration with KPM ‘Simplicity’, and his EMMY award nominated role as Laszlo in ‘What We Do In The Shadows’.
 
This record, his 8th studio album for Acid Jazz, sees him return to his love of music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Why On Fire?
2. Silver Rings
3. Interlude
4. Be Alarmed
5. I Gotta Limit
6. Wedding Photo Stranger
7. Stay On The Ground
8. I Entered As I Came
9. There Are Monsters
10. To Live For What Once Was
11. Canada Dry
12. The Snakes Will Slide
13. Interlude 2
14. Sky High

Founded in the late 1960s by record store owner Seidou Adissa, Albarika Store is one of the most important independent record labels on the African continent. That it was founded in the relatively small ex-French colony of Benin (then still called Dahomey), is a testament to its founder’s musical taste and vision for what the local musical scene had to offer.

Acid Jazz release the first ever vinyl and CD overview of the label and its music, compiled by David Hill of The Soul Revivers and West African musical expert Florent Mazzoleni, who also wrote the in-depth notes.

The compilation provides a look into what was a developing and then thriving post-colonial music scene. It focuses on the label’s biggest and most prolific act Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo and its founder Melome Clement, who released under a variety of names often spotlighting on the musicians that were key to their sound. It also looks at the other established artists on the label such as the incendiary Les Sympathics De Porto Novo and Les Volcans. All of these artists create a unique mix of Westernised Funk, Soul and Latin sounds cross-pollinated with the traditional music of the region.

Elsewhere, we hear the music as it is consumed further by funk and disco, with tracks from the obscure and exceptionally danceable albums by Ipa Boogie and Ogassa - the latter sounding like they have been adding psychedelic rock to their funky brew.

The album is a story of local music, and the way that it was crosspollinated by both the West and the wider regional scene in neighbouring Nigeria. Adissa would often head to EMI’s state-of-theart Lagos studio to record his acts, contributing to the exceptional sonic quality of the recordings, and it is no surprise that the influence of Fela Kuti and Afro Beat is writ large.

TRACK LISTING

Segla
Get The Music Now
E Sa F'Aiye
Aiha Ni Kpe We
Ego-Ibo
Gbeti Ma Djro
Oya Ka Jojo
It's A Vanity
Bakassine Gabou
Nan Man Nan
Gbe We Gnin Wa Bio
Kpede Do Gbe Houenou

To coincide with the 2024 ‘Just Something’ album tour, Acid Jazz present this special edition 12” EP from Dee C Lee – ‘Extended Versions’, featuring alternate extended cuts from the album.

While the conciseness of the track-listing works wonderfully on the album, this is a great opportunity to showcase the featured musicians and collaborators on the record, stretching out and inhabiting the songs on these special extended versions put together by producer Tristan Longworth.

Musicians include the late Pat West, who shines on ‘Anything’, and Nigel Price, who plays the stunning guitar intro on ‘Don’t Forget About Love’ . Elsewhere, the backing vocals and Mick Talbot’s gospel-tinged organ provide an ecstatic closing to Leah Weller’s ‘Everyday Summer’ , while the Lee-Talbot co-write ‘Walk Away’ has an extended play-out to once again highlight Nigel’s classy, jazzy playing.

TRACK LISTING

1. Anything (Extended Version)
2. Everyday Summer (Extended Version)
3. Walk Away (Extended Version)
4. Don’t Forget About Love (Extended Version)

To mark the 10th Anniversary of their debut ‘No Hard Feelings’, New Street Adventure return with a special edition colour vinyl reissue. The release coincides with a tour throughout the UK in the autumn of 2024.

One of the most beloved Acid Jazz releases of the last decade, the original pressing – pressed just before the recent vinyl boom – fetches large sums on record collector sites. A measure of the enduring quality of the songs, and the continued popularity of the band, Acid Jazz respond with this special edition.

The album is pressed on distinctive transparent Olive Green vinyl with printed inner sleeve, adorned by unseen candid and live photographs (including by leading UK music photographer Dean Chalkley), with newly remastered audio.

TRACK LISTING

1. On Our Front Door Step
2. Keep It Burning
3. A Little Alarmed
4. Be Somebody
5. Hunted
6. Middle Of The Road
7. Foolish Once More
8. Foot In The Door
9. She’s An Attraction
10. Lucky Lady
11. The Crunch
12. Say You’re Lonely
13. The Big AC

Acid jazz legend Chris Bangs returns with 'Dream World a brand new album for 2024 – a characteristic font of latin jazz from the maestro producer.

Bangs is known for originally coining the term ‘acid jazz’ – a movement which subsequently morphed into the label – as he and likeminded DJs (including Gilles Peterson and Eddie Piller) began to combine jazz, soul and rock-fusion with the prominent sounds of acid house in the late ‘80s
.
The album draws influence from the Mizell Brothers, Wayne Henderson and George Duke – the latter providing direct inspiration, with a cover of ‘My Soul’ opening the record and serving as the first single.

The tracks see some new collaborators in the Bangs ranks – including Argentine keyboardist Luciano De La Rosa, Italian Massimo Morganti on trombone, Chile’s Juan Pi Salvo on trumpet, and Fabio Tiralongo on sax – making it a truly global production.

Self-described as ‘pure labour of love’ by Bangs himself, the album is a further expansion of his remarkable sound and vision, and his own ever-expanding dream world of (acid) jazz that moves far beyond genre-casting.

TRACK LISTING

1. My Soul
2. Dream World
3. En Cielo
4. Better Days
5. Riding On The Storm
6. Starship
7. Alegria
8. Mozambique
9. Sugar Slam

At the start of 2024, Acid Jazz announced a long-term collaboration with cult club troupe The Ballistic Brothers.

After a sell-out 7” of the classic ‘Blacker’, and a series of digital releases, came the reissued ‘London Hooligan Soul’ in April.

Originally consisting of Ashley Beedle, Rocky and Diesel of X-Press 2, with contributions from keyboard player Uschi Classen - David Hill of Nuphonic would join for Volume 2 - each member has had storied roles in UK club music.

The Ballistic Brothers are a unique product of time and place. A place where a generation of clubbers sought the many routes and possibilities of the burgeoning London dance scene.

’ The Ballistic Brothers vs. The Eccentric Afros (Vol. 1)’, originally released on the ‘On Delancy Street’ label in 1994 was a club smash. It sat somewhere between a mini album and a 12” EP. The reality is - a lot like 'London Hooligan Soul' - it was its own thing.

For the first time, it will be presented in a full-spine outer sleeve, with a beautiful recreation of the original graphics by The Unknown, and the music restored and remastered from the original master DATs.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nyx 2
2. Gangstalene
3. Ushi’s Groove
4. And It Goes Like
This
5. MCF 2870
6. Blacker
7. Valley Of The Afro
Temple
8. Grover’s Return

Nkrumah Jah Thomas is one of the great Deejay voices of Jamaican music.

Through his Midnight Rock label, he is also known as a formidable producer - making important records with the likes of Anthony Johnson, Early B, King Tubby and Super Cat.

His 80s dancehall hit with the latter ‘Dance Inna New York’ was sampled on the hit single by Nas, ‘The Don’, and in recent years, his rhythms have been sampled by Protoje and Kabaka Pyramid.

Acid Jazz group label Roots Records has worked with Jah Thomas since the late 1990s, and is set to release the first ever collection of his vocal work.

A versatile and nimble word-smith, The Music Maker from Jamaica is represented by 12 of his most vital cuts. These include his debut hit ‘Midnight Rock’, hits such as ‘Dance Hall Connection’ and ‘Dance On The Corner’, his own versions of ‘Cool Profile’ and 'Joker Smoker’ (hits he produced for Earl Cunningham, and Tristan Palmer respectively.)

Tracks are newly remastered and the package includes sleeve notes by reggae historian Tony Rounce – a must-have for classic Dub and Dance Hall enthusiasts.

TRACK LISTING

1. Midnight Rock
2. Shoulder Move
3. Dance On The
Corner
4. New Dress Style
5. Get A Girl Tonight
6. Cricket Lovely
Cricket
7. Dancehall
Connection
8. Love You One
Another
9. Cool Profile
10. General 007
11. Joker Smoker
12. Adapter Chapter

Originally released in 1994, Mother Earth’s ‘The People Tree’ is a gem of an album that encapsulates a love of soul, funk and folktinged ‘70s rock. To mark its 30th Anniversary, it is set for a special edition 2LP reissue that includes the original album, three previously unreleased tracks, and a further six that have neverbefore been on vinyl. It has been remastered from the original analogue recordings.

One of the best-loved albums in Acid Jazz history, it was the product of over a year of sessions, led by label-founder Eddie Piller, and features guest appearances from Paul Weller, Dee C Lee, and Brand New Heavies’ Simon Bartholomew. Bonus tracks include the previously-unreleased alternative ‘Apple Green’ with a distinctive female backing vocal, an alternative version of ‘Illusions’, and the title track.

First-time vinyl cuts include the alternate master of ‘Jesse’, ‘A Trip Down Brian Lane’ and the heavy funk of ‘Slide Sweet Baby’. The album is presented in a beautiful ‘wide-spine’ layout, with two printed inner sleeves, adorned with in-depth notes form Eddie Piller and unseen photos from the original cover shoot by Gerald Mankiewicz.

TRACK LISTING

1. Institution Man
2. Jesse
3. Startdust Bubblegum
4. Mr. Freedom
5. Dragster
6. Find It
7. The People Tree
8. Apple Green
9. Time Of The Future
10. Saturation
11. Illusions
12. A Trip Down Brian Lane
13. Jesse (Alternate)
14. Institution Man (Edit)
15. Warlocks Of The Mind (Pt. 1)
16. Time Of The Future (Alternate EP Mix)
17. Find It (Radio Edit)
18. Almost Grown
19. Apple Green (with Harmony Vocal)
20. Illusions (No Horns Mix)
21. A Trio Down Brian Lane (7” Mix)
22. Slide Sweet Baby
23. The People Tree (No Mellotron)
24. Jesse (Brendan Lynch Radio Mix)

Saxophone master Sean Khan presents a brand new album project on Acid Jazz - The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble. The album explores the sounds of the late-’60s/early-’70s folk revival, recast and reimagined in a jazz setting with featured guest singers, including compositions by Pentangle, Sandy Denny, John Martyn and Nick Drake.

Featured vocalists are the legendary Pentangle lead singer Jacqui McShee, acclaimed singer-guitarist Rosie Taylor-Frater, and emerging artist Kindelan. Sean Khan meanwhile is known as one of the UK’s premier saxophonists, and particularly his ‘Supreme Love: A Journey Through Coltrane’ LP. His distinctive Soprano playing can be heard throughout.

Presented in a beautiful, evocative sleeve and inner-sleeve layout on LP and gatefold-style CD.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A beautifully rich and organic amalgamation of jazz and folk. Your ears will be justifiably piqued by the cover of "Solid Air" and "Things Behind the Sun" before realizing there's some special chemistry at work here.

TRACK LISTING

1. She Moves Through The Fair
2. Solid Air
3. Light Flight
4. Parasite
5. Things Behind The Sun
6. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
7. I’ve Got A Feeling
8. Ode To Nick Drake

The ’Rare Mod’ series has been one of the most enduring Acid Jazzcurated comps of recent years. This included the CD Volumes 1-3 and a 3CD Boxset, uncovering a host of lost classics that capture sound of the original Mod scene: Hard R’n’B, Beat & Soul, and archetypal Pop from the 1960s.

For the first time, the Best Of… is available on vinyl, with choice selections from across the series, presented in a hip, evocative sleeve, with printed inner, and on orange transparent vinyl. The track-list contains a couple from the legendary Fleur De Lys, as well as a track from their brief billing as ‘Shyster’. Elsewhere, there are several productions from unsung hero and prolific session man Graham Dee, and even a turn from young David Bowie performing with The Riot Squad!

An absolute must-have collection of the less-heard tracks from one of the most iconic periods of British music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Mud In My Eye – The Fleur De Lys
2. It’s A Hard Way – Cathedral
3. She’s Got The Time – The Afex
4. Tick Tock – Shyster
5. Big Bird – Dog Soul
6. I’m A Man – The Top Six
7. I’m Waiting For The Man – The Riot Squad
8. We Can Make It Together – Tony & Tandy
9. A Love I Believe In – Maxine
10. Brick By Brick (Stone By Stone) – Fleur De Lys
11. Soul Ride – Mike Berry
12. Just A Little Misunderstanding – Richard Kent Style
13. Sing A Simple Song – Ossie Lane Show
14. Mr. Super Cool – Graham Dee

Comprising of Darren Rock, Darren House and Ashley Beadle (of XPress 2), alongside David Hill and Uschi Classen, they combined their talents on a series of mysterious vinyl releases in the heady days of the London club scene. If you were part of a clubbing tribe in the early/mid ‘90s - any clubbing tribe - you will have danced to the Ballistic Brothers.

TRACK LISTING

1. Portobello Café
2. Come On
3. Soho Cab Ride
4. I’ll Fly Away
5. Jah Jah Call You
6. Mark’s Lude
7. I Don’t Know
8. Sister Song
9. A Beautiful Space
10. Steppin’ Into Eden
11. Peckings
12. Uschi’s Lament

Acid Jazz is hugely excited to present the return of illustrious soul singer Dee C Lee.

Following the hugely impressive single last October – the double Asider – ‘Don’t Forget About Love’ / ‘Be There In The Morning’, the album ‘Just Something’ is out 22 March, 2024.

Dee C Lee is known for her extensive work with both Wham! and The Style Council, before forging her own solo career which landed a Top 5 hit ‘See The Day’. She is known as one of the great voices of British soul music.

The album sees her on remarkable vocal form on this, her first release in 25 years, and an essential for fans and followers of classic soul.

TRACK LISTING

1. Back In Time
2. Don’t Forget About Love
3. Anything
4. Mountains
5. How To Love
6. Be There In The Morning
7. Walk Away
8. Everyday Summer
9. Trojan Horse
10. For Once In My Life
11. I Love You

Following the hugely popular first ‘Acid Jazz (Not Jazz)’ release in 2022, label heads Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland return with a second volume, ‘We’ve Got A Funky Beat’.

The record further takes in the club sounds of the original acid jazz scene in the early 1990s, where obscure funk, soul and rock records were mixed with new productions that turned up at the Acid Jazz (then Denmark Street) offices on a near-daily basis.

A document of an era, before the internet, where clubs and record stores informed the tastes and direction of the burgeoning London music community and the close-knit groups of producers, musicians, label and shop owners that were constant companions in search of the new sound.

Ballistic Brothers and X-Press 2 appear alongside unsung heroes such as Night Trains and The Hightower Set.

Presented in a beautiful geometric graphic sleeve, with a printed inner sleeve documenting the original release designs.

TRACK LISTING

1. Super Strut - The Apostles
2. Escucha Ma Funk - The Hightower Set
3. Testify - Mains Ignition
4. Russian Roulette - Night Trains (ft. Afrika Bambaataa)
5. From The Ghetto - Dread Flimstone
6. Delancy St… The Theme - Ballistic Brothers Vs. Eccentric Afros
7. Tranz Euro X-Press - XPress 2
8. Farside - Jaziacs

To mark the 35th Anniversary of the label, Acid Jazz has been reissuing seminal records from their catalogue on colour vinyl.

The second James Taylor Quartet release in the series, following ‘The Money Spyder’, this version of ‘Mission Impossible’ is pressed on a fitting red vinyl. 

The original release track-listing showcases JTQ’s sixties soundtrack odyssey – driving organ instrumentals from the beginnings of Acid Jazz.

Alongside Lalo Schifrin’s iconic title track appear tracks by Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon and Bacharach & David, before the Taylor-penned original ‘The Stooge’ closes out this lean, hip collection.

TRACK LISTING

1. Blow Up
2. Mission Impossible
3. Goldfinger
4. The Cat
5. Mrs. Robinson
6. Alfie
7. The Stooge

Hot on the heels of their fifth fantastic LP ‘Thee’ - their first for 25 years and debut for Acid Jazz - house stalwarts X-Press 2 have enlisted David Holmes to remix album track ‘Phasing You Out’.

The original version of ‘Phasing You Out’ features Kele Okereke from Bloc Party and sits at the heart of the new album which again showed that Rocky and Diesel remain dedicated to proper house music.

David Holmes has had a 25-plus year career in music that has seen him release several vital albums and remix artists like Andrew Weatherall, Primal Scream and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, hold down a cult NTS radio show and turn out a seminal mix for Late Night Tales.

David Holmes brings plenty of signature musicality to what is a standout remix - his version of ‘Phasing You Out’ is an intense one that unfolds over eight minutes of percussive density, dusty drum work and careful treatment of the original vocal. The whole arrangement is lavishly decorated with wispy pads and glassy sound effects, police sirens and a rhythmic intensity that never lets up and will work any floor into a frenzy.

TRACK LISTING

1. Phasing You Out (David
2. Holmes Remix)
3. Phasing You Out

Over the past few years Acid Jazz have released a series of reissues from the enigmatic Albarika Store, a goldmine of records from Benin, West Africa from the late 1960s through to the early 1980s.

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo’s ‘Le Sato 2’ is a particularly obscure release. The follow up to ‘Le Sato’, the album was originally sold in exactly the same sleeve as the first volume, with the new catalogue number simply written on the back.

This reissue marks the first proper release of the record, with a sleeve incorporating original design in a new, distinctive and authentic colour scheme.

This time the tracklist and labels are correct, giving the album pride of place in the essential T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Albarika and Benin musical library.

The record itself sees Benin’s premier group in characteristic form - hypnotic, heavy, heady Afro- Funk under the leadership of ‘Prince’ Melome Clement. A must-have for Afro collectors and passing fans alike.

Fully licenced reissue, remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering.

TRACK LISTING

1. General Gowon
2. Gendemou Na Wili We Gnannin
3. A Non Zoun Mi
4. La Verite Blesse
5. Je N'en Peux Plus

This November Matt Berry will release a unique collaboration with esteemed Library Music label KPM. KPM is renowned for providing the musical bedrock for so many classics of British TV and international cinema, using the best British composers - such as Keith Mansfield, Alan Hawkshaw, John Cameron and Alan Moorhouse - to do so. ’Simplicity’ follows in the footsteps of these giants, and is a worthy successor to them. Alongside his formidable acting career, Matt Berry has released a series of acclaimed albums on the Acid Jazz label. Ranging from the folk stylings of ‘Kill The Wolf’, the ambient electronica of ‘Music For Insomniacs’, to the psych rock of ‘Blue Elephant’, these have marked Berry out as an impressive musician and recording artist in his own right. Embodying the form of KPM’s original LPs geared towards film and television pitching, the album consists of 11 sharp and vibrant instrumentals, which will no doubt be heard productions for many years to come. released in special collaboration with Acid Jazz, the album is presented in a beautiful graphic sleeve, with notes that allude to the original KPM releases, for something that is instantly hip and familiar, yet unmistakably new.

TRACK LISTING

1. Top Brass
2. Driving Seat
3. Rising Bass
4. Set The Scene
5. Good Sport
6. Transition To…
7. Simple Basics
8. Widescreen
Features
9. Too Many Hats
10. Telescopic
11. Top Brass Two 

The sound of acid jazz on one record – heavy, organ-driven instrumentals from Hammond maestro James Taylor and his quartet. Part of Acid Jazz 35th Anniversary series, highlighting core releases from the label. The debut album from The James Taylor Quartet, premastered and pressed on clear vinyl.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Money Spyder
2. One Way Street
3. Car Chase
4. The Spiral Staircase
5. Mr. Cool’s Dream
6. A Real Mean Time
7. The Onion Club
8. The Stroll
9. “Los Cuevos Pablo”
10. Midnight Stomp
(The New Rumba)
11. Buzy Bee
12. In The Park 

Legendary UK dance act return with their first new album in over a decade. House music would sound very different without the work of X-Press 2. For the last three decades, they have been serving up a broad spectrum of music ranging from catchy, to anthemic, to moody and atmospheric. Having won an Ivor Novello award for their hit ‘Lazy’ (feat. David Byrne), and even had their music synced by fashion house Givenchy, they have always showed evoluPon, shown in their 4 previous studio albums. Having set the tone with singles ‘You Know (Everybody)’ and ‘Muse’, anPcipaPon is growing for this special double LP

TRACK LISTING

1. Moov
2. Zeven
3. Phasing You Out
4. Muse
5. I Can See The Love
6. The Rain
7. You Know
(Everybody)
8. Reach For Me
9. Cope
10. Bloom
11. Werq

After a series of highly sought-after 7” singles, and an acclaimed compilation album, the Kevin Fingier Collective returns with an all-new, all-original album.

A further exploration of the Latin Soul, R&B, Mod Jazz and Raw Funk sounds the Collec8ve is known for, under the helm of producer Kevin Fingier.

Featuring the powerhouse vocals of Diane Ward, Jo Ann Hamilton and Jose Dias variously throughout, with a guest appearance from reggae legend Derrick HarrioR and Senegalese musician Abdoulaye Badiane.

Presented in a characteristically hip graphic sleeve with the record itself mastered at Golden Mastering, California.

TRACK LISTING

1. Intro
2. Midnight Walk
3. I Really Care
4. Groovin’ In Soho
5. So I Can Free Myself
6. Only For Me
7. Round 2am
8. El Popcorn
9. Nada Pope Te Parar
10. Dumia Doman Doman
11. My Heart Is Burning

Recorded to mark the 30th Anniversary of their debut ‘Dad Man Cat’ and the follow-up ‘High Havoc’, Corduroy return with an new mini-album: ‘Men of the Cloth.’

Sitting perfectly at the corded fringe between acid jazz and rising Britpop, Corduroy emerged in 1991 out of the ashes of cult band Boys Wonder, and made three increasingly brilliant albums on Acid Jazz. They also became one of the top live acts of their generation. After an 18-year hiatus, they returned with ‘Return of the Fabric Four in 2018, and remain a draw on the live circuit.

Featuring the popular sides from last years limited-edition 7” single ‘No More Me Me Me’ and ‘Hypnotoad’, ‘Men of the Cloth’ features four new cuts from the same Corduroy cloth - a heady mix of swinging sixties soundtracks, pop art imagery and Jazz-Funk in equal measure. A must-have addition to one of the founding acts of Acid Jazz.

New Acid Jazz signing Mama Terra is the brainchild of Glaswegian pianist and composer Marco Cafolla, who conceived The Summoned during lockdown. Playing piano and bass keys, he used hip hop and modern American Jazz drummer samples to create a rhythm section. 

The stems were sent to Orangefish Studio in Brooklyn, NYC where Derek Neivergelt (Terrance Blanchard) Evan Pazner (Lee Fields) added a live rhythm section, with guest trumpet solos from Jeremy Pelt. The Summoned is a conceptual journey through life and the universe – a new an invigorated take on spiritual jazz with a sprinkling of soul. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Ruptura
2. Sunday
3. The Summoned
4. A Mind Supreme
5. Novo
6. Radio Silence
7. Last Hour
8. Like Tears In Rain

Over the past few years Acid Jazz has been reissuing rare and exciting records from the legendary Benin label ‘Albarika Store’

Next in the series is ‘Les Sympathics de Porto Novo Benin (Vol. 2)’, the second album from another of Porto Novo’s premier groups from the 1970s, founded by former Herman Laleye – former leader of other Benin greats ‘Black Dragons de Porto Novo’.

The heavy rhythm section of the Laleye brothers (Herman on bass and Marc on drums) supports the vocals of Gangbo Bonheur (with backing from Herman and Jean-Louis Avognon), alongside Armand Pognon's blues-edged guitar and Camille Zanou's hypnotic organ.

Unlike a lot of their contemporaries, Les Sympathics steer clear of straight Afro Beat, Afro-Funk or Afro latin incursions, to create something truly unique in the Beninese musical canon.

Reissued in full for the very first time on high quality vinyl, with an incredible reproduction of the original sleeve. A must have for African music enthusiasts.

TRACK LISTING

1. Ego-Ibo
2. The End Of Soffer
3. Cust No De Kill
4. La Route Est Longue

In 2013, Matt Berry released his second album on Acid Jazz, ‘Kill The Wolf’, introducing progressive music, 1970s pop and psychedelic experimentation for a critically acclaimed album that established him as a musician in his own right. 

The original release plan saw a short run of a box set that included exclusive music and has inevitably become a sought after rarity since. 

For the album’s tenth anniversary, special edition deluxe versions make these tracks availableagain, in some formats for the very first time.

TRACK LISTING

CD
Gather Up
Devil Inside Me
Fallen Angel
Medicine
Wolf Quartet
Solstice
October Sun
The Signs
Knock Knock
Bonfire
Village Dance
Farewell Summer Sun
The Dawn
You That I See
Fire Chant
Food Chain Blues
Early Knock
October
To The Floor
Sea Chant
Devil Inside Me (Walk With Samuel)
Honky Knock
Venison Sketch
Wolf Quartet (‘Original’ Mix)

2LP
Gather Up
Devil Inside Me
Fallen Angel
Medicine
Wolf Quartet
Solstice
October Sun
The Signs
Knock Knock
Bonfire
Village Dance
Farewell Summer Sun
The Dawn
Devil Inside Me (Walk With Samuel)
Fire Chant
You That I See
Early Knock
To The Floor
Wolf Quartet (‘original' Mix)
Ukenwhistle
Venison Sketch
On A High
October
Honky Knock
An Electric Hero
Food Chain Blues
Sea Chant

To mark the 35th Anniversary of the label, Acid Jazz are reissuing some essential formative albums as a special series on coloured vinyl. Brand New Heavies’ ‘Orginal Flava’ was originally released in 1994, but includes material from before their seminal, self-title 1990 debut ‘Brand New Heavies’. 

Highlights include a lounge version of ‘Never Stop’, the Crusaders-esque ‘Country Funkin’ as well as an adventurous live version of ‘Headhunters’, which shows the Heavies’ power as a live outfit. A vital snapshot into the early years of a vital band and the early years of Acid Jazz

TRACK LISTING

1. Rest Of Me
2. Put Yourself In My Shoes
3. Reality
4. Country Funkin’
5. Got To Give
6. Mother’s Tongue
7. Dream Come True
8. Never Stop
9. Headhunters (Live)
10. A Day At The Seaside

Acid Jazz presents a very special collaboration with Flying Dutchman – the first new music from the iconic US label since the ’70s. Billy Valentine is one of the great soul voices working in America (‘the secret weapon of almost every songwriter in L.A.’) – with a history as deep and varied as the Young-Hold Trio, the original touring company of ‘The Wiz’, in collaboration with his brother as ‘The Valentine Brothers’, right up to credits that include Swedish House Mafia.

Collaborator Bob Thiele Jr. is the son of legendary producer and Flying Dutchman founder Bob Thiele (John Coltrane, Gil Scott-Heron and many others), and an acclaimed producer and songwriter in his own right. Having worked together for over three decades, his vision was to produce a Billy Valentine record to reflect our times.

Conceived in the summer of 2020, it is a response to the throes of a global pandemic and the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. More than a covers album, this record uncovers the works of the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron, and Pharaoh Sanders in a new setting. Recorded at EastWest Studios (formally the historic United Western Recorders), produced and mixed by Dave Way, and featuring a stella cast of session musicians, the album is as sonically stunning as it is moving.

TRACK LISTING

1. We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue
2. Home Is Where The Hatred Is
3. My People… Hold On
4. You Haven’t Done Nothin’
5. The Creator Has A Master Plan
6. Sign Of The Times
7. Wade In The Water
8. The World Is A Ghetto 

Acid Jazz is marking its 35th Anniversary with a series of classic releases from their catalogue The first of these is Mother Earth’s debut album - ‘Stoned Woman’.

Recorded in a Tottenham industrial estate studio at the height of ‘acid jazz’, it’s a rock inflected, funky brew that heavily referenced Blaxploitation soundtracks from the early to mid 70s. Mother Earth developed a life of their own, moving through line-up changes, and leaving behind the arguably more radical sound that remains distilled in this album. A must-have for original-era acid jazz fans, marking an important time in British music.

Fingier Records was established in 2020 as a group label of Acid Jazz Records to showcase the Latin American productions of Argentine producer Kevin Fingier It has produced a series of sell-out and collectable 7” singles, with some going for hundreds of pounds on collector sites.

This compilation brings these singles together onto one LP, with graphics and photography on a sleeve to match the sound and style of Fingier Records. Features the vocals of Diane Ward, Jo-Ann Hamilton and Gerri Granger, Brazilian singer Jose Dias and Senegalese vocalist/percussionist Abdoulaye Badiane, backed by the all-star Kevin Fingier Collective.

TRACK LISTING

Why Don’t You Go Home
September
Don’t Wanna Cry No More
Cocktail De Medianoche
El Basement
Rua Nova Barao
I Love Without A Love
Latin Dynamite
Um Brilho Novo
Kairo Bancou Moulu
Sunglasses After Dark
Addis Abada

Over the past couple of years Acid Jazz have been re-issuing releases from the enigmatic ‘Albarika Store’ label, a goldmine in Afro cuts from Benin, West Africa. The latest instalment is the ultra-rare ‘Ogassa Original (Vol. 1), the first LP from obscure but ultimately brilliant Porto Novo group, Ogassa from 1978.

Like many Albarika releases, it was recorded at EMI Lagos, giving a depth and fidelity that stands out in the realm of Afro rarities. Reissued in full with the original artwork for the very first time, a must have for Afro collectors and completists alike.

TRACK LISTING

1. Avale
2. Ogassa Story
3. Production Vido Tche
4. Gbe We Gnin Wa Bio

Acid Jazz collaborates with Dutch-Italian vinyl specialist Tardam Records for this collection of raw R&B and Soul hard-hitters Featuring the likes of The Mighty Typhoons, Spinshots and Voodoo Working Club, it’s a modern exploration of a classic soul-night ready sound Presented in impeccable style with a specially commissioned sleeve illustration by Emanuel Wiemans of a midcentury pool party to really set the tone.

TRACK LISTING

1. I’m Com’un Home In The Morn’un – The Mighty Typhoons Ft. Beaulah Enser
2. Seven Bullets, One Gun – The Spinshots
3. Scorched – Rosie Stevens & The Dry Riverbed Trio
4. Do It All Night – Working Voodoo Club
5. Open Your Heart – The Uppertones
6. Gigglewater – 44 Shakedown
7. Waddasei – The Mighty Typhoons Ft. Viky De Sentis
8. One More Chance – The Might Typhoons Ft. Beaulah Enser
9. Sweet Baby Of Mine – Rose Stevens & The Dry Riverbed Trio
10. The Snake – The Mighty Typhoons
11. For A Minute – Voodoo Working Club
12. Sometimes I Feel – The Uppertones
13. Ramrod – 44 Shakedown
14. Diabolik - Skepticals

The meeting of two great reggae artists, reissued on LP for the very first time. A must-have for reggae, roots and dancehall collectors. Includes Johnson’s fabulous take on ‘Sitting In The Park’ and French’s protest ‘No War’. Recorded at the legendary Channel One Recording studio in Kingston, Jamaica, with the reputed Roots Radics Band, produced by ‘Jah’ Thomas Remastererd by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering and presented in a deluxe sleeve, featuring the original artwork by Wilfred Limonious

TRACK LISTING

1. Sitting In The Park
2. Park Dub
3. Know Yourself Mankind
4. Mankind Dub
5. I Want To Hold You
6. Hold You Dub
7. Stop Spread Rumour
8. Rumour Dub
9. Number One Lover
10. Love Dub
11. No War
12. War Dub

The latest LP installment from the legendary Albarika Store archive, presented by Acid Jazz Records: a compilation of Afro-Funk from the supreme T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. Includes the underground classic ‘It’s A Vanity’, among tracks from throughout their career from the late ‘60s to the early ‘80s. A prime example of some of the finest original Afro-Funk and an ideal introduction to T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.

TRACK LISTING

Gbeto Viv
It’s A Vanity
Minkou E So Non Moin
Kou Tche Kpo So O
Houe Djein Nada
Gbeti Ma Djro
Segla
Medida
Gan Tche Kpo
Mi Si Ba To
Mi Ve Wa Se
Aihe Ni Kpe We 

A compilation of the finest early ’90s underground club sounds presented by Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland. As Acid Jazz began a period of extraordinary commercial success – Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai selling millions of records – London’s club scene began to have a global influence. The compilation offers a snapshot of the kinds of records that were being played at the time, combining original Acid Jazz releases with sides from other labels that surrounded the scene. These records could fill a dance floor in seconds. This collection gives them a new platform to be celebrated.

TRACK LISTING

Blacker – The Ballistic Brothers Vs. Eccentric Afros
Beads, Things & Flowers – Humble Souls
Come On – Marden Hill
Last Night Beats – The Subterraneans
APB – A Man Called Adam
Modal (Blue Train Dub) – The Quiet Boys
Jazz Jupiter (Da Scat Mix) – A-Zel
Everything Is Going To The Beat – Dhama B Vs. Ace Of Clubs

Soul Revivers continue onwards from their earlier 2022 release ‘On The Grove’ with the hotly anticipated dub version ‘Grove Dub’

An ambitious, collaborative project, producers David Hill and Nick Manasseh bring together reggae legends, including Ken Boothe and Ernest Ranglin, with the hottest UK musical talent, in what has become the standout reggae project of the year

The Dub version continues in the same vein – another installment in the rich history of West London reggae and dub.

TRACK LISTING

Meanwhile Dub
Harder Version
Underground Dub
Gone Clear
Rocka Dub
Why Dub
Got To Dub
More Drama

Gloria Scott was discovered by Sly Stone, before working with Ike and Tina Turner in the ‘Ikettes’, and going on to make classic, collectable soul records in the ‘70s.

Her collaboration with Barry White yielded her acclaimed 1974 album ‘What Am I Gonna Do’, which included ‘(A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin’, and also sees three tracks on this brand new record.

Alongside the White-written/associated tracks, are 5 original numbers (including a co-write with PP Arnold), and a cover of Gospel-House classic ‘Promised Land’.

An absolute must-have contemporary record from a classic soul artist.

Brand New Heavies’ seminal self-titled debut album sees full reissue on Acid Jazz, pressed on special edition blue vinyl

The record exploded in the summer of 1990, defining the the sound of the summer, while establishing both the band and the Acid Jazz label.

With a fresh take on their influences – ’70s Jazz Funk and Two-Step Soul – combined with a London Warehouse Party vibe, it began the groups journey to international success, with 16 Top 40 hits.

Includes raw funk cuts ‘BNH’ and ‘Sphynx’, as well as ‘Dream Come True’ and ‘Stay This Way’ – both of which would become US R&B and UK Pop hits.

Their legacy lives on with their spirit firmly residing in this classic debut LP.

TRACK LISTING

BNH
Gimmie One Of Those
Dream Come True
Put The Funk Back In It
People Get Ready
Ride In The Sky
Sphynx
Stay This Way
Shake Down

Recorded for Benin’s Communist revolution, ‘Rhythm Revolution’ is a rare and truly unique Afrobeat record - it’s rumoured only 200 copies of the original release survived.

Ferry Djimmy was a schoolteacher, former boxer, and a personal friend of Muhammad Ali and Fela Kuti. He was later Jacques Chirac’s personal bodyguard.

Recorded at the Satel Studio in Cotonou, the album is one of the toughest, wildest and deepest slices of Afro-Funk cut - with raw African rhythms, distortion, energy and wit.

Alongside nods to Hendrix, Kuti and James Brown, there is something truly unique about Ferry Djimmy’s musical legacy.

A must-have for Afrobeat, Afro Funk and Psych collectors.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Hard fuzz and clatter here from a Benin revolutionary.. Ferry wields his guitar like a man possessed, issuing wah-wah bombardments and frenzied solos; whilst a whole array of yet-to-be-sampled breaks thump away in the back. Real deal shit!

TRACK LISTING

Be Free
Atakpa DC9
When I Come In The Road
Brest DC10
Yong Revolution
Carry Me Blak
Antiga
Ichango
A Were We Coco
Egbemi Black
Love Love
Start To Pray
Oluwa Loranmi Nichai
Toba Walemi
Chikri Man
My Dad Has Me To Kanm

Acid Jazz present a new collaboration between Chris Bangs and Mick Talbot, ‘Back To Business’, celebrating the mod club jazz sounds that are at the backbone of their DNA.

DJ and Producer Chris Bangs first coined the term ‘acid jazz’, and has produced records for Galliano and Paul Weller, alongside his own project, Quiet Boys.

Mick Talbot was a founding member and keyboardist of The Style Council with Paul Weller. He has since played with Galliano, Dexys Midnight Runners and Candy Staton.

Having previously recorded together in Yada Yada and Soundscape, ‘Back To Business’ marks the first Bangs & Talbot collaboration for years. Vital for mod collectors and beyond.

TRACK LISTING

Sumthin’ Else
Surf’N’Turf
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Stingray (Live At PJ’s)
Kookie T
It’s Alright (Instrumental)
Leela’s Dance
Blue Jeans
Goody Goody
Pick’N’Mick’s
Jerk Chicken
Blues Walk

Acid Jazz present the second LP from Glasgowbased jazz ensemble Nimbus Sextet, ‘Forward Thinker’.

Led by Joe Nicholls, the band emerged in 2020 with their debut, ‘Dreams Fulfilled’, and a series of remixes and singles on Acid Jazz, establishing them as one of the most exciting jazz groups in the UK.

In January the band offered a taster with ‘To The Light’, which was playlisted by Jazz FM, alongside a debut at Ronnie Scott’s and a series of live dates.

An exuberant, innovative and uplifting second effort, the band step out ‘From The Shadows’ and the turbulence of the last couple of years with a positive message and buoyant outlook.

TRACK LISTING

High Time
Forward Thinker
Woodview
Another Place
Search For Solace
From The Shadows
To The Light

Originally released in 1980 on the Alberika label, Orchestre Les Volcans du Benin ‘Vol. 1’ has long been a holy grail for Afro-Cuban aficionados.

It now sees its first official reissue on Acid Jazz Records, with four infectious tracks across the two sides, including ‘Oya Ka Jojo’, Latin dancefloor dynamite and a DJ must-have.

Remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering and presented in a wonderful colour sleeve, it’s an opportunity to finally own this special and highly sought after LP.

TRACK LISTING

Bella
Oya Ka Jojo
Mercenariat Africa
Gbemeho

The Step were part of the early ‘80s Mod Revival, drawing a marked influence from Classic Soul records. Releasing five singles with CBS, they also played gigs with The Kinks, Elvis Costello, and Secret Affair. This collection on Acid Jazz subsidiary Countdown Records includes studio sessions, demos and live recordings, giving a taste of what the band was about during their brief career. A great addition for Mod and Mod Revival collector and enthusiasts.

Acid Jazz presents the long-awaited reissue of The Aloof’s cult classic final LP ‘This Constant Chase For Thrills’.

Formed in 1990, The Aloof were a pioneering electronic act, playing and touring with the likes of Massive Attack and Leftfield. After three albums with the Warner EastWest, they forged their own path, releasing ‘This Constant Chase For Thrills’ on their own Screaming Target label.

Despite highlights ‘Doing It For Money’ and ‘Painted Face’, as well as ‘So Good’, which featured in the US version of ‘Queer As Folk’, the album didn’t get the coverage it deserved upon release.

Within a dark and moody atmosphere, there is definite Ibiza and Balearic feel to the record, showing a band with a positive DIY spirit.

TRACK LISTING

So Good
Doing It For Money
Good Morning World
Sold
Tearing Up Inside
Infatuated
D.I.R.M. Version
The Beach
Painted Face

Acid Jazz and sister labels OST and Miles Away have released a series of killer vintage soul records over the last few years. Often in limited runs, these are now selling for inflated amounts.

This compilation gathers them together, alongside in a couple of album rarities, in one super-cool package.

Musically, we have Northern stompers such as The Tom’s ‘When You Lose Your Grove’, Tony & Tandy’s ‘Two Can Make It Together’ and The Patterson Twins masterful ‘Gonna Find A True Love’; disco funk classic ‘Family Tree’ by Family Tree, and from a similar era Rita Joyce’s ‘Dancin’ Close’; The Gil Scott Heron-sounding gospel of Lamont Butler, with ‘Ungodly War’, which sits well alongside Delores Fuller’s exceptional ‘One More Chance Lord’; we take it down a notch with Rick Hickman’s yacht rock rarity ‘Time Is Long’ and the lush harmonies of the Fantastics ‘We Got Good Lovin’.

Housed in a beautifully illustrated sleeve, this is the first in an ongoing series from Acid Jazz Records.

TRACK LISTING

Lamont Butler - Ungodly War 
The Tom – Emmanuel And Ron Experience - When You Lose Your Groove
Patterson Twins - Gonna Find A True Love
Rita Joyce - Dancing Close 
Rick Hickman - Time Is Long 
The Fantastics - We Got Good Lovin’
The Tom – Emmanuel And Ron Experience - Why (The Knower)
Delores Fuller - One More Chance Lord 
Family Tree - Family Tree
Leon’s Creation - This Is The Beginning 
Tony And Tandy - Two Can Make It Together 
Lamont Butler - Thank You Lord 

Acid Jazz Records presents Nick Manasseh & David Hill’s Soul Revivers: ‘On The Grove’.

An ambitious and passionate collaboration project, it features musicians spanning seven decades, including Jamaican legends: Ernest Raglin, Ken Boothe, Earl 16 and Devon Russell; alongside contemporary artists, including jazz trumpeter Ms. Maurice (known for her work with Afro—Jazz Ensemble Kokoroko and Nubya Garcia), and vocalist Alexia Coley.

The roots of Soul Revivers lie in film. In late 2017, David was asked to act as music and creative consultant for Idris Elba’s Yardie. David & Nick’s subsequent productions for the film provided the spark for what would become the album.

‘On The Grove’ was produced at Yard Studios, under the Westway, below the charred hulk of Grenfell. It is a journey through the moodier side of reggae, and a progression in the ever evolving, yet timeless nature of the music. It is also a tribute to its long connection to West London, and in particular Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill, distilled in the sleeve itself, which features Charlie Phillips’ photograph of Lepke (founder of Dread Broadcasting Platform) setting up for the Notting Hill Carnival in the late ‘70s.

Alongside the featured artists, there are stellar performances throughout, from an extraordinary range of London’s most talented musicians, completing the next chapter in the musical mythology of West London reggae.

TRACK LISTING

No More Drama – Feat. Ernest Raglan
Tell Me Why – Feat. Ken Boothe
Got To Live – Feat. Earl 16
Look No Further – Feat. Ms. Maurice
Gone Are The Days – Feat. Alexia Coley
Meanwhile Shuffle – Feat. Matic Horns
Cee Rocka – Feat. Dougal And Ciyo
The Underground – Feat. Devon Russell
Where The River – Feat. Earl 16
Harder – Feat. Ernest Raglin
Futile Cause – Feat. Alexia Coley
Down River – Feat. Ms. Maurice

Acid Jazz Records present ‘Play For Today’, the final album from The Spitfires.

After four albums, including 2020’s ‘Life Worth Living’ (Top 5, UK National Indie Chart), countless live performances, and having gained considerable loyal support (including support slot invitations from Paul Weller and The Specials), The Spitfires have a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost young bands.

‘Play For Today’ offers a culmination of their journey and offers a level of introspection, alongside their characteristic social commentary, pop nous and raw passion.

Produced by Simon Dine (long-time producer of Paul Weller), the band continue to make strides musically and sonically, absorbing influences and inspiration, making a triumphant farewell for an ever-exciting band.

TRACK LISTING

Suburbia
Save Me
Blaze Of Glory
Don’t Look At Me
Interlude 1: Accumulator
Did You Have To Go?
Find My Way Back Home
Time To Take Sides
Interlude 2: Helpline
Spoiler Alert
Keep Me Waiting
Interlude 3: In It To Win It!
Reap What You Sow
Costa Del Mundane
Promised Land
Credits

After a busy, successful and critically acclaimed year Matt Berry offers one final salvo to his fans. A unique 12” single featuring his two collaborations with Sean Ono Lennon.

Sean worked on two tracks from ‘The Blue Elephant’ album and applied his mind to give us distinctive re-interpretations of ‘Summer Sun’ and ‘Like Stone’. Psychedelics mixed with a stomping beat for ‘Summer Sun’ and something a little bit weird and reflective for ‘Like Stone’.

TRACK LISTING

Summer Sun (Sean Ono Lennon Remix)
Like Stone (Sean Ono Lennon Remix)

Following the huge acclaim earlier this year for Matt Berry’s eighth studio album The Blue Elephant, Acid Jazz Records release Gather Up, a compilation album encompassing the singular musical adventures this extraordinary musician has taken over the past decade, offering a revelatory and fascinating insight into the working process of a genuine musical maverick and sonic explorer.

Over 10 years with Acid Jazz Records Berry has released nine incredibly diverse albums (including one live album). From the tangled-folk rock thickets of Witchazel and Kill The Wolf (which features the song from which this box gets its name), to the out-there explorations of Music For Insomniacs or TV Themes’ retro-kitsch delights, through the soul power in Matt Berry & The Maypoles Live or the twilight grooves of The Small Hours to the classic pedal-steel songwriting of Phantom Birds and the smorgasbord of psychedelic sounds on The Blue Elephant, Berry’s journey has produced a feast for the ears that twists and turns down more unexpected avenues than most artists could manage over several careers. 

Gather Up pulls together an excellent 21-track career spanning collection expertly compiled by Berry, available as a separate, standalone release on 2LP or single CD, including non-album tracks such as ‘Snuff Box Theme’. No easy achievement considering the sheer breadth, diversity and volume of his exceptional musical output. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Take My Hand
2. Something In My Eye
3. Medicine
4. Badger's Wake
5. World In Action
6. One By One
7. Take A Bow
8. October Sun
9. So Low
10. Summer Sun
11. Gather Up
12. Theme From Snuff Box
13. Middle Of The East
14. Like Stone
15. Phantom Birds
16. Music For Insomniacs Part IV
17. Say It Again
18. The Innkeepers Song Live
19. Obsessed & So Obscure
20. Woman
21. Solstice 

Gather Up is the culmination of ten years on Acid Jazz for Matt Berry. Gather Up comes as a beautifully packaged 5LP Box set with a 64 page booklet or 4CD Hardback book-set with a 28 pages of illustrations and notes.

The 55 tracks are split between an anthology compilation that tracks the very best tracks from his 8 albums and associated singles for the label over the last decade, an album of unreleased tracks and rarities, a demo version of his 2020 album Phantom Birds and the previously unreleased Live At A Festival LP which showcases Matt & his band the Maypoles in full flight.

The book included in both formats has an extended essay by Chris Catchpole which review Matt’s musical career and an exclusive set of photo images culled from the archive of Matt’s long time photographic collaborator Ben Meadows.

The LP Box is strictly limited to 1500 copies and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Matt.

TRACK LISTING

CD 1 - Gather Up
1. Take My Hand
2. Something In My Eye
3. Medicine
4. Badger's Wake
5. World In Action
6. One By One
7. Take A Bow
8. October Sun
9. So Low
10. Summer Sun
11. Gather Up
12. Theme From Snuff Box
13. Middle Of The East
14. Like Stone
15. Phantom Birds
16. Music For Insomniacs Part IV
17. Say It Again
18. The Innkeepers Song Live
19. Obsessed & So Obscure
20. Woman
21. Solstice

CD 2 - Rare & Unreleased
1. Bigger Than A Dog - Original Witchazel Intro
2. Take My Hand - Live On Absolute Radio
3. Autumn - Witchazel Outtake
4. The Dawn - From Myspace EP 'Summer Sun' 2010
5. Snuff Box - Live Loop Used Live Between 2005 - 2012
6. Catch Me In Time
7. Dark Beach - From Myspace EP 'Summer Sun' 2010
8. The Hangman - Acoustic Version 2007
9. Wonder Theme - Became 'Something In My Eye’
10. Music For Insomniacs - Alternative Intro
11. Theme From 'Sorry’ - Live From Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe 2007
12. Music For Insomnaics - Rejected Theme
13. Walk With Samuel - Devil Inside Me’
14. Blankety Blank - Vocal Intro
15. The Blue Elephant - Trip Two
16. Sweet Velvet - Became 'Seasons On Fire’
17. The Blue Elephant - Alternative

CD 3 - Phantom First
1. Covered In Clowns
2. Get Her Out Of My Mind
3. I'm Going
4. Make It Go Away
5. Peter Cleopatra And The Windmill
6. Play On
7. Take A Bow
8. The Preacher's House
9. A Shot Rang Out In The Forest
10. The Wrong House
11. Where's My Love?
12. You Danced All Night

CD 4 - Live At A Festival
1. Medicine / So Low
2. Silver Sun
3. Theme From Snuffbox
4. Solstice
5. The Pheasant

The debut solo album by Mother Earth singer, Paul Weller band member and erstwhile Noel Gallagher replacement in Oasis, Matt Deighton.

A pastoral folk album that sits perfectly alongside Nick Drake’s ‘Bryter Layter’ and ‘Solid Air’ by John Martyn.

Originally released in 1995, ‘Villager’ garnered great reviews from NME, Q and The Guardian, and, on its 2011 reissue, was named by Mojo as a Buried Treasure.

Remastered from the original production master by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering (Ace Records, The Small Faces), the vinyl sounds incredible.

TRACK LISTING

Good For Us
Stones Around The Candle
Villager/ Bone Dry Boat
Jesus Loves The Rain
Get Out The Road
Hey, My Mind
Pure English Honey
The Windmills Of Norfolk
Two Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Hiding In The Breeze

Featuring the theme from his BAFTA Awardwinning TV show ‘Toast Of London’, ‘Take My Hand’, it has been his biggest selling album and has been out of print on vinyl for several years.

Acclaimed at the time of release, The Guardian said “‘Witchazel’ is enchanting… genuinely impressive,” while The Times labelled it “… psychfolk genius.” The album has since matured into an acknowledged classic.

TRACK LISTING

An Awakening
Take My Hand
Accident At A Harvest Festival
A Song For Rosie
So Low
Look In My Book
The Pheasant
Woman
The Badger’s Wake
Rain Came Down
From The Manger To The
Mortuary/Recorder Dance
Into The Sky
Roosting Time

We’re delighted to present Long Tall Shorty's long lost masterpiece A Bird In The Hand. 

The first full length Long Tall Shorty album released originally released in 2001. Lead singer Tony Perfect mixes a Stonesey drawl with then contemporary garage rock stylings, to show that he was always the smartest of the mod revivalists. 

Produced by Danny Corr and originally only released on CD, it is making its vinyl debut in an edition limited to 500 copies.

TRACK LISTING

1. And That Ain't All
2. Shine On Me
3. Out Of Reach
4. Don't Try To Stop Me
5. Taking Time
6. Shake
7. Killing Me Killing You
8. Justice
9. Hey Joe
10. Forever On Your Own
11. Centre Of The Square
12. Tenth Floor
13. I Saw The Light

In his tenth year with Acid Jazz, the ever-prolific Matt Berry has crafted a psych masterpiece. Once again proving his artistic progression and ambition knows no bounds

Recorded during the summer of 2020, ‘Blue Elephant’ is testament to Matt’s exceptional musicianship, production skills and songwriting prowess with every instrument played by Matt including, guitars, bass, a variety of keyboards and synthesizers (piano, Wurlitzer, mellotron, Moog, Hammond, Vox and Farfisa organs), with the exception of drums – supplied by Craig Blundell, on arguably his best album to date. 

This music soundtracks an album that explores themes surrounding today’s close scrutiny in all its bewildering, objectifying and unnerving experiences. Very much a conceptual and, therefore, continuous long-player, the album’s infectious grooves come to the fore on standout tracks ‘Summer Sun’, heavy-psych instrumental ‘Invisible’, the three-part ‘Blues Inside Me’, which encompasses a psych journey through a late ‘60s and early glam filter mixed with the propulsive ‘Like Stone’.

TRACK LISTING

1. Aboard
2. Summer Sun
3. Safe Passage
4. Now Disappear
5. Alone
6. Invisible
7. Blues Inside Me
8. I Cannot Speak
9. The Blue Elephant
10. Life Unknown
11. Safer Passage
12. Like Stone
13. Story Told
14. Forget Me
15. Now Disappear (Again)

When Nkrumah Jah Thomas’ hit #1 on the Jamaican charts in 1976 with his debut single ‘Midnight Rock’ on Alvin Ranglin’s GG label it gave the new DJ a theme song and an entry into the world of music. Within 3 years he had launched his own label Midnight Rock and alongside more music under his own name he produced a series of classics by the likes of Tristan Palmer, Anthony Johnson, Early B and many more.

In 1997 he signed a deal with Acid Jazz’s Roots label and since then, through on-going collaborations, his career as a producer has been anthologised and developed, including the release of a series of archive King Tubby and Scientist mixes, the use of his masters to be sampled by Nas (on “The Don”), Protoje and others, and re-issues of his classic albums. To celebrate 40 year of Midnight Rock, last year Thomas went back into his tape archive to unearth another 10 tracks, either with original vocals or guest names brought in.

Behind original rhythms recorded at Channel 1, Tuff Gong and others, featuring the Roots Radics and The Midnight Rock Band and mixed in places like King Jammy’s and Tubby’s we are given a line-up of stellar talent. We have Lynval Thomson with the plaintive ‘I Can Be Your Man’, and forthright Super Cat on ‘Me Glad She Gone’ and first rare Luciano on ‘Good Thing Goin’ On. They are joined by Courtney Melody, Pinchers and Joesy Wales, Daville and more. Keeping the circle whole Thomas appears on two tracks including the future classic ‘Sounds A Go Dead Tonight’ with Junior Vibes.

TRACK LISTING

1. I Can Be Your Man - Linval Thompson
2. Good Thing Goin’ On - Luciano
3. Hey Sexy Lady - Courtney Melody
4. I Love To Smoke - Gryphan
5. Sounds A Go Dead Tonight - Jah Thomas & Junior Vibes
6. All A The Gal Them - Pinchers & Jose Wale
7. Me Glad She Gone-  Super Cat
8. Drunk And Stage - Jah Thomas
9. Since I Laid Eyes On You - Daville
10. Love Songs Are Back Again (Adopted Song) - Tony Curtis, Ghost & Mitch

Acid Jazz present ‘Circles: The Ultimate Fleur De Lys’, the definitive compilation centred around one of the greatest 60s bands.

Atlantic Records, Andrew Loog Oldham, Shel Talmy, Cream, Isaac Hayes and Tony Blackburn - all these and so many more turn up in the story of Southampton band the Fleur De Lys. You may not have heard of them and if you have it may be just because of their glorious cover of the Who’s ‘Circles’, an ultimate freakbeat anthem that this compilation is named after, but the singles they released in the second half of the 1960s are one of the greatest collections of singles by any band, ranging from R&B through freakbeat and psych and back into club soul.

Emerging from the English South Coast’s competitive club scene they signed to Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s pioneering indie label Immediate where they recorded two singles before being taken under the wing of Frank Fenter, who worked out of the UK Polydor office running the UK arm of Atlantic. The group went through numerous line up changes as they recorded a series of singles which are now some of the most collectible of the era.

Acid Jazz and Countdown Records have been the custodians of the Fleur De Lys catalogue for the last decade and this compilation is the culmination of that work, containing all the singles that they released for Immediate, Polydor and Atlantic (where they pipped Led Zeppelin to become the first UK signed band to that legendary label).

TRACK LISTING

Circles
Mud In Your Eye
Hold On (as Ruptert’s People)
Gong With The Luminous Nose Tick Tock (as Shyster)
Hammer Head
One City Girl
I Forgive You (as Chocolate Frog)
Brick By Brick (Stone By Stone)
I Can See A Light
Prodigal Son
Nothing To Say
Stop Crossing The Bridge
The Bitter And The Sweet (as Tony And Tandy With The Fleur De Lys)
So Come On
You’ve Got To Earn It
Two Can Make It Together (as Tony And Tandy With The Fleur De Lys)
I’ve Been Trying
Liar
Moondreams
Wait For Me
Love Them All (Demo)
Gotta Get Enough Time (Demo)
I Walk The Sands
Yeah I Do Love You (Demo)

Countdown Records (via Acid Jazz) are proud to announce the release of the label’s first 7” single in over 30 years. And what could be more apt than the single that never was by label favourites Makin’ Time?

Produced by The Truth and 9 Below Zero’s Dennis Greaves and Mick Lister, this was to have been the West Midland group’s debut single for Countdown.

Featuring the group’s original members, it remained unreleased when that line-up changed and Countdown’s parent label Stiff decided in a change of direction, aiming the group at the pop charts.

Featuring two highlights of their early live set - the Fay Hallam composed ‘Honey’ and ‘Take What You Can Get’, written by Martin Blunt.

The 7” comes in an exclusive Countdown sleeve so make sure to get your copy now.

TRACK LISTING

Honey (Original Version)
Take What You Can Get (Original Version)

1991 was a momentous year for The Brand New Heavies. They started it without a singer second on the bill to The James Taylor Quartet and by the end they had a Top 3 US hit and were about to embark on a run of 16 Top 40 hits in the UK. N’Dea Davenport was by this point fronting the group as their guest singer and the brilliant string of singles from their debut album were becoming locked in the minds of an ever-growing fanbase.

Live they were a revelation. The only group from the UK scene who could do tight and slick, without slipping into ‘lift music’ blandness. The core membership of Andrew Levy, Simon Bartholomew and Jan Kincaid had been playing together since college and each knew where the other was going. Their ability to write classic soul songs lifted them above their contemporaries.

‘Shibuya 357’ is the quintessential (and only live) document of an era that quickly passed. The hits - ‘Never Stop’, ‘Dream Come True’, ‘Stay This Way’ and ‘Don’t Let It Go To Your Head’ are all here - as are some compelling funk jams. This recording captures the ecstatic rush of joy; when you go from youthful dream to accomplishment in such a short period.

The album was only ever released in Japan in the late 90s and then only for a very short time. Acid Jazz are pleased to release this new version remastered from the source tape and the album appears on vinyl for the very first time.

TRACK LISTING

Gimme One Of Those
BNH
Ride In The Sky
Got To Give
People Get Ready
Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
Mr. Tanaka
Never Stop
Stay This Way
Doin’ It To Death
Dream Come True
Shakedown

Two monumental full-side tracks from a pair of late 70s Orchestre Poly-Rythmo albums, Unité Africane isn’t exactly a compilation, more a combination of the standouts at a time when the band was at the peak of its powers. 

Originally released in 1977, the title track is an infectious Afro-Latin workout that is interwoven with driving horn stabs by master trumpet player Tidiani Kone. Unité Africaine was recorded over the Nigerian border at the state-of-the-art EMI Studios in Lagos, yielding majestic sonic results. 

Mede Ma Gnin Messe is taken from the 1978 Special 30 Novembre, and this time Poly-Rythmo wore their Afro-funk hat to deliver almost sixteen minutes of dancefloor fire. Propelled by Poly-Rythmo’s super-tight beats and underpinned by a relentless keyboard refrain, the magic is the stellar horn parts that take this track to another level. 

As with much of the Albarika catalogue, copies of the original LPs are incredibly tough to locate in anything approaching reasonable condition, so this should be a gift.

TRACK LISTING

1. Unite Africaine
2. Mede Ma Gnin Messe

Albarika Store is home to many rare recordings, from more traditional folkloric and Sato styles, to the funk, blues and psych inspired workouts of the All Mighty Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou, as they referred to themselves. Many of the original records are sought after by DJs and collectors as prime examples of Afro-funk, Afro-Latin and Afropsych sounds.

The next in the series of reissues by Acid Jazz presents a straight reproduction of the incredibly hard to find Poly-Rythmo ‘Vol. 4’ album, originally from 1978.

For DJs and dancers this album has long been about the killer track ‘Aiha Ni Kpe We’, an incendiary Afrobeat recording which will activate any dancefloor anywhere. “Every time I listen to the Orchestre Poly Rythmo… Wow, I just discover something new in the music” - Gilles Peterson

This is the first exhaustive trawl of the archive and will see the label presented in a way that ensures its historical importance is recognized. Trips to West Africa have secured original master tapes and the process of transferring is ongoing. Over the next few years a comprehensive reissue campaign is planned.

TRACK LISTING

Davi Djinto Super No2
Homin Si Tche
Aiha Ni Kpe We

Largely remembered today at the first group of future Charlatans main man Martin Blunt, Makin’ Time emerged as a breath of fresh air from the 1980s mod scene. Younger than the revival bands that had gone before instead of watered down punk their music was a glorious mix of power pop and 1960s pop and soul.

Signed to Eddie Piller and Maxine Forrest’s Stiff distributed Countdown label it was seen as a possible contender for pop crossover. The album that emerged was the vibrant and exciting Rhythm & Soul.

The band was fronted by the bob-headed, strong voiced organ playing Fay Hallam and guitarist and vocalist Mark McGounden, and these two along with Martin Blunt provided a strong set of self penned songs. A dynamic band live ‘Here Is My Number’, ‘Feels Like It’s Love’ ‘Only Time Will Time’ and the other self penned numbers were already fan anthems by the time they were recorded.

TRACK LISTING

Take What You Can Get
Feels Like It's Love
Here Is My Number
Only Time Will Tell
Did I Tell You
Honey
I Gotta Move
Where The Rhythm Takes You
Every Single Day
The Girl That Touched My Soul
I Know What You're Thinking
Stop This Cryin' Inside

Acid Jazz Records celebrate an exclusive licensing agreement with Albarika Store, the legendary record label that defined the sound of Benin and influenced the entire region of West Africa and beyond with this first exhaustive trawl of the archive and will see the label presented in a way that ensures its historical importance is recognized.

‘Ipa Boogie’ is a super rare LP from 1978 that almost never surfaces in good shape. Today even average condition copies can command £500 to £1,000 on the collector's market and for good reason. These are the only known recordings by this obscure band and they present the listener with some of the finest afro-boogie and afro funk that the extensive Albarika Store catalogue has to offer.

Transferred from the original tapes and remastered by Grammy award-winning engineer Frank Merritt at The Carvery, the album is presented with beautiful artwork and packaging to match the sonics. This is the music as it should be heard.

TRACK LISTING

Get The Music Now
Africa
Jesus Kese Me
Alo Dangereux
Giving Yourself To Me
Sunga Mba

Acid Jazz Records are proud to announce an exclusive licensing agreement with Albarika Store, the legendary record label that defined the sound of Benin and influenced the entire region of West Africa and beyond.

This is the first exhaustive trawl of the archive and will see the label presented in a way that ensures its historical importance is recognized.

‘Segla’ is a hens’ teeth-rare Poly Rythmo album from 1978 that was originally released without a sleeve as ALS059. Recorded at EMI Lagos, Nigeria, as per most of the Poly Rythmo recordings for Albarika, the sound quality is from the tapes is dynamic and fresh.

Transferred from the original tapes and remastered by Grammy award-winning engineer Frank Merritt at The Carvery, the album is presented with beautiful artwork and packaging to match the sonics. This is the music as it should be heard.

TRACK LISTING

Mi Kple Mi De
Dodji Lo
Segla

Nimbus Sextet are a major new talent on the UK jazz scene. Led by pianist/keyboardist Joe Nichols, the Glaswegian contemporary jazz outfit play infectiously original music that spans the musical spectrum. Nimbus Sextet’s fresh take on jazz blends instantly relatable melodic hooks with driving grooves, sophisticated musicianship and episodic compositions.

The core of the Nimbus Sextet sound comes courtesy of Joe with long-time collaborators Alex Palmer and Mischa Stevens. The trio met while studying at Edinburgh University and have continued to perform together ever since. Nimbus Sextet was fully formed in 2018 with the addition of Martin Fell and Euan Allardice joining the line-up with James Mackay arriving later.

It was around this point the band started to compose and record the first shoots of what would become Nimbus Sextet’s blend. A decidedly wellbalanced alchemy, arrived at somewhat naturally by way of the varied musical influences and contributions from each of its culturally diverse members. You’re as likely to hear elements of Herbie Hancock and Gil Scott-Heron as easily as The Roots and Robert Glasper.

TRACK LISTING

Trap Door
Lily White
Deep Dark Blue Lights
Klara
Séance
Dreams Fulfilled

BAFTA Award-winning actor Matt Berry has been the star of a number of high profile TV series including Toast Of London, The IT Crowd and most recently What We Do In The Shadows. Concurrently he has cultivated a career as a musician that has seen him release six solo albums and collaborate with the likes of Bond composer David Arnold, Jean-Michel Jarre and most recently Josh Homme, who invited him to perform on the Desert Sessions.

His most recent album ‘TV Themes’ was a UK Top 40 hit and was awarded four stars by Will Hodgkinson writing for The Times. His reinterpretation of British TV themes of the past was no mere wallow in nostalgia but an exploration of recording techniques and a joyous celebration of the music.

‘Phantom Birds’ was inspired by a fascination with Bob Dylan’s ‘John Wesley Harding’, the way it was recorded with the minimum of musicians to draw attention to the songs. For the recording Matt worked with drummer Craig Blundell - known for his work with Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett - and legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole, yet the tinges of Americana are never allowed to overwhelm Matt’s own distinctive style.

TRACK LISTING

Something In My Eye
You Danced All Night
Phantom Birds
Moonlight Flit
Man Of Doom
Where’s My Love?
Take A Bow
Intermission
Hail To The King
In My Mind
That Yellow Bird
Waving Goodbye
Covered In Clowns

Lightning Orchestra is the creative conduit for multi-instrumentalist Travis Murphy, bolstered by a rotating, elastically-numbered backing band of like-minded souls inspired by legends from Jimi Hendrix to Fela Kuti. The outfit’s debut album Source and Deliver is released on neon yellow vinyl, containing the monstrous ‘White Tiger’. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Theme
2. Power
3. White Tiger
4. For Those Who Are Yet To Be Born
5. Time (Time)
6. Time Reprise

A follow up to 2018’s Jazz On The Corner which has now sold over 10,000 copies, and last year’s equally successful Soul On The Corner, this compilation see Martin and Eddie return to the world of jazz for another bite at the cherry after Volume one was declared to be “the best jazz compilation of the last 20 years” by Jazz FM’s Chris Phillips.

The concept came from a radio show that Freeman and Piller put together for BBC Radio 6 Music which was so well received that the pair decided to dig deep into their record collections and build a double album of some of their favourite tracks.

The concept is simple: an album packed full of jazz gems which they hope are slightly off the beaten track. This year we have hidden gems from Nina Simone and Nicola Conte, classics from Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers and The MJQ, whilst the new British jazz generation is represented by Emma Emma-Jean Thackray. Running the gamut from hard bop, to progressive fusion via Latin beats, it’s an exhilarating listen from start to finish.

STAFF COMMENTS

Laura says: Eddie Piller dons Sherlock’s Deerstalker, teaming up with national treasure Martin Freeman for another trip through their enviable jazz collections. Eschewing the wilfully obtuse in favour of personal favourites from across the decades, the duo celebrate a lifelong love of the genre.

TRACK LISTING

Double LP Tracklisting

Side A
1. Stanley Turrentine – The Magilla
2. Nina Simone – I’m Gonna Leave You
3. The Jazz Crusaders – Tough Talk
4. Gene Ammons – Jungle Strut
5. George Benson – Shape Of Things To Come

Side B
1. Nicola Conte – Caravan
2. Duke Pearson – Gira, Girou (Round And Round)
3. Chet Baker – Do It The Hard Way
4. The Modern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
5. Lorez Alexandria – Nature Boy

Side C
1. Emanuel K Rahim & The Kaliqs – Al Amin
2. Roberta Flack – Compared To What
3. Horace Silver – Tranquilizer Suite Part : Perservance And Eudurance
4. Emma-Jean Thackray – Ley Lines
5. The Lyman Woodard Organisation – Creative Musicians

Side D
1. Charles Earland – Leaving This Planet
2. Brain Auger Oblivion Express – Freedom Jazz Dance
3. Johnny Mercer – That Old Black Magic
4. Roy Ayers – A Tear To A Smile
5. Lonnie Liston Smith – Summer Days

Double CD Tracklisting

Martin’s Picks
1. Stanley Turrentine – The Magilla
2. Nina Simone – I’m Gonna Leave You
3. The Jazz Crusaders – Tough Talk
4. Roberta Flack – Compared To What
5. Duke Pearson – Gira, Girou (Round And Round)
6. Lonnie Liston Smith – Summer Days
7. Roy Ayers – A Tear To A Smile
8. Les McCann – Us
9. Johnny Mercer – That Old Black Magic
10. The Modern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
11. Horace Silver – Tranquilizer Suite Part : Perservance And Eudurance
12. Chico Hamilton – Conquistadores

Eddie’s Choices
1. Emanuel K Rahim & The Kaliqs – Al Amin
2. Brain Auger Oblivion Express – Freedom Jazz Dance
3. Gene Ammons – Jungle Strut
4. George Benson – Shape Of Things To Come
5. Charles Earland – Leaving This Planet
6. Emma-Jean Thackray – Ley Lines
7. Nicola Conte – Caravan
8. Lorez Alexandria – Nature Boy
9. Chet Baker – Do It The Hard Way
10. The Lyman Woodard Organisation – Creative Musicians
11. The Bukky Leo Quintet – Rejoice In Righteousness
12. Patrice Rushen - Haw Right Now

Fronted by creative lynchpin Billy Sullivan, this startling three-piece – augmented by three other musicians when playing live - have cemented a loyal fanbase since their inception some five years ago and alongside Sam Long, bassist and drummer Matt Johnson whilst initiating album sales in excess of 20k and a tour itinerary approaching nearly three hundred gigs.

Life Worth Living is a contrasting melting pot of unadulterated joy and melancholy, laughter, tears, frustration and peacefulness. Quiet and introspective moments collide with loud and angry times and no less powerful. At its heart is a sense of hope that things can be better, the title reflects that aspiration.

Produced by Simon Dine, who was behind the desk for Paul Weller’s 22 Dreams and Wake Up The Nation amongst a varied CV - has harnessed the undoubted vibrancy and swagger of the band’s live show helping create an ambitious album – a vehicle for the talents of Sullivan, Long and Johnson.

From the infectious brass-infused opener, Start All Over Again, the Nutty Boys-esque title track Life Worth Living to Tear This Place Right Down bathed in soul overtones, the ballad-like wonder of How Could I Lie To You? to the ska riffage of single (Just Won’t) Keep You Down and the magnificent finale of Make It Through Each Day.

TRACK LISTING

1.Start All Over Again
2.It Can't Be Done
3.Life Worth Living
4.Tear This Place Right Down!
5.How Could I Lie To You?
6.Kings & Queens
7.(Just Won't) Keep Me Down
8.Tower Above Me
9.Have It Your Way
10.Make It Through Each Day

It was 50 years ago that a talented local musician named Lamont Butler started to create an album that would combine love, happiness and joy. Lamont’s only official album release, ‘It’s Time For A Change’ has been very popular for record collectors around the world but it never saw the wider success it truly deserved.

Born 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky, Lamont Butler was drawn to music and dance from the very beginning. He was the son of well-known gospel, blues and R&B singer and pianist Clifford Butler Sr, receiving an early education in what was required to be a touring musician. It quickly became apparent that Lamont had a wonderful voice and was pushed to the front, despite no being fully confident yet of his singing ability. Lamont performed on the gospel circuit for a number of years, cutting his teeth with groups such as The Enterprise, The Dynamics and The New Beginnings, eventually going solo with Lamont Butler and The Spirit of Truth.

It was whilst he was singing and performing during this period that he started to write his own songs and think about putting together an album bringing together his influences from R&B, jazz, soul and of course gospel. The result is the very raw, almost low-fi sound of ‘It’s Time For A Change’, released nearly 10 years after Lamont started to pen the first tracks and gaining relative success. He toured the album around churches in Louisville, with tracks such as ‘Love One Another’,’ Time For A Change’ and ‘Ungodly War’ quickly becoming firm favourites.

Remastered with care by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering and complete with in-depth sleevenotes.

TRACK LISTING

Get Up And Praise The
Lord
Brighter World
Thank You Lord
Love One Another
Time For A Change
Come Into God’s World
Smile
Ungodly War

The Prisoners are one of the most influential bands of the 1980s, an astounding live act whose records were the opposite of what pop radio demanded in that era. Raw where they were smooth and full of character where those records needed to be blandly conformist. They hardly sold a record and yet they can count the likes of Noel Gallagher and political journalist John Harris as their fans. Steve Lamacq devoted a whole chapter of his book to his love of them whilst Tim Burgess of The Charlatans once said that at that time he only checked for The Prisoners and New Order. At least two UK hits used their arrangement on Joe South’s ‘Hush’ as their basis.

‘In From The Cold’ was the final shot at success by The Prisoners the only problem was they didn’t want it. Signed by Eddie Piller to his Stiff-backed subsidiary Countdown they were put in the studio with Troy Tate (Teardrop Explodes / The Smiths) and made this astounding album which they then disowned.

By 1986 they were an incredible live band and had released three albums of their distinctive 60s influenced garage rock. A four-piece featuring Johnny Symons on drums, future Acid Jazz hitmaker James Taylor on organ, Allan Crockford on bass and backing vocals and the compellingly soulful Graham Day on vocals. Graham also wrote fantastic songs. Ten years later and they would have been lauded as heroes in Brit Pop land but the mid-80s had no place in the mainstream for a band with their influences.

‘In From The Cold’ is full of amazing songs from the hard edges of ‘All You Gotta Do Is Say’, ‘Ain’t No Telling’ and ‘The More That I Teach You’, to the mournful ‘Wish The Rain’ and ‘Be On Your Way’. It is no surprise that Mojo journalist Lois Wilson described this as her favourite album by the band.

This reissue on coloured vinyl is the first time the album has been issued in its original form since 1986 when, due to Stiff’s imminent demise, it was deleted very quickly.

TRACK LISTING

All You Gotta Do Is Say
Come Closer
The More That I Teach You
Mourn My Health
I Know How To Please You
Deceiving Eye
In From The Cold
Wish The Rain
Be On Your Way
Find And Seek
Ain’t No Tellin’
Main Title Theme (The Lesser Evil)

A timely reissue of this ultra rare LP that is fetching prices upwards of £600 online. Originally released in 1978 on the obscure label out of Mississippi Commercial, Let Me Be Your Lover is now reissued and available again in the UK/Europe for this first time.

The album includes the absolute monster album version of the modern soul/crossover classic Gonna Find A True Love, which was reissued on Miles Away earlier this year. The album version of this track gives the 7” a run for it’s money.

Let Me Be Your Lover is an album is undeniably deep, soulful and passionate and now fully licensed from Estus and Lester Patterson.

TRACK LISTING

1. Let Me Be Your Lover
2. He’s A Loser
3. How Long Must The Show Go On
4. A Good Thing
5. Gonna Find A True Love
6. Funk Machine
7. You Give Me Someone To Love
8. Disco Dream

Can it really be thirty years since The Brand New Heavies first sashayed into the public eye with a romantic’s heart, a hedonist’s spirit and a Superfly sensibility?

A heady cocktail of Chic-style funk-pop, sunshine grooves and scorched soul balladry, the release of TBNH sees The Brand New Heavies writing a new chapter in what has been an illustrious journey whilst also marking a return to their spiritual home, Acid Jazz Records.

Today The Brand New Heavies share a breath-taking version of Kendrick Lamar’s These Walls recorded with long-time associate and vocalist N’Dea Davenport and produced by uber-fan Mark Ronson. It was that line-up of the band that had originally brought the funk into his life having caught their show in New York in 1991, later inviting them to play at his 40th birthday party. Insistent once more to reconvene that line-up, successfully reunitingN’Dea and The Heavies for his production of this trackfor their 30th anniversary album.

TBNH is released across all formats including a double vinyl album set and available to pre-order here

The album’s heart, both musically and physically is a friendship that can be traced back to the mid-Eighties - more specifically the shared experiences growing into adulthood on the western reaches of London for Simon Bartholomew (guitar) and Andrew Levy (bass) and a return to the formula that saw the band score sixteen Top 40 hits and three million album sales.

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: Thirty years on and they’ve still got it! The Brand New Heavies are back home on their label Acid Jazz Records showcasing their soul-drenched grooves, including a Kendrick Lamar cover with Mark Ronson pulling the production strings, make sure you don’t miss this one!

TRACK LISTING

1 Beautiful
2 Stupid Love
3 Just Believe In You
4 Getaway
5 Heat
6 The Funk Is Back
7 Together
8 These Walls
9 It's My Destiny
10 Wired Up
11 Dance It Out
12 Little Dancer
13 Dontcha Wanna
14 Get On The Right Side

Hutson, long revered on the soul scene for his production, songwriting and performace skills, was Curtis Mayfield’s heir apparent. First chosen by the great man to replace him in the Impressions, and then groomed for an extensive solo career on Curtis' own label, Curtom, Hutson was the real deal. The Hutson catalogue has not been available on any format for nearly two decades, so it's excellent news that Acid Jazz have begun a full scale reissue series in partnership with Leroy himself.
Here we have a deluxe reissue of ‘Hutson II’. Often seen as a partner to the early ‘Hutson’, this is a highly sort after album and a high point of 1970s Chicago soul. Recorded at Curtom Studios, it features the all time classics ‘I Think I’m Falling In Love’, ‘Love The Feeling’ and ‘Don’t It Make You Feel Good’.

TRACK LISTING

Love The Feeling
Situations (Instrumentals)
I Do I Do (Want To Make Love To You
I Think I’m Falling In Love
Love To Hold You Close
Flying High
Blackberry Jam
Sofunkstication
Don’t It Make You Feel Good
Positive Forces
Blackberry Jam (Single Edit)

Acid Jazz pull a blinder here, delivering the definitive Leroy Hutson compilation – ‘Anthology 1972-1984’. A legend to soul fans, his catalogue has been increasingly sought after by collectors and producers since the last time it was widely available nearly 20 years ago. College friends and early collaborator with Donny Hathaway then hand-picked as Curtis Mayfield’s replacement in The Impressions, his solo career resulted in 7 albums for Mayfield’s Curtom label. They are considered some of the greatest of the era and the very best music from them is collected here. Licensed from Mr Hutson himself, this represents his first approved Anthology, and comes in a beautiful package with an essay by soul expert and Mojo award-winning writer Tony Rounce and memorabilia and photos from Mr. Hutson’s own personal archive. The first single lifted to preview the album – the previously unreleased ‘Positive Forces’ has been championed at 6Music by Gilles Peterson who described it as one of the most important discoveries of the past ten years.

TRACK LISTING

Cool Out
All Because Of You
Don’t It Make You Feel Good
Love The Feeling
Positive Forces
Lucky Fellow
Never Know What You Can Do (Give It A Try)
Love Oh Love
Ella Weez
Could This Be Love
So In Love With You
I Think I’m Falling In Love
Closer To The Source
Give This Love A Try
Right Or Wrong
Now That I Found You
Get To This (You’ll Get To Me)
Lover’s Holiday
Time Brings On A Change

Acid Jazz present Judy Dyble and Andy Lewis’s psychedelic folk collaboration ‘Summer Dancing’.

Dyble was the original vocalist in Fairport Convention, appearing on their self-titled debut, before joining Giles, Giles and Fripp and then recording the awesome UK psych masterpiece ‘Morning Way’ under the name Trader Horne with her then boyfriend Ian McDonald.

Andy Lewis was the original DJ at legendary Brit-pop club Blow Up, before recording his own albums for Acid Jazz and scoring a Top Forty hit with his collaboration with Paul Weller, ‘Are You Trying To Be Lonely?’ in 2007. After that he joined Weller’s band of which he was a member until the end of last year.

The album is made of the very stuff of British psychedelia, an obsession with childhood, the country and the city. It emerges from a place somewhere between Broadcast, the soundtrack to ‘The Wickerman’ and Stereolab.

The album is released at the time when Judy is very much involved in the celebrations for Fairport's 50th Anniversary and she will be appearing at their annual Cropredy Festival as both a solo artist and as part of Fairport Convention.

TRACK LISTING

Intro
He Said She Said
Up The Hill
Summer Dancing
These Words
A Message
Night Of 1000 Hours
London
My Electric Chauffeur
Treasure
The Day They Took The Music Away
Such Fragile Things
Summers Of Love
Tired Bones
The Weathermonger

Strange things can happen during the morning twilight. Mysterious shapes appear and play tricks on the mind but it is also when the magic happens. Emerging from the darkness, Matt Berry’s new album, ‘The Small Hours’ captures that awakening feeling and the moment all his wild imagination springs to life.

“‘The Small Hours’ is that time before dawn when we worry about things,” tells Matt of the album’s title and its beautifully complex and beguiling nature. “It can be an intensely quiet time so all your thoughts and fears can be amplified.”

Whether you’re familiar with Matt’s Live shows or want to understand what they are like, this album takes you there! From the excited audience chatter to the clarity of his pulsing KORG, each element resonates with perfect clarity. Berry and The Maypoles' musical prowess shines through their prog-folk excursions and trombone flairs which are reminiscent of an early Acid Jazz release, all with the a nod to Berry's surreal and panoramic world-view.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Innkeeper’s Song
2. So Low
3. October Sun
4. Take My Hand
5. Sorry (Theme From)
6. Solstice
7. Snuff Box
8. Song For Rosie
9. Medicine
10. Devil Inside Me
11. The Pheasant

Anglo-Germanic four-piece The Trashmonkeys, return with a a new three track single "Nobody" which features two brand new tracks, "Wrong Education" and "Gone". Brash, rock'n'roll,combining 60s garage snarl and '77 punk derangement.