The Flirtations are poised to release ‘Still Sounds Like the Flirtations’ – their first album of new material in 55 years. They are best known for their 1969 signature song, "Nothing But A Heartache”, off their debut album ‘Sounds Like the Flirtations’. That song spent 14 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, and its success saw the group tour with Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, The Four Tops and The Temptations. “Nothing But a Heartache” remains an undeniable Northern Soul classic; it has been streamed over 13 million times, and in 2022 was remixed by Tobtok and Oliver Nelson. On their forthcoming album, which was produced, engineered, mixed, and co-written by Ben Rice (Joan Osborne, Valerie June), Earnestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce, and Viola Billups aka Pearly Gates tell the stories of their lives.

Drawing inspiration from the churn of personal, social, and political situations that they have lived through over the past five decades, they capture a timeless and well-earned perspective on love and life. The record, which features the Dap King horns, contains standout tracks, including the reflective call to action “Memories”, co-written by Stevie Wonder; the hopeful love song “Ain’t No Easy Way” and the instant dance floor hit “Didn’t Anybody Tell You”, both co-written by Grammy-nominated songwriter Gian Stone (John Legend, Meghan Trainor); the uplifting groover “Love Somebody”; and the roaring “Take It Back”, co-written by Dave Sherman (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Elle King). The recording process was a transatlantic adventure, with sessions at Abbey Road and Resident Studios in London, Degraw Sound in Brooklyn, and Creative Workshop in Nashville. Retaining the classic soul sound and melodic harmonies The Flirtations are known for, the album will not disappoint long-time fans, while also promising to bring their authentic, inimitable sound to a new generation of music.

We've managed to snaffle some copies of this under-the-radar hip-hop comp from last year. "Down The Local" is an absolute gem; featuring a plethora of rappers I haven't heard yet but the UK flavours are strong throughout with each MC having their own unique flow and style with clear regional accent variations indicating a nationwide roster. Meanwhile the instrumentals are rich with that smokey, jazzy, boom-bap flavour synonymous with the golden days of UK hip-hop complete with nice scratch passages and clever sampling.

Real rap heads ain't gonna wanna sleep on this one trrruusst! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A truly fine selection of UK hip-hop that brings to mind that halcyon period around 2002 with strong regional dialects and simple, boom-bap, sample heavy production.

TRACK LISTING

1. Deeflux & Miracle - Unquenchable
2. Louie G X Barry Manalog - Stylin Merd
3. Cappo X Luther Andross - Ellar 
4. Deeflux & Miracle Feat Ash The Author & Gee Bag - Reel Me Back In 
5. Ash The Author X Barry Manalog Feat Mysdiggi & Dj Chud - Same As It Never Was 
6. Cappo X Luther Andross - Nye 
7. Louie G X Barry Manalog - Milty 
8. Ash The Author X Barry Manalog Feat Dj Chud - Modern Day Jazz Crumpet 
9. Deeflux & Miracle Feat Chrome - Oovavoo 

Soul Jazz Records’ classic, ‘Delta Swamp Rock’, features a killer all-star line-up of seminal artists who first blended rock, soul and country together to create a stunning new sound of southern American music in the 1970s.

Featuring the Allman Brothers, Dan Penn, Leon Russell, Tony Joe White, Johnny Cash, Bobbie Gentry, Big Star, Link Wray, Area Code 615 and loads more.

This album comes as a classic black vinyl edition complete with extensive original sleevenotes, interviews and exclusive photography, all spread over a 12-page fullsize magazine and two bespoke inner sleeves.

‘Delta Swamp Rock’ is an interstate southern road trip through the United States of America where country, rock and soul met at the crossroads - an exploration of the musical and cultural links between the cities of Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Nashville in the 1960s and 70s.

At the start of the 1970s, a new type of music emerged out of the southern states of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida. Southern rock, the creation of young blue-collar white Americans, blended rock, soul, country and blues music together to present a new vision of the south - a post-civil rights southern identity complete with a celebration of the regions natural landscape and its way of life.

The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd epitomised the definitive southern rock groups - a mixture of blues-rock and country with a southern rebelliousness and attitude. Unfortunately, both The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd were to be struck by tragedy, which would affect the movement’s rise and fall.

The backstory to southern rock is the fact that a number of the people involved in its creation had been central to the production of southern soul music in the 1960s mainly in Memphis, Tennessee, and the small town of Muscle Shoals (population around 10,000) deep within the Bible Belt, liquor-free, deeply segregated state of Alabama, creating 100s of R&B hits on an almost daily basis.

Here in Muscle Shoals, with its proximity to Memphis and Nashville, an all-white group of in-house musicians, (famously referred to by Lynyrd Skynyrd in the song ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ as the ‘Swampers’), created countless classic soul records for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Clarence Carter and more during the 1960s.

This album charts the rise and fall of southern rock from its funky swamp roots in southern soul to its phenomenal success in the first half of the 1970s, including its influence on Nashville’s ‘outlaw’ country and tracing it right back to the arrival of rock and roll in the 1950s - the first meeting of black and white American music at the crossroads.

TRACK LISTING

1. Lynyrd Skynyrd - The Seasons
2. Barefoot Jerry - Smokies
3. Joe South - Hush
4. Bobbie Gentry - Papa, Won’t You Let Me Go To Town With You
5. Area Code 615 - Stone Fox Chase
6. Cher - I Walk On Guilded Splinters
7. Cowboy - Please Be With Me
8. The Allman Brothers - Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More
9. Link Wray - Be What You Want To
10. Boz Scaggs - I’ll Be Long Gone
11. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Comin’ Home
12. Bobbie Gentry - Seasons Come, Seasons Go
13. Leon Russell - Out In The Woods
14. Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
15. Barefoot Jerry - Come To Me Tonight
16. Dan Penn - If Love Was Money
17. Linda Ronstadt - I Won’t Be Hangin’ ‘Round
18. Waylon Jennings - Big D
19. Big Star - Thirteen
20. Bobbie Gentry - Mississippi Delta
21. Travis Wammack - I Forgot To Remember To Forget
22. Johnny Cash & June Carter - If I Were A Carpenter
23. Billy Vera - I’m Leavin’ Here Tomorrow, Mama

Highlighting a time when the burgeoning Ghanaian diaspora across Europe and North America was utilising new music technology and recording techniques. A period of movement, emigration and innovation.

The dawn of the 80s saw an increase in emigration following a period of political upheaval at home, with many Ghanaians moving to Europe - especially Germany - to find work. Musicians recording both at home and abroad began to blend highlife with outside influences, taking inspiration from US disco and boogie, European new wave and Caribbean zouk and soca, reflecting new surroundings and cementing musical connections forged in London, Hamburg, Toronto and New York.

Ghana Special celebrates this key period of musical innovation and cultural
exchange that redefined the parameters of Ghanaian music and accelerated the cultural exchange between West Africa and Europe.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Godfathers - Ebe Ye Yie Ni
2. Pat Thomas - Gye Wani
3. Pepper, Onion, Ginger & Salt - M.C. Mambo
4. Andy Vans - Adjoa Amisa
5. George Darko - Kaakyire Nua
6. Rex Gyamfi - Obiara Bewu
7. Starlite - Anoma Koro
8. Abdul Raheem - Alaiye
9. Jon K - Asafo
10. Kwasi Afari Minta - Barima Nsu
11. Marijata (feat. Ata Kak) - Otanhunu
12. Gyedu Blay Ambolley - Apple
13. Dadadi - Jigi Jigi
14. Charles Amoah - Fre Me (Call Me)
15. Ernest Honny - New Dance
16. Bessa Simons - Sii Nana
17. Nan Mayen - Mumude
18. Nana Budjei - Asobrachie

The Beach Boys’ iconic 1966 album, Pet Sounds, is universally hailed as one of popular music’s most important recordings of all time.

This very special pressing comes to you on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl.

Pet Sounds is remastered in Stereo with faithfully replicated original artwork. 

LAST REMAINING COPIES!!

The Flightpath Estate in association with the Golden Lion have compiled a double vinyl album.

'Sounds From the Flightpath Estate'

9 exclusive tracks plus a previously unavailable Two Lone Swordsmen track. An exclusive cover of 'Smokebelch' by Andy Bell plus one-off recordings by Hardway Bros, Timothy J. Fairplay, Justin Robertson, Richard Sen, Sons Of Slough, Rude Audio, 10:40 and a world renowned Belfast based DJ and producer.

The Flightpath Estate is a Facebook group dedicated to the music, art and work of Andrew Weatherall. It began life in 2013 and has become a virtual home to his fans, friends and family. It is also the host of the Weatherdrive - thousands of hours of recordings of Andrew Weatherall’s DJ sets, mixes and radio shows.

'Sounds From The Flightpath Estate' is a compilation celebrating people and places, the outlook, aesthetic and music Andrew Weatherall was known for, and the sense of community and love of music centered around The Golden Lion.

The sounds are forward thinking, created with a deep understanding of the music of the past but future facing, dance floor oriented and made with love.

----------

Limited edition double black vinyl, 500 copies only. Gatefold jacket with notes.

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Mastered by Andrew Liles

Sleeve art by Personality Crisis

Labels by Walter Russ

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The first full length compilation to arrive from the creative hub / musical ashram that is The Golden Lion in Todmorden. Working with Andrew Weatherall’s friends, family and collaborators (plus two large online communities), the compilation even includes an unreleased Two Lone Swordman track and will likely be one of the most sought after releases on this incredibly strong and prolific label.

TRACK LISTING

A1 - Two Lone Swordsmen - The Crescents
A2 - Sons Of Slough - Red Machine (GL Soundcheck)
A3 - Timothy J. Fairplay - Centurion Version

B1 - Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33's - Curtains Twitch On Peaks
B2 - Richard Sen - Tough On Chug, Tough On The Causes Of Chug

C1 - Rude Audio - Running Wild
C2 - 10:40 - Three Rings

D1 - Hardway Bros - Theme For Flightpath Estate
D2 - The Light Brigade - Human : Remains
D3 - Andy Bell - Smokebelch II

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.

One of the rarest, and greatest, horn instrumental dub albums of the seventies featuring the soaring saxophone of Tommy McCook in combination with Glen Brown, 'The Rhythm Master', is finally given a legitimate release.

The original title for this long playing release was initially advertised on the label of the seven inch release of 'Determination Skank' as 'The Sannic Sounds Tommy McCook', however the album was released in Kingston in 1974 in very limited quantities on a white label in a plain recycled cover rubber-stamped 'Tommy McCook Dub'. Three years later the set was released through Grounation in London, once again on a white label and without a cover, where it was known as 'Horny Dub'. It gave music lovers a fascinating opportunity to compare and contrast the work of Tommy McCook, one of the architects and builders of the Jamaican sound, with Glen Brown's role in taking and breaking it into pieces...;

Dub Store Records is the Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Roots and Dancehall reissue label run by the eponymous Tokyo based record store. The label aims at accurately covering the 50-plus years of Jamaican music, and pass on many rare and magnificent recordings, which are non-commercial and highly artistic. Carefully handing down the tradition of reggae music, Dub Store Records has so far issued recordings from labels and artists such as Studio One, Federal Records (Federal, Kentone, Merritone), Bunny Wailer's Solomonic, Familyman's Fam's, Jammys, King Tubby's Firehouse, Derrick Harriott, Kiddus I, Redman International, BMN and much more to come.

TRACK LISTING

1. Determination Skank
2. South Side
3. When I Fall In Love
4. Funky Reggae
5. It Ain't Who You Know
6. More Music
7. Brand New Man
8. Dirty Harry
9. Flute Instrumental
10. When Something Is Wrong
11. Scatterlight Rock

Band Of Nowhere is a new constellation project by Juanjo Sánchez, together with other collaborators with whom he had previously worked. It is worth mentioning Bob Drake on drums, former member of the legendary formation Thinking Plague (also on Hail, 5UU's, The Science Group) who has also mastered the project from their studio in the Midi-Pyrénées and also to mention the guitarist Jordi Cabayol (Camino al Desván) both Juanjo and Jordi began their career in a significant band of Barcelona of the early eighties, such as Entr'acte.

The becoming of Juanjo Sánchez would take him to other latitudes as a member of Alondra Satori and without losing the lighthouse of his city, he would collaborate with other outstanding musicians such as Quicu Samsó (Koniec, Macromassa).

The fluidity and chromaticism of his previous album Gonza Magilla is still perceived in here, but in a much more electrified way with guitars that are sometimes expansive, other times exuberant wrapped up with contagious synthesizer modulations and very marked rhythms. The production and especially the arrangements are fantastic with those special presences of synthesizers that are not common around here.

Its original improvisation and experimentation is skilfully adjusted by Juanjo Sánchez, giving a much more playful result with unexpected combinations, very much in continuity with a certain European Art Rock such as Aksak Maboul, Etron Fou, Zamla,The Work or the mischievous resonances of The League of Gentlemen; all this mapping the sound transit, to an unpredictable and vibrant non-place.

Housed in it's original hand made artwork with the little upgrade twist of silk-screen printing textured grey cardboard and including a insert colour with photos and text provided by Juanjo Sánchez.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
Calling All Beginners
Fleeing To The Poles
Ashes
Rouler Ma Bosse
Sunday Machinery

SIDE B
Lucid Dreams
Twisted Maze
Rolla Bolla
Chinese Forecast

Heavy Sounds introduce the sounds of Fundamentals & Quaad across four tracks of serious ruffage! Flying together on side A, the pair deliver two high octane, hyperactive hybrids, taking in pitched breaks (of many varieties), jazzy keys, sci-fi sweeps, earth shaking bass; basically every DnB trope worth its wattage.

Onto side B and Quaad goes on a solo tip for two tricksy jungle excursions. "Gonk" utilizing a stripped back palette of cut-up vox, ADHD-riddled breaks and the odd sub bass blast. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Hi-octane tear out breakage that has me thinking of vintage Bizzy B mixtapes and all night Wipeout sessions.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Quaad & Fundamentals - BDK
A2. Quaad & Fundamentals - 2 Steps [VIP Amiga Mix]
B1. Quaad - Gonk
B2. Quaad - 9000 Basslines

Volume II of a new Light Sounds Dark two part compilation plunging further into the occult and mystery frequencies. A terrifying front cover lending insight at what black magik lays instore for the listening ritual. As usual, LSD procure sounds from completely unheard of seams, the resulting witch's cauldron of musical mayhem likely to challenge even the highest order sonic shamans. 

Limited copies, won't hang around long! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: This might be the scariest edition of Light Sounds Dark we've ever had. From the occultist demon charging at you on the sleeve to the cauldron of gurgling electronix and sonic witchcraft contained on the black magik wax; it's a hauntingly arresting journey from our astral planing spirit guides. Confront your inner shadow and book a meeting with the cosmic serpent!

Volume I on a New Light Sounds Dark two part compilation, plunging further into the occult and mystery frequencies. A terrifying front cover lending insight at what black magik lays instore for the listening ritual. As usual, LSD procure sounds from completely unheard of seams, the resulting witch's cauldron of musical mayhem likely to challenge even the highest order sonic shamans.

Limited copies, won't hang around long! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: This might be the scariest edition of Light Sounds Dark we've ever had. From the occultist demon charging at you on the sleeve to the cauldron of gurgling electronix and sonic witchcraft contained on the black magik wax; it's a hauntingly arresting journey from our astral planing spirit guides. Confront your inner shadow and book a meeting with the cosmic serpent!

More jak beat from the on-fire Dirty Blends crew. This one's mad as a box of frogs, recalling the crazed genius of Steve Poindextor and early Lil Louis madness. All three tracks revolve around slam dance repetition, primordial jack patterns and pure Chicago spirit. Not for the fainthearted - strictly for the freaks! Recommended and limited. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: There's simply nothing like the Dirty Blends cartel out there at the moment. Revisiting the embryonic spirit of Chicago house music, when it was literally just a drum machine and a sampler, they manage to capture a primitive energy that's more intoxicating than half the other shit out there made with tons more equipment! Essential stuff for fans of Ron Hardy, Jamal Moss, Trax Records, Steve Poindextor, Adonis, Lil Louis etc etc.

TRACK LISTING

A. The Falcon - Sound The Alarm
B1. Grizzly Knuckles - Mad Bell
B2. The Jak - Aftermath

By the turn of the 80s, the impact of David Bowie’s ground-breaking Berlin recordings – the synths, the alienation, the drily futuristic production – was being felt on music across Europe. What’s more, the records being made were reflecting back and influencing Bowie’s own work – 1979’s “Lodger” and 1980’s “Scary Monsters” owed a debt to strands of German kosmische (Holger Czukay), new electronica (Patrick Cowley, Harald Grosskopf), and the latest works from old friends and rivals like Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel and Scott Walker, all of whom had been re-energised by the fizz of 1977.

Compiled by Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley and the BFI’s Jason Wood, “Fantastic Voyage” is the companion album to their hugely successful “Café Exil” collection, which imagined the soundtrack to David Bowie and Iggy Pop’s trans-European train journeys in the mid-to-late seventies. “Fantastic Voyage” is what happened next.

Bowie’s influences and Bowie’s own influence were rebounding off each other as the 70s ended and the 80s began, notably in the emergent synthpop and new romantic scenes as well as through the music of enigmatic acts like the Associates and post-punk pioneers such as Cabaret Voltaire.

Like “Low” and “Heroes”, some of the tracks on “Fantastic Voyage” are spiked with tension (Grauzone’s ‘Eisbär’) while some share those albums’ sense of travel (Simple Minds’ ‘Theme for Great Cities’, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s ‘Riot in Lagos’) and others find common ground with “Lodger’s” dark, subtle humour (Thomas Leer’s ‘Tight as a Drum’, Fripp’s ‘Exposure’).

This is the thrilling, adventurous sound of European music before the watershed moment when Bowie would abandon art-pop for America and the emerging world of MTV with “Let’s Dance” in 1983. “Fantastic Voyage” soundtracks the few brief years when the echo chamber of Bowie, his inspirations, and his followers created an exciting, borderless music that was ready to challenge Anglo American influences. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Theme For Great Cities - Simple Minds
2. Silent Command - Cabaret Voltaire
3. Riot In Lagos - Ryuichi Sakamoto
4. Eisbar - Grauzone
5. White Car In Germany - The Associates
6. Nightcrawler - Patrick Cowley
7. On A Trouvé - Isabelle Mayereau
8. 3,000,000 Synths - Chas Jankel
9. No Self Control - Peter Gabriel
10. Nite Flights - The Walker Brothers
11. Tight As A Drum - Thomas Leer
12. The Farther Away I Am - Daryl Hall
13. So Weit, So Gut - Harald Grosskopf
14. Exposure - Robert Fripp
15. Patriarcat –
Areski Belkacem & Brigitte Fontaine
16. Silicon Chip - Basil Kirchin
17. Ode To Perfume - Holger Czukay

Cosmic Sounds is a collaborative concept album, based on the signs of the Zodiac and originally released in 1967 by Elektra Records. Mort Garson, who is known for his collaborations with Doris Day and Glen Campbell, was asked to compose the psychedelic rock music and record it together with producer and The Limeliters co-founder Alex Hassilev. Different session musicians were brought in to contribute to the recordings, including most notably Moog synth guru Paul Beaver and narrator Cyrus Faryar.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Aries - The Fire-Fighter
2. Taurus - The Voluptuary
3. Gemini - The Cool Eye
4. Cancer - The Moon Child
5. Leo - The Lord Of Lights
6. Virgo - The Perpetual Perfectionist

Side B
1. Libra - The Flower Child
2. Scorpio - The Passionate Hero
3. Sagittarius - The Versatile Daredevil
4. Capricorn - The Uncapricious Climber
5. Aquarius - The Lover Of Life
6. Pisces - The Peace Piper

Joanna Brouk’s most ambitious recording, Sounds of the Sea is a concept album full of mystery and eroticism. A conch shell bookends this journey into the deep, going down and down and down further, never reaching bottom. Drawing inspiration from various legends of mermaids and sailors, Brouk weaves circling flutes, vocals, drones and whale songs to describe a sense of unfathomable longing more clearly than words could ever express. Sounds of the Sea is a hypnotic and profound achievement by one of new age’s greatest composers.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A - Atravesta
1. Invocation
2. Atavesta
3. Playing In The Water
4. Aurora
5. Diving Deeper, Remembering Love
6. Going To Sleep

SIDE B - The Sailor And The Nymph
1. The Reminder Of Long Ago
2. The Nymph Rising
3. Calling The Sailor
4. First Meeting
5. Touching The Sky
6. The Sounding
7. Return To The Deep

Another sonic missive from the wonder that is The Golden Lion - the Calder Valley's premium hub for gigs, Thai food, local beers, alternative club nights and, of course, BRILLIANT RECORDS.

We find the label sixteen releases deep, traversing the sonic cosmos with all the intrepid dexterity of Alfred Wainwright. We've had new disco, dub, folk, noise, indie - pretty much every known crevice of the modern music landscape has been humbly explored by artists not afraid to cross the streams.

This latest 7" is quite different to what's come before it - 'A double A-side 7" featuring Beans on Toast and Commoners Choir. This one is a little different to the others. It is a celebration of our valley & the North of England - the landscape, the people, the language & the history.'

On side A, Beans On Toast delivers a hugely reverential ode to Todmorden, and particularly The Golden Lion - mentioning UFOs, fairies and the local folklore along the way; before settling on the friendly welcome received inside the now world famous boozer. It's a sincere and heartfelt tribute which, if the author wasn't from further afield, might seem slightly inflated and self-indulgent, but for Essex-based Jay McAllister these are genuine words of admiration and respect.

Commoners Choir meet in Leeds and sing songs 'about the world immediately around us, about inequality, hope, and tory politicians'. "True North" sees them muse about historic northern grit and its influence on factories, mills, cities and fearless exploration. It's a rousing piece that should warm the heart of any True Northerner!

Whilst squarely aimed at the local clientele of the Calder Valley and its surroundings, the 7" is also a brilliant example of modern folk and choral music and as usual, proudly flies the flag of independence from this influential cultural beacon.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A Leeds choir and an Essex troubadour both sing the praises of the north west and the 'Lion on the latest GLS 7".

TRACK LISTING

A. Beans On Toast - The Golden Lion
B. Commoners Choir - True North

This special 60th Anniversary reissue of groundbreaking jazz artist Sun Ra’s iconic 1962 album The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra features all-analogue re-mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The package includes Tom Wilson’s original liner notes, plus insightful new essays by jazz historian Ben Young, as well as by Irwin Chusid, who is also a journalist, radio personality, and author. 

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Bassism
2. Of Sounds And Something Else
3. What's That?
4. Where Is Tomorrow?
5. The Beginning
6. China Gates
Side B
1. New Day
2. Tapestry From An Asteroid
3. Jet Flight
4. Looking Outward
5. Space Jazz Reverie 

Sweet Sounds Of Heaven, the second single from The Rolling Stones' highly anticipated new studio album, Hackney Diamonds, is released physically on 13th October via Polydor Records. Featuring vocals by Lady Gaga, alongside Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes, Moog and piano. 

"Put simply, 'Tired Sounds Of...' is one of the most unremittingly beautiful albums I've ever heard." Drowned In Sound.

"Unspeakably beautiful." AllMusic.com.

"One of the most beautiful recordings we have ever heard." Aquarius Records

"A fantastic masterpiece, missing this would be foolish." Touching Extremes.

"Their relentless commitment to subtlety sets them apart, as does their masterful hand with tone… dissonance is doled out in small portions, perfectly coloring the sculpted fields of sound." Pitchfork.

"When all else fails and you need to shut the rest of the world out, this is a guaranteed mute button." Self- Titled.

TRACK LISTING

Requiem For Dying Mothers, Pt. 1
Requiem For Dying Mothers, Pt. 2
Down 3
Austin, Tx Mental Hospital, Pt. 1
Austin, Tx Mental Hospital, Pt. 2
Austin, Tx Mental Hospital, Pt. 3
Broken Harbors, Pt. 1
Broken Harbors, Pt. 2
Broken Harbors, Pt. 3
Mullohand
The Lonely People (are Getting Lonelier)
Gasfarming
Piano Aquieu
Fac 21
Ballad Of Distances, Pt. 1
Ballad Of Distances, Pt. 2
A Lovesong [for Cubs] Pt. 1
A Lovesong (for Cubs] Pt. 2
A Lovesong (for Cubs] Pt. 3

Mad Professor, also known as Neil Fraser to his friends is renowned worldwide for his groundbreaking dub recordings, captivating live sets showcasing the creativity of dub sound engineers, and his collaborations with both reggae and non-reggae artists alike such as Lee Scratch Perry, Jah Shaka, Sade, The Orb, Massive Attack, Grace Jones and many more. Above all, he is celebrated for his prolific output in the genres of Dub, Lovers Rock, Reggae and more through his own Ariwa label and south London recording studio boasting an impressive catalog of over 300 releases, among other notable achievements. 

A few years back, we stumbled upon this outstanding Lovers Rock and Dub album which had a very unique raw sound and felt like a whole experience when listened to from start to finish. Alternate versions of the same tracks with different performers in varying styles, tape rewinds, it had us all wonder why it hadn’t gained wider recognition amongst Mad Professor's other releases. 

When we finally had the pleasure of meeting Neil at his recording studio, he revealed that this album was one of his earliest works. It was born out of a birthday gift from his wife—a four-track recorder that inspired him to venture into music-making after years of repairing and building electronics and audio equipment. When we asked him if he would be making music if not for that gift, he confessed that it was highly unlikely (!) 

Mad Professor further explained that this album, originally released in 1984, is a compilation of tracks recorded between 1979 and 1981, representing the nascent stages of his recording and production career, when the idea of establishing a studio and the Ariwa label were just beginning to take shape. He set up all his gear, including his first homemade four-track mixing desk, in the front room of his house in South London. With no prior studio experience, he positioned microphones where he thought they should fit and invited local musicians to collaborate. Errol Sly, Ranking Ann, Sergeant Pepper, Deborah Glasgow, Victor Cross, Sister Audrey, his backing band the Sane Inmates and a host of other talented local artists, some of whom would go on to become stalwarts in their respective genres, all contributed to this album, capturing the raw essence of Mad Professor and Ariwa's early sound. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Second-wave dub legend Mad Professor drops a raw lovers / dub project that harks back to the original sound of Ariwa. The bass weight alone is astonishing, but the songs crafted here are also killer and timeless. A future classic!

TRACK LISTING

1. Errol Sly - Love In Your Heart
2. Ranking Ann - Moonlight Lover
3. Sergeant Pepper - It's You
4. Deborah Glasgow - My Thing 04:03
5. Victor Cross - Make Up
6. Sergeant Pepper - Special Brew
7. Rock A Way & Sister Audrey - It's A Shame
8. Mad Professor & Sane Inmates - Sitting Room Dub 

Lush and sexy sample-based house music here from DJ E-Tones who revisits the classic sounds of Moodymann, Glenn Underground, Andres etc with a classy four tracker of organic sounds deftly sampled!

"Soul Detergent" kicks off with a catchy xylophone lick paired brilliantly with a soulful vocal sample and live disco drums chopped up via the MPC. "Black Shampoo" recalls Pal Joey or Sneak with its twisted, concentric disco-house grooves bolstered with extra bass and smudged Brass Construction elements. Finally, “More And More” sees a loopy, phased jazz-funk slick combined with First Choice’s classic “Letnomanputasunder” hook for a devastating slice of late night house music Ron Hardy himself would be proud off! Most recommended. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Really nice organically constructed deep-disco-house EP here from DJ E-Tones. Essential if you're into Strictly Jaz Unit, Lavida, Mahogany, Lumberjacks In Hell, Sound Signature etc etc.

TRACK LISTING

A. Soul Detergent
B1. Black Shampoo
B2. More And More

New one on cult Yorkshire label Golden Lion Sounds featuring renowned Manchester finger picker DBH (previously of Crowfoot and Thread Recordings). One of the most skillful acoustic guitarists I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing, his tracks of late have taken on a dreamy, enchanted elegance, which is the case here on "Jumbled Whole". A collage of serene strings, echoed artifacts and gentle strums guiding the mind through a blue sky vista filled with fluffy clouds and dancing daisies. Taking it straight to the meadows!

On the flip, The Utopia Strong, previously releasing on Rocket, swap the guitars for synthesizers and enter a psychedelicized alternative realm - with gated arpeggios, winding melodies and galloping drums creating the sense of a magic carpet ride through entity-rich dimensions and realities much more vast and grandiose than our own. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: I've been a long term fan of DBH - imbibing the spirit of John Fahay, Jack Rose, Bert Jansch etc - into modern finger picked soundscapes. The Utopia Strong are a new one on me - totally different in sound; but similarly, they conjure up imaginary dream worlds from their equipment of vintage synthesizers and rickety drum boxes. One of my favourite 7" sleeves the label have produced too!

TRACK LISTING

A. DBH - Jumbled Whole
B. The Utopia Strong - Gatekeeper

The always superb Sounds Of The City comes through here with some freshness and newness via their newly minted 'Sounds Of The City, Dark' series. It finds the French outfit Catalogue debuting on the label with a sound that brings a different perspective to the new post-punk movement. Their sound is a mixing pot of an array of different influences and what you get is music that will get you nodding to the grooves while your mind gets lost exploring synthetic elements, angular guitar riffs, robotic rhythms and lovely deep bass.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1 "Synchronized"
2. "Parallele Lines"
3. "Fragments"
4. "Suburban Girls"
5. "Houseplant"
6. "2030"

Side 2
1. "At Night"
2. "Casino"
3. "La Croix"
4. "Ageing"
5. "Kids Of The Black Hole"

The debut album from Thievery Corporation was released in 1997 as a first-of-its-kind electronica record. The phrase “trip-hop” was coined in 1994 during the influx of alt-rock techno music and perfectly describes the acid-jazz tracks that make up the album. With a blend of lounge, electronic, and folk influences, this is a listening experience that caters to everyone. The remastered album features signature track “Shaolin Satellite” and bonus tracks “Sun, Moon, and Stars” and “Sleeper Car.”

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
1. A Warning
2. 2001 Spliff Odyssey
3. Shaolin Satellite
4. Transcendance
Side B:
1. Universal Highness
2. Incident At Gate 7
3. Scene At The Open Air Market
4. The Glass Bead Game
Side C:
1. Encounter In Bahia
2. The Foundation
3. Interlude
4. The Oscillator
5. Assault On Babylon
Side D:
1. .38.45 (A Thievery Number)
2. One
3. Sun, Moon, And Stars
4. Sleeper Car

'It Ain't Easy Living In The Ghetto' 1980

Produced by Phil Pratt

Vocals: Jimmy London

Bass: Aston 'Family Man' Barrett & Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare

Drums: Carlton Barrett & Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar

Lead Guitar: Bertram 'Ranchie' MacLean

Rhythm Guitar: Radcliffe 'Dougie' Bryan

Keyboards: Ansell 'Pinkie' Collins & Bobby Kalphat

Tenor Saxophone: Tommy McCook

Alto Saxophone: Felix 'Deadly Headley' Bennett

Trombone: Vincent 'Don D Junior' Gordon

Percussion: Christopher 'Sky Juice' Blake, Noel 'Scully' Simms & Uzziah 'Sticky' Thompson

Recorded at: Channel One Recording Studio, 29 Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13, Jamaica

Engineers: Ernest Hookim & Oswald 'Ossie' Hibbert

TRACK LISTING

It Aint Easy
Rock And Roll Lullaby
Jimmy Say Hello
You Know What I Mean
Running Wild
Got To Change Your Ways
Family Man
Moving On
Peggy My Love
Loving You

Reissue of 1997 album on 180 gram RED vinyl by Toots & Maytals

Lead Vocals: Toots Hibbert

Background Vocals: Raleigh Gordon, Jerry Matthias

Guitars: Hux Brown, Carl Harvey, Rad Bryan

Keyboards: Winston Grennan

Bass: Jackie JacksonProduced by: Toots Hibbert

Executive producer on tracks 2,3 & 4 Wayne Chen

Track 1 produced by Peter Simon

Mastered by: Dale Ashley at Grace Note Productions

TRACK LISTING

Back To The Island
One Eyed Enos
Judge And The Corporal / Irie
Woman Liberation
54-46 That's My Number
Revolution
Loving Spirit
Koo Koo
Pee Pee Cluck Cluck
Love Gonna Walk Out On Me
I See You

60th Anniversary Edition of groundbreaking jazz artist Sun Ra’s iconic 1962 album The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra. Originally produced by Tom Wilson, this is the first Sun Ra LP to be recorded by Arkestra in NYC. This new edition is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI with ALL-ANALOG Mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Includes new essays by Irwin Chusid & Ben Young.

It's our favourite mushroom quaffing quasi-spiritualist musical leaders Golden Lion Sounds, fresh with new aural delights for the changing of the seasons! Nothing quite excites me as much spotting Waka at the door clutching a new set of records from the now infamous Todmorden stable.

Lux Lyall & Andy Votel kick off number eight in the series in superbly witchcrafty style; a paganish guitar riff supplementing Lux Lyall's cryptic deadpan, spoken word monologue. A truly spellbinding piece, the mysteries of which you'll be trying to unravel throughout the night.

Over on side B, it's another Piccadilly favourite: Andrew Liles. This long-serving experimental stalwart contributes as suitable an out-there piece of electro-exotic, semi-soundtrack, semi-acoustic tomfoolery. Featuring a whole range of found sounds and sonic sorcery it sounds like a wizard got into your child's toybox and starting painting pictures.

As usual - limited copies and stupendously high demand. Orders in QUICK.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Mushroom season is upon us, and who better to soundtrack our midnight moon rituals and post-forage freakouts than the crazy cats from Todmorden. Enlisting known sonic occultist Andy Votel and pagan synth wizard Andrew Liles for a spellbound missive.

TRACK LISTING

A: Lux Lyall & Andy Votel - Six (4:07)
A: Andrew Liles - Care In The Community (3:03)

Original 1980 album now released on coloured vinyl. Features full colour Insert with extensive sleeve notes. Recorded at Channel One Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica. Mixed at Harry J Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica

TRACK LISTING

Mechanical Devices
Natural Wild
My Generation
Natural (Reprise)
Spaceship
People's Minds
People Love Jah Music
Smiling Faces

The Light Sounds Dark saga continues! The crew explore more DIY electronics, new age electric shamanism and the cultish sampledelica usually reserved for the Finders Keepers label.

There's (unconfirmed) rumors online that much of the recent LSD output has been composed of original material alongside their unfathomably vast cosmic-excavation of strange and exotic music. There's certainly a new direction appearing from the sherm haze - synthesizer driven, reveling in lost atmospherics and appealing to occult fanatics throughout the various dimensions of existence. We love it.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Occultist electronic wizardry! Let Light Sounds Dark be your sprit guide. Sonic Datura from the cauldrons and caves ready to be glazed across your semi-permeable membranes - very big in Pendle right now!

New Heavy Sounds is proud to present the new album by Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard. now known simply as MWWB. There has been some speculation amongst fan circles that the final part of the trilogy of albums that preceded this, marked the end of Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard’s five-year mission. Not so. We can categorically confirm that having officially slimmed their name down to the acronym, MWWB are continuing their voyage through the far reaches of the galaxy.

The first phase of that journey is their new album ‘The Harvest’. ‘The Harvest’ is the band’s fourth album, and of course it is a record shot through with the trademark heavy MWWB sound, and their unique blend of metal and shoegaze. However it also sees the band adding more experimentation, a progressive approach, and going a bit more left field conceptually. To some extent, it shares similarities with Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. Not only by having the mix of experimentation and melodicism as that seminal record, but also in the way that it has been engineered and constructed as a seamless piece. Nine tracks flowing into one another. Space age riff monsters segueing into shorter musical interludes, where John Carpenter, rubs shoulders with Pink Floyd and a maelstrom of moog and mellotron.

There are surprises, and of course a bucketload of heavy shit. With ‘The Harvest’ MWWB have refined and honed their sound, it’s a carefully crafted distillation of ideas, written, conceived and sequenced to be listened to in its entirety (preferably in one sitting). MWWB have always loved film scores and this new album is in many ways, the soundtrack to a film. MWWB provides the musical narrative (the song titles also provide a pointer) and the listener's imagination does the rest. ‘Oblok Magellana’ and its spooky atmospherics set the scene. before things really kick in with the riffs of title track ‘The Harvest’.

A grooving Sabbathian chug intro’s Jessica Ball, who at the top of her game throughout. Her voice simultaneously sweet yet dark; almost neofolk; which when put against those riffs, is always a startling juxtaposition, nevertheless it perfectly crystallises MWWB’s distinctive dynamic. ‘Interstellar Wrecking’ is a succinctly crafted nugget of John Carpenter-esque drama, you can imagine the thundering mothership forging its way through the universe on some nameless quest before encountering ‘Logic Bomb’ and its fat fuzzed-up ride through light and shade guitar/vocal interplay. Ball’s voice soaring and shimmering throughout. ‘Betrayal’ gives a nod to Pink Floyd’s ‘On The Run’ but with its freaky spoken word and four on the floor kick it’s almost a dance track, yet there’s no incongruity here. ‘Altamira’ is epic MWWB, adding large doses of psych into a melodic concoction of dreampop and metal.

Ball’s vocals here are many layered and textured effortlessly gliding through the weight of the backing. ‘Let’s Send The Bastards Whence They Came’ is another little gem. A plaintive repeating synth figure that builds with bass, drums, mellotrons and synths into ‘Strontium’ which rounds off the album’s ‘heavy’ numbers, a blend of monster grooves, and Ball’s swooning vocals. Finally, and outstandingly, Jessica strips things back to a distorted guitar and voice on ‘Moonrise’. Shorn of the layers of fuzz, it is a simple, beautiful and fitting catharsis to an epic voyage. MWWB are a thrilling proposition. They demonstrate that you can seamlessly mix crushing power, experimentation and delicate vulnerability into something that transcends any genre. MWWB are Jessica Ball, vocals and synths. Paul Michael Davies, guitar and synths. Stuart Sinclair, bass and Dom McCready, drums. 

TRACK LISTING

SideA

1. Oblok Magellana
2. The Harvest
3. Interstellar Wrecking
4. Logic Bomb
5. Betrayal…

Side B

1. Altamira
2. Let's Send These Bastards Whence They Came
3. Strontium
4. Moon Rise

Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980–1988 hovers vibe–wise between two distinct poles within Light In The Attic’s acclaimed Japan Archival Series—Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990 and Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976–1986. All three albums showcase recordings produced during Japan’s soaring bubble economy of the 1980s, an era in which aesthetic visions and consumerism merged. Music echoed the nation’s prosperity and with financial abundance came the luxury to dream.

Sonically, Somewhere Between mines the midpoint between Kankyō Ongaku’s sparkling atmospherics and Pacific Breeze’s metropolitan boogie. The compilation encompasses ambient pop, underground electronics, liminal minimalism and shadow sounds—all descriptors emphasizing the hazy nature of the nebula. Out–of–focus rhythms wear ethereal accoutrements, ballads are shrouded in static, and angular drums snake skyward on transcendent tones. From the Avant–minimalism of Mkwaju Ensemble and Yoshio Ojima, to the leftfield techno-pop of Mishio Ogawa and Noriko Miyamoto (featuring members of YMO), and highlights from the groundbreaking Osaka underground label Vanity Records, these are blurry constellations defying collective categorization.

These tracks also exist in a space of transition when the major label grip on the Japanese recording market began to give way to the escalation of independents. Thanks to the idyllic economic climate and innovations in domestically–manufactured music gear, creators on the edges were empowered to focus on satisfying their artistic visions in the open headspace of home studios. While labels like Warner Music and Nippon Columbia explored new sounds through traditional channels, it was possible for Vanity, Balcony and other indie labels, not to mention self–released artists like Ojima and Naoki Asai, to publish their work via affordable media such as cassettes, 7" vinyl, and flexi–discs.

Expertly curated by Yosuke Kitazawa and Mark “Frosty” McNeill (dublab), Somewhere Between is a collection of music, much of it released for the first time outside Japan, that is bound more by energetic vibration than shared history, genre or scene. They are the sounds of transition and searching—a celebration of the freedom found in floating.

TRACK LISTING

Noriko Miyamoto - Arrows & Eyes
Mishio Ogawa - Hikari No Ito Kin No Ito
Yoshio Ojima - Days Man
Mkwaju Ensemble - Tira-Rin
R.N.A-ORGANISM - WEIMAR 22
Naoki Asai - Yakan Hikou
Takami Hasegawa - Koneko To Watashi
Mammy - Mizu No Naka No Himitsu
Dip In The Pool - Hasu No Enishi
Wha Ha Ha - Akatere
D-Day - Sweet Sultan
Perfect Mother - Dark Disco-Da·Da·Da·Da·Run
Neo Museum - Area
Sonoko - Wedding With God (À Nijinski)

Luca Yupanqui was not yet born when she recorded her debut album. The music on the aptly titled Sounds of the Unborn out April 2 on Sacred Bones, is the expression of life in its cosmic state — pre-mind, pre-speculation, pre-influence, and pre-human. It is the first album created by a person while they were still inside the womb, the expression of a soul that hasn’t yet seen the light of day nor taken a single breath of air. It is a message that comes from a different realm, a sublayer of our existence.

Sounds of the Unborn was made with biosonic MIDI technology, which translated Luca’s in utero movements into sound. With the help of her parents, Psychic Ills bassist Elizabeth Hart and Lee Scratch Perry collaborator Iván Diaz Mathé, Luca’s prenatal essence was captured in audio. They designed a ritual, a kind of joint meditation for the three of them, with the MIDI devices hooked to Elizabeth’s stomach, transcribing its vibrations into Iván’s synthesizers. They let the free-form meditations flow without much interference, just falling deeper into trance and feeling the unity. After five hour-long sessions, the shape of an album began to emerge.

Elizabeth and Iván then edited and mixed the results of the sessions, respecting the sounds as they were produced, trying to intervene as little as possible, allowing Luca’s message to exist in its raw form.

This cosmic soul summoning created new sounds, striking into uncharted territory for Elizabeth and Iván as musicians. A new language was being created, a new form of communication. It was a music without intellect or intentionality behind it, with no preconception or attempt to create any specific sound or melody. Every note on Sounds of the Unborn occurred naturally.

It is human nature to wonder what life is like inside another human being’s consciousness. How does it feel? What does it sound like? All these questions became stronger and more important to Elizabeth and Iván while they were waiting for Luca to come into the world. At a certain point the questions turned into, What would she say if she could speak? How would she react to the outer world? And ultimately, What kind of music would she play if she was able to? This album is an attempt to answer those questions.

Elizabeth and Iván mixed the album in 2020. Luca, now an infant, sat in the studio with them while they worked. Her awareness of what was happening was astounding. She would open her eyes wide and stare at her parents, seemingly recognizing her own sounds from the womb, knowing that they were revisiting those rituals that made them come together as one. Those mixing sessions were technically the first time Luca had heard her own music, but her reaction made it clear that that wasn’t really the case — she had already lived it.

TRACK LISTING

1. V5
2.V4.3 Pt.2
3.V2.1
4.V2.2
5.V3.2
6.V4.2
7.V4.1
8.V1
9.V3.1
10.V4.3 Pt.1

MSB tracks have been the foundation for some of modern hip-hop's most successful beats; their music has been sampled by the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, 50 Cent, Curren$y, to name a few.

Menahan Street Band, a veritable supergroup of some of today's most prolific songwriters, arrangers, and producers return with this beat-forward, cinematic masterpiece.

Their unique brand of instrumental soul has not only been the foundation for some of modern hip-hop's most successful beats, it has also become the perennial soundtrack and veritable vibe-generator for countless parties, art shows, and restaurants throughout NYC and abroad.

While this album carries the aesthetic torch that MSB has skillfully woven into the tapestry of their DNA, it also delves deeper into the experimental, exotic sounds that fill many of the coveted Sound Library and Soundtrack LPs of the late sixties and early seventies - an amalgamation of moog synths, electric pianos, drum machines, and a bevy of analog instrumentation, that ebb and flow in lush swells of Morriconian grandeur.

TRACK LISTING

1. Midnight Morning
2. Rainy Day Lady
3. The Starchaser
4. Silkworm
5. Cabin Fever
6. Rising Dawn
7. Glovebox Pistol
8. Queens Highway
9. Snow Day
10. Parlor Trick
11. The Duke
12. Stepping Through Shadow
13. Devil's Respite
14. There Was A Man

Original album released 1983. Now rereleased on 180 gram RED vinyl + inner bag with comprehensive sleeve notes.

Musicians - The Roots Radics: Bass: Errol ‘Flabba’ Holt & Robert ‘Robbie’ Shakespeare Drums: Lincoln Valentine ‘Style’ Scott Lead Guitar: Eric ‘Bingy Bunny’ Lamont Rhythm Guitar: Eric ‘Bingy Bunny’ Lamont Piano: Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson & Winston ‘Brubeck’ Wright

TRACK LISTING

Place Called Love
Suddenly
Only Sixteen
Pretty Little Cottage
Yesterday
Sea Of Love
Love Won’t Come Easy
Take Me Darling
Love Story
I Got The Handle

While the likes of “Rubber Soul”, ‘See My Friends’ and ‘Still I’m Sad’ had served notice in 1965 of British pop’s heightened level of ambition, 1966 would prove to be an even more tumultuous twelvemonth period as experimentation and innovation grew to new levels.

The release that August of “Revolver” – whose cataclysmic closing track ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ landed amongst the record-buying public like an impenetrable missile from outer space – brought the concept of psychedelic music out of the margins and into the mainstream.

However, psychedelia – condemned by national newspaper The Sun as “the new and dangerous sound in pop music” – had been percolating throughout the year. The word was already in subterranean use in America, adapted by the likes of The 13th Floor Elevators and Hollywood hustler Kim Fowley, who in late 1965 had become the first person to promote a record with the term “psychedelic”.

Arriving in London in March 1966, Fowley became a proselytising influence for the new sound, instructing bemused young British bands to “act psychedelically”. His sojourn coincided with the relocation of Californian band The Misunderstood, whose incendiary sound and stage act was a major influence on a new generation of British acts.

Meanwhile, serial pioneers The Yardbirds were making increasingly audacious music, their new manager Simon Napier-Bell instructed the young John’s Children to become “the first psychedelic group”, while mod band The Creation developed an intriguing pop-art approach.

Featuring 84 tracks, A Slight Disturbance In My Mind: The British Proto-Psychedelic Sounds Of 1966 examines the “experimental pop” element of the British music scene during that epochal twelvemonth period with a dizzying, dazzling mix of nascent psychedelia, introspective pop and what’s been retrospectively labelled freakbeat.

We feature vital contributions from some of the era’s biggest names (The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Hollies, The Animals etc), a bunch of highly collectable cult classics, a huge stash of unissued-at-thetime nuggets and early outings for such future legends as Bowie, Bolan, Slade and The Bee Gees.

Housed in a clamshell box containing a 52-page booklet crammed with biographical information and priceless period photos and memorabilia, A Slight Disturbance In My Mind is a glorious snapshot of British pop storming the gates of a new, strange and wonderful dawn.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1. MAKING TIME – The Creation
2. SHAPES OF THINGS – The Yardbirds
3. I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON – The Action
4. MUD IN YOUR EYE – Fleur-De-Lys
5. SWEET MUSIC – The Koobas
6. ORIENTAL SADNESS – The Hollies
7. PLAY DOWN – The Bee Gees
8. AM I THE RED ONE (ALTERNATIVE MIX) – Mick Softley With The Summer Suns*
9. I UNSEEN – The Misunderstood
10. SECURITY (EXTENDED VERSION) – The ’N Betweens*
11. I DIG EVERYTHING – David Bowie
12. SHE’S A GIRL – The Attraction
13. A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY – The Pretty Things
14. DADDY LONG LEGS (BRASS-FREE VERSION) – Lindsay Muir’s Untamed
15. MAN WITH MONEY – Outrage*
16. THE QUIET EXPLOSION – The Ugly’s
17. THIRTEEN WOMEN – The Renegades
18. I TAKE IT THAT WE’RE THROUGH – The Riot Squad
19. MAJOR CATASTROPHE – Katch 22
20. HIPPY GUMBO (DEMO VERSION) – Marc Bolan
21. I WILL HAVE YOU – Just Five
22. TOMORROW NIGHT – The Times
23. BLOW-UP – The In Crowd
24. SIMPLIFIED – The Majority
25. BACK SEAT DRIVER – The Ministry Of Sound
26. BABY, YOU’VE GOT IT – The Truth
27. I JUST GOT SOME – Rod Stewart
28. ANSWERS PLEASE – The Luvin’ Kind

DISC TWO
1. MY FRIEND JACK (DEMO VERSION) – The Smoke
2. PLEASE PLEASE ME – The Score
3. PAINTER MAN (2017 STEREO MIX) – The Creation
4. WHY DON’T YOU SMILE NOW – Downliners Sect
5. YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE LOVE BABE (DEMO VERSION) – Graham Bond Organisation
6. OUTCAST – The Animals
7. WE’RE BROKEN – The Moody Blues
8. I’VE LAID SOME DOWN IN MY TIME – Tony Colton
9. WELL…ALL RIGHT – The People
10. SHAPES IN MY MIND (US 45 VERSION) – Keith Relf
11. MY TIME (BRASS-FREE VERSION) – The Pretty Things
12. FANCY – The Kinks
13. YOU’RE MY GIRL – Manfred Mann
14. WHAT A STATE I’M IN – The Tremeloes
15. TURN INTO EARTH – Al Stewart
16. THE MORNING AFTER – The Mindbenders
17. WALKIN’ WALKIN’ WALKIN’ – The Favourite Sons
18. HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY – The Searchers
19. HUNGRY – The 5 A.M. Event
20. MOLLY ANDERSON’S COOKERY BOOK – The Artwoods
21. TAX MAN – Loose Ends
22. THE RUIN – Deep Feeling
23. KICKS – The Wheels
24. YOU’RE MY GIRL – The Kingpins
25. PAINT IT BLACK – The Tomcats
26. SAGITTARIUS – The Cortinas
27. WRONG WAY – The Brood
28. HOLIDAYMAKER – The Key

DISC THREE
1. THE LOVE I THOUGHT I’D FOUND – John’s Children
2. SAVE MY SOUL – The Wimple Winch
3. STROLL ON – The Yardbirds
4. GLENDORA – Downliners Sect
5. I’M NOT YOUR STEPPING STONE (DEMO VERSION) – The Flies
6. IT’S A CRIME – The Kirkbys
7. LET THE LIVE LIVE – The Sorrows
8. I GO TO SLEEP – The Fingers
9. DON’T TELL ME – Arthur Brown
10. HAPPY NEW YEAR – Beverley
11. I AM THE WORLD – The Bee Gees
12. CLOWN – The Hollies
13. INDICATION – The Zombies
14. LITTLE ROSY – The Rocking Vickers
15. WHAT DOES SHE DO – Sounds Around
16. MY LITTLE RED BOOK – Episode Six
17. NO MORE YOU AND ME – The Tornados ’66
18. GIRL CHILD, I AM AN EVIL WITCHMAN – The ’N Betweens
19. HURDY GURDY MAN – The Spectres
20. SUMMER LEAVES ME WITH A SIGH – Tuesday’s Children
21. ADVERTISING MAN – The Reaction
22. MY WORLD FELL DOWN – The Ivy League
23. HEY, YOU LOLITA – The Silence
24. I SUPPOSE – The Secrets
25. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE SONG – Outrage*
26. TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS – The Mirage
27. MY MIND – The Misunderstood
28. DISTURBANCE – The Move

* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Josh Rouse has recorded an album of original holiday songs, which all feel like a classic 60s jazz-influenced holiday album (think Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas).

The First Edition release, includes a bonus disk featuring 3 Christmas classics performed acoustically + 3 demo versions of songs from the album.

TRACK LISTING

Mediterranean X-Mas
Red Suit
New York Holiday
Easy Man 
Sleigh Brother Bill
Lights Of Town
Letters In The Mailbox
Heartbreak Holiday
Christmas Songs
All I Want For Christmas (Mariah Carey Cover)
Red Suit (Demo) 
Up On The Housetop
Easy Man (Demo)
Let It Snow
Heartbreak Holiday (Demo)

The new release from Top Sounds Records honours one of the mid 1960’s most revered cult bands with the label’s first single artist long playing record and CD – the ARTWOODS!

The ARTWOODS – Art Wood, Derek Griffiths, Malcolm Pool, Keef Hartley and future Deep Purple organist Jon Lord – recorded for Decca, Parlophone and Fontana from 1964 to 1967 and their Decca back catalogue in particular has been well documented by retrospective re-issues and compilations. The thirteen canvasses in ‘Art’s Gallery’ however are sourced completely from three live radio sessions that the ARTWOODS recorded for the BBC during 1965 and early 1966 and were not known to still exist. The British Broadcasting Corporation saved a number of tracks the group played for the Beeb and these have since appeared on the Cherry Red ‘Steady Getting It’ set, the rest of the ARTWOODS’ radiophonic output however was not kept by the BBC with the tapes being erased or junked. Thanks to diligent home taping by a particularly keen fan at the time, the ARTWOODS’ music for radio on ‘Art’s Gallery’ can again be heard in public for the first time in over fifty years. And besides welcome live takes of familiar favourites such as ‘Oh My Love’, ‘She Knows What To Do’ and ‘Don’t Cry No More’, there’s a spoil of cool numbers that the band never committed to disc. There’s the upbeat jazz of ‘That Healin’ Feelin’ and ‘Smack Dab In The Middle’, the slow burning blues of ‘How Long, How Long Blues’ and ‘Black Mountain Blues’, the soulful grooves of ‘Out Of Sight’ and ‘I Got A Woman’ and the pure mod suave of ‘Comin’ Home Baby’ (and more!).

The music has been restored to the highest possible standards from the only known surviving reel to reel recordings and Top Sounds feel sure there’s a splendid time for all to be had from a visit to ‘Art’s Gallery’!

A limited edition in both formats!!!!

Lunar Sounds are a 3-piece DIY rock band from Leeds. Main interests include spreadsheets, cake, and supernatural TV shows with a strong female lead.

TRACK LISTING

Out The Dark
The Getaway
D.E.Z
Timebomb

Most music does not come out of nowhere. Arising and appearing in a pre-existing system of influences, cross-references, roots, memories and desires, it either directly points towards a heritage or into the future. Mark Barrott’s "Nature Sounds of the Balearics" is a bit of both. The mastermind behind the International Feel label and the Sketches from an Island series presents an intermediary.

Technically, it’s his departure from a software based workflow and onto (or back to) a hardware driven creative point of view. Philosophically, it deals with the schizophrenia of our times: the late Paul Virgilio’s dromology and logistics of perception versus a decelerated life outside of cities, internet algorhythmics (sic!) versus meditation, the excessive stock market (all track titles are derivates of that world) against a tactile way of living.
Musically, it is the outcome of what Barrott himself described as his "techno album". For people whose definition of techno has to do with speed (again) and kick drums that might seem like a misinterpretation. Listeners who remember the Artificial Intelligence and Freezone compilations, various chill out channels or Detroit’s mellow moments, will tend to agree. "Nature Sounds of the Balearics" miraculously evokes those days and times, without breaking his neck. It is as much at home in a Caribbean water utopia between dolphins and old fishing boats as it feels current and applicable in a Ridley Scott dystopia. And if meta levels aren't your thing: it’s just a beautiful album.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Moving away slightly from the beach-bound cocktail-fuelled halcyon lysergia of the previous outings, Barrott opts for off-kilter melodies and hardware-based sequencing to create a more rhythmically diverse offering, as fascinating as it is engrossing. Lovely stuff.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Aroon
A2. Morning Star
A3. Point & Figure
A4. Heikin-Ashi
A5. TRIX
B1. Keltner & Chalkin
B2. Ichimoku
B3. Donchian Reprise
B4. Boolean Hawks
B5. Evening Star 

The Strange World of Suzie Pellet' is a hard rocking concept album featuring a dark, unsettling and mysterious tale of future street dweller Suzie Pellet. A feisty survivor in a ruined world, Suzie is the brainchild of Ian Miller, fantasy/horror artist and novelist. His surreal. nightmarish creations have graced book covers, graphic novels and films, and have given form to the works of HP Lovecraft, Tolkien and many more. Now, one of his own dark gothic characters comes to life. Not unlike Michael Moorcock guiding Hawkwind or Sandy Pearlman, The Blue Oyster Cult, or even a cranked up Moody Blues or Who, Transmaniacon bring Miller'svision to sonic life, aided and abetted by the outstanding vocal deliveries of punk poetess and avant rocker Lydia Lunch (a hind-sighted Suzie) and Maya Berlin (a future 'present-day' Suzie).

Sci-fi and space rock has always been present in Transmaniacon, a previous incarnation was XM3a who released the first New Heavy Sounds single, 'Bad Robot Man', an epic 9 min acid rock riff-fest. This was followed up (as Transmaniacon) by 'The Darkening Plain' their first concept piece containing the 25 min classic 'Quintessence of Dust' - bleak, dense, forboding, and heavy. - a sort of Killing Joke/Hawkwind/Pentagram hybrid which featured the first collaboration with Lydia Lunch. But with 'Suzie Pellet' Transmaniacon becomes more a musical collective. The core of the band remains, hard and heavy riffing guitars, overdriven Hammond Organ (and this time synth) but with the addition of Tom (Uncle Acid/Limb) Mowforth on drums they are a groovier, more athletic 70's rock beast. The twin heavyweights of Blue Oyster Cult and Mountain loom large, but this time with the added groove of an an organ-driven Black Mountain. Suzie Pellet is Transmaniacon's first true collaboration with Ian Miller. Miller resurrected his post apocalyptic tale of street survivor Suzie Pellet in a rotten and derelict London-esque urban-scape called Duht. Transmaniacon have taken and expanded Miller's vision into a story in which Pellet herself, describes the dark, underworld, its characters and situations, friends and foes, all in grisly-spoken and sung diary-like, excerpts.

Lydia Lunch was an obvious choice for the mature Pellet. A survivor of numerous underground scenes herself from punk and no-wave through noise, avant-rock and, appropriately enough here, spoken word. In 1975 Patti Smith perhaps could have been a young Susie Pellet, in 93 Polly Harvey, but now the role falls to Maya Berlin. With her band, Cold in Berlin delivering equal parts Punk, Doom and Goth over their three highly acclaimed albums (including 'The Comfort of Loss and Dust on Candlelight Records), she was perfect. And Suzie gives her the opportunity to expand her vocal (and theatrical) talents in Grace Slick or Julie Driscoll or even Chelsea Wolfe directions. Step into the nightmare world of Suzie Pellet. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: It's a pretty out-there idea, and more than fitting for the King Crimson / Blue Oyster it so readily references, but this particular concept is flawlessly accomplished and brilliantly overblown. Brilliantly heavy but nuanced psych rock with a host of talented musicians behind it makes it a must have for you LL fans out there.

TRACK LISTING

1. Inca Sunshine
2. Painted On Skin
3. The River, The Birds
4. Sexton Breen
5. Dogs Of War
6. Outrun The Pack
7. Tooled Up
8. Aerosol Death Rattle

"Studio One Freedom Sounds" is the new collection from the nation's favourite one-stop shop, focusing on the intense period in the second half of the 1960s when Studio One’s vast and unbeatable output of ska, soul, rock steady and reggae made it literally one of the hottest musical empires in the world.

During this highly successful period, Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd released hundreds and hundreds of superlative singles seemingly on an almost daily basis, in the process making huge stars out of Jamaican singers such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, The Wailers, Slim Smith, Jackie Opel and many more.

Powered by the finest in-house musicians working in Jamaica, whether it was The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo’s Soul Brothers, The Sounds Dimension or The Soul Vendors, Studio One functioned as hit factory on the scale of Motown in the USA, shaping and defining reggae music for decades to come.

Singlehandedly Studio One’s founder Clement Dodd was able to create the most successful vertically-integrated record company that Jamaica had ever known with pressing plant, printers, studio, shops and sound systems all running at once, with over 50 employees and hundreds of artists working with Studio One during this time.

"Studio One Freedom Sounds" tells the story of Studio One in the 1960s with a stunning set of ska, soul, rock steady and reggae killer tunes as well as informative sleevenotes and track-by-track info by Noel Hawks.

TRACK LISTING

Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Rain Or Shine
The Gaylads - Morning Sun
Delroy Wilson - Just Because Of You
Alton Ellis - Sunday Coming
Jackie Opel - I Am What I Am
Peter Tosh - I Am The Toughest
Delroy Wilson - Get Ready
Mr. Foundation - Timo-Oh
Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers - Provocation
Leroy & Rocky - Love Me Girl
Slim & Delroy - Look Who Is Back Again
The Skatalites - Spread Satin
Barrington Spence - Contemplating Mind
Ernest Ranglin - Psychedelic Rock
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Destiny
Roland Alphonso - Reggae In The Grass
Zoot Simms - We Can Talk It Over
Jackie Mittoo - Hi Jack

Limited edition of 500. First time limited edition vinyl reissue of an extremely rare and unique teenage real people psych garage private press album from 1982 . It’s so damn off the radar rare and elusive that it even eluded the writers of the Acid Archives book. Here’s the inside word on it directly from the pioneering record collector and front man of New Yorks Endless Boogie; Paul Major: The first time I heard this record I had to vigorously punch myself in the face to make sure I wasn't dreaming it up. It's real. K.S. Ratliff comes on like a blast from a lost world, a maverick small town flash from high school kids in some alternate Kentucky utterly isolated from any scene and untainted by even the slightest stink of music biz disease. Real people.

Fifteenth studio album and 30th anniversary release from the pioneering UK ambient house duo. Features guest contributions from Hollie Cook, Roger Eno, Youth (Killing Joke, The Fireman), Jah Wobble (PiL), Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd), Brother Culture. Includes singles "Rush Hill Road" and "Doughnuts Forever", with the album receiving positive press from Mixmag, Resident Advisor, Vents, XS Noize, Tiny Mix Tapes. The Orb have sold 700K+ albums worldwide and their catalog has been streamed 7M+ times. Previous album "COW/Chill Out, World!" (2016) received praise from Record Collector, PopMatters, Resident Advisor & Mixmag.

Existing, long serving fans know they're not gonna be disappointed by now - their brand of playful, low-slung, almost 'baggy'-era blend of electronics, downbeat and pop has more than stood the test of time; with The Orb a highly celebrated beacon of UK pop culture. They haven't changed direction, they've just come a long way... baby! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: The Orb, legendary purveyors of blissed-out house and mellow ambient electronica return for their newest LP, 'No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds'. Brimming with smooth, rolling percussives and simmering dubby breaks, all stitched together with the skill and lightness of touch that only such veterans could achieve. A stunning, evocative collection.

TRACK LISTING

1. The End Of The End
2. Wish I Had A Pretty Dog
3. Rush Hill Road
4. Pillow Fight @ Shag Mountain
5. Isle Of Horns
6. Wolfbane
7. Other Blue Worlds
8. Doughnuts Forever
9. Drift
10. Easy On The Onions
11. Ununited States
12. Soul Planet

The 'skinhead' sound grew from the music that was coming out of Jamaica around 1968 to 1971 and was adopted by the British youth. The music seemed tailor made for their sharp look and natty dress style, a style that was heavily influenced by the Jamaican 'rude boy' look. The skinhead movement started around 1968 and by the following year it became the style fashion of English teenagers. The uniform consisted of boots, braces and jeans and the upbeat sound of reggae seemed to match the style perfectly. The tempo of the music seemed to pick up around 1966 to 1968 - the Rocksteady period, which was when the earlier Ska sound slowed down.
The sound system dances needed a slower bear to swing the night away to, some say to cater for the extreme heatwave that hit Jamaica around that time.
Here's a bunch of tunes that would have provided a sound track to those heady times, so sit back and enjoy some of the tunes the youths were listening to when the skinheads hit town….

TRACK LISTING

Side One
Track 1 Copycats-Derrick Morgan & Owen Grey
Track 2 Children Get Ready-The Versatiles
Track 3 Hey Boy,Hey Girl-Derrick & Patsy
Track 4 Scarface-Bunny Lee Allstars
Track 5 Bangarang-Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling
Track 6 Rhythm Hips-Ronald Russell
Track 7 River To The Bank-Derrick Morgan

Side Two
Track 8 The Worm-Lloyd Robinson
Track 9 Drink & Gamble-Young Freddie
Track 10 Last Flight To Reggae City-Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling
Track 11 Push Push-The Termites
Track 12 The Horse-Eric Barnett
Track 13 Lets Have Some Fun-Dervon & The Tartans
Track 14 Buy Me A Rainbow-Max Romeo
Track 15 Q Club-Lennox Brown*
Track 16 The Return Of Al Capone-Peter Tosh*
Track 17 Girl What Are You Doing To Me -Owen Grey*

It goes without saying that 1968 doesn't have the same kind of cachet as 1967 - a year that, in musical terms, will always be indelibly associated with the Summer of Love, Sgt Pepper and the emergence of psychedelia.

But although the major players turned away from the excesses of the previous year in favour of a back-to-basics musical approach, there were arguably a greater number of psychedelic records made in 1968 than during the preceding twelve months.

Vital, lysergically-inclined 45s emerged from a whole host of younger groups, with The Factory, Mike Stuart Span, Fleur de Lys, The Fire, The Barrier, Boeing Duveen, Rupert's People and numerous others all releasing singles that have long been widely regarded by psychedelic collectors as genre classics.

All these and more are gathered on Looking At The Pictures In The Sky, which provide a fascinating overview of the group scene in Britain (and Ireland!) in 1968, shining a light on unreleased gems, cult classics, choice album cuts, neglected B-sides and alternative versions.

As with its 1967 equivalent Let's Go Down And Blow Our Minds, the four-hour, 78-track, 3CD anthology Looking At The Pictures In The Sky is housed in a striking clambox that contains a 44 page booklet crammed with biographical information and rare photographs of the featured acts.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1. PATH THROUGH THE FOREST – The Factory
2. FATHER’S NAME IS DAD – The Fire
3. GONG WITH THE LUMINOUS NOSE – Fleur De Lys
4. MIND’S EYE – Ramases & Selket
5. SPONTANEOUS APPLE CREATION – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
6. LULLABY (ALTERNATIVE VERSION) – Grapefruit
7. I WILL NOT BE MOVED – Circle Plantagenet
8. SUNDAY BEST – Turquoise
9. MY SON JOHN – The Onyx
10. THE FANTASTIC STORY OF THE STEAM- DRIVEN BANANA – Legay
11. MR. PARTRIDGE PASSED AWAY TODAY – Fortes Mentum
12. JABBERWOCK – Boeing Duveen & The Beautiful Soup
13. HAZE WOMAN – Anan
14. TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES – The Pretty Things
15. SUNDAY MORNING – Guy And David – The Five Day Week Straw People
16. ANIMAL MAGIC – Graded Grains
17. SHE – Tuesday’s Children
18. MR. LION – The Marmalade
19. UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS – Graham Gouldman
20. FESTIVAL OF THE HARVEST MOON – Joker
21. SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK’N’ROLL STAR – Sun Dragon
22. NEVER CARE – Eyes Of Blue
23. NIGHTMARE – The Gass Company
24. IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF SIXPENCE – Procol Harum
25. DID YOU DIE FOUR YEARS AGO TONIGHT? – The Web
26. FREDERICK JORDAN – The Glass Menagerie

DISC TWO
1. CHILDREN OF TOMORROW – Mike Stuart Span
2. DAWN BREAKS THROUGH – The Barrier
3. MR PINNODMY’S DILEMMA – The Attack
4. TRYING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF YOU – The Freedom
5. I CAN SHOW YOU – Rupert’s People
6. LOCKED IN A ROOM – The Poets
7. BLUEBELL WOOD – Wimple Winch
8. TECHNICOLOR DREAMS – The Status Quo
9. MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BREAST – The Spectrum
10. HEAD FOR THE SUN – The Movement
11. MIDNIGHT LOVE CYCLE – The Klubs
12. LOVERS FROM THE SKY – Contact
13. JAMIE’S SONG – The Deviants
14. SYDNEY GILL – The Smoke
15. BIRTHDAY – Peter & The Wolves
16. LOVE IS A TOY – Jon Ledingham
17. YESTERDAY WAS SUCH A LOVELY DAY (ELSIE) – Sadie’s Expression
18. OMNIBUS (EXTENDED VERSION) – The Move
19. I GET SO EXCITED – Real McCoy
20. MR. GOLDEN TRUMPET PLAYER – Junior’s Eyes
21. YELLOW RAINBOW – The Picadilly
22. TIME SELLER (LP VERSION) – The Spencer Davis Group
23. PANTOMIME – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
24. GO AND SAY GOODBYE – Katch 22
25. CORNFLAKE ZOO – Andy Ellison
26. FOR YOUR THOUGHTS – The Alan Bown!

DISC THREE
1. HOLD ON – Jason Crest
2. GIRL OF INDEPENDENT MEANS – Honeybus
3. RAINMAKER – Rhubarb Rhubarb
4. HELLO ENID – The Mirage
5. LUCKY SUNDAY – Episode Six
6. WHAT’S THE RUSH, DILLBURY? – Paradox
7. CAVE OF CLEAR LIGHT – The Bystanders
8. ROUND AND ROUND – Skip Bifferty
9. COME ON DOWN – Motivation
10. COUNTRY LIFE – Blonde On Blonde
11. VIRGINIA WATER – Cats Pyjamas
12. AEROPLANE – Jethro Toe (Tull)
13. RAMBLING BOY – Timon
14. ICE MAN – Ice
15. NOW AND AGAIN REBECCA – The U (Don’t) No Who
16. FELICITY JANE – Writing On The Wall
17. SYCAMORE SID – Focal Point
18. DO YOU DREAM? – Circus
19. MAXWELL FERGUSON – Brass Tacks
20. PAWNBROKER (DEMO VERSION) – Barbara Ruskin
21. SOFT WINDS – The Orange Bicycle
22. WITHOUT YOU – Coconut Mushroom
23. HAUNTED – Peter Thorogood
24. WHICH DREAMED IT – Boeing Duveen & The Beautiful Soup
25. TURNSTYLE – Trot
26. PICTURES IN THE SKY – Orange Seaweed

The Sound of Studio One can be identified by the great singers that it cultivated along the many great songs that these singers released. But as studio 1’s dominance was slowly pulled away by the up and coming new breed of producers many of the artists would inevitably end up working for these new camps and so the songs and singers found a new audience. The reggae sound of the Studio 1 would make a great combination and the man to pull this was together Bunny Lee.

The 1960’s in Jamaica was run by two main factions, Coxsonne’s Studio 1 and Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle. These two leading protagonists saw what some of the other great Sound System men like ‘ Tom The Great Sebastian’ had not taken onboard, that when the tunes they imported began to dry up from the USA, their future lied in producing music. Tunes that suited the musical styles that the people of Jamaica still enjoyed. By the late 1960’s thse supremacy was being challenged by the up and coming new producers on the scene, Lee Perry being one, and the other being ‘Ghost of the Studios’ himself, Bunny Lee. Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee may have inherited the moniker ‘Striker’ from his liking of a particular TV show called ‘The Hitch-Hiker’, but it would soon stand also for the considerable hits he would obtain as he was declared producer of the year in Jamaica in 1969, 1970,1971 and 1972.
For this release, we have compiled many of the great Studio hits that Bunny Lee recorded with the singers that had originally cut at the famed Studio 1. Bunny Lee’s sprinkling of magic over some classic tunes….the sound of Studio 1 backed up this time Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee’s set of star musicians The Aggravators. Proving you can’t keep a good tune down, or a great producer pushing forward…..Bunny Lee strikes back….
Hope you enjoy the set…..

Welcome to the parallel musical universe of Miss Maria Teresa Luciani, a landscape of sonic architecture and theoretical composition constructed by a family of engineers that reinvented the wheel before the vehicle even began the journey. Imagine, if you will, the musical equivalent of Peter Cook’s Archigram group or the soundtrack to Charles and Ray Eames’ private sketchbooks, hinting at a new municipal, utopian metropolis just hours before the blueprints are suspiciously misplaced by the courier. These 1972 constructions of progressive, cyclic, proto-industrial colour music were never intended for public habitation. These are the ‘Sounds Of The City’ in a galaxy far, far beneath our radar and above your expectations that was never built.
The story of Maria Teresa Luciani reads like an Alphaville caper full of foreign intrigue, low intensity identification fraud, secret codes, family bonds, mistrust and wanderlust. To say this rare Italian concept album is unbelievable is justified on multiple levels. This multi-storey storage facility of found sounds, radiophonic samples, tape loops, early electronic music experiments, mechanical folk, cinematic vision, sound design, educated music theory, political pop and high concept art-as-noise successfully layers more musical ideas within its unique structure than one would think possible for a solo artist within any musical genre.
This is why ‘Sounds Of The City’ presents us with a brand new genre defying compositional framework, pre-dating sampling culture, cut & paste plunderism and industrial music in the process. Pre-digital, indefinable and genuinely unbelievable.
Who is Maria Teresa Luciani? On hearing this record respected collectors and enthusiasts have suggested “the female answer to Basil Kirchin,” or “the Italian Daphne Oram.” Both with justified cause.

The long-awaited new album from the legendary pioneers of transcendental psychedelic rock music and DIY culture in general. Tack Fur Kaffet (So Long) is a tribute to the deceased band members and dearest friends Torbjirn Abelli and Thomas Mera Gartz. It becomes something of a farewell show for the old Trad, Gras Och Stenar because all the old and new members, including founder Bo Anders, Torbjern and Mera, and Reine Fiske (Dungen, The Amazing), are all contributing to this album. The sounds were captured on tape in their music workshop in the countryside and consists mainly of improvised moments where the sounds travels beyond time and space, something that has been TGS hallmark over the years. 

After spacing out on the first volume of the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS 4-WAY SPLIT, it’s time to hit the ground running! The HPS 4-WAY SPLIT VOL. 2 brings funked-out ‘70s boogie down the highway with heavy hitters WILD EYES SF, recent HPS-signees BANQUET, Brooklyn sunshine rockers THE GOLDEN GRASS and fuzz traditionalists KILLER BOOGIE. All four bands bring a fresh sound to classic heavy rock, and after uniting Naam, White Hills, Black Rainbows and The Flying Eyes to highlight trippy psychedelic groove, HPS 4-WAY SPLIT VOL. 2 gives an earthier take while continuing to feature some of the underground’s best up and coming acts! 

TRACK LISTING

The Golden Grass:
1. Livin’ Ain’t Easy
2. Flashing Out Of Sight
3. Hot Smoke & Sasafrass

Killer Boogie:
4. You Will Be Mine
5. Make Another Ride
6. The Thunder

Wild Eyes:
7. Long Time No See
8. Gator Shaker
9. Hot Sand

Banquet:
10. Seven Sisters
11. Starmaker
12. Runnin By The Baby Huey

The best Beach Boys album, and one of the best of the 1960s. The group here reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create a richly symphonic sound. Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with exotic touches of orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, Theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. It wouldn't have been a classic without great songs, and this has some of the group's most stunning melodies, as well as lyrical themes which evoke both the intensity of newly born love affairs and the disappointment of failed romance (add in some general statements about loss of innocence and modern-day confusion as well). The spiritual quality of the material is enhanced by some of the most gorgeous upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) ever heard on a rock record. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "God Only Knows," "Caroline No," and "Sloop John B" (the last of which wasn't originally intended to go on the album) are the well-known hits, but equally worthy are such cuts as "You Still Believe in Me," "Don't Talk," "I Know There's an Answer," and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times."

TRACK LISTING

1. Wouldn't It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That's Not Me
4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I'm Waiting For The Day
6. Let's Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B
8. God Only Knows
9. I Know There's An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline, No

The Morwells formed in 1973 comprising Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont and Maurice "Blacka" Wellington, childhood friends from Kingston's Trenchtown area. The band expanded to a trio in 1974 with the addition of Louis Davis, formerly of The Versatiles alongside Junior Byles. David was a talented arranger and also taught Lamont to play guitar. Wellington began working as a studio engineer and producer for Joe Gibbs in 1976, working on the early recordings by Culture, while Lamont joined The Revolutionaries as rhythm guitarist, although they continued to work as The Morwells. Their new connections gave them access to much of Jamaica's musical talent of the era, and in 1977 they were joined by bassist Errol 'Flabba' Holt. Recorded in 1977 'Crab Race' also features the likes Sly & Robbie, Franklyn Bubbler Waul, Tarzan and Sticky. Quality vocal set.

TRACK LISTING

Baby Why Did You Leave Me To Cry
Swing And Dine
Reality
Come On Little Girl
Got To Be Witty
Movie Star
Got To Find Somewhere To Live
Bit By Bit
Give Me Power
Music Is So Divine
(See Me Again) Roman Stewart
Crab Race

Leroy Smart the self proclaimed ‘Don’ carries much respect in the Jamaican musical community. He came through the Alpha boys school in Kingston that provided JA with the cream of Jamaican artistic talent, including such legends as Don Drummond, Tommy Mc Cook and Johnny Dizzy Moore to name but a few.

Leroy Smarts talent lay in his attacking vocal style that gives his lyrics and tune that extra meaning. His best work came in the heady mid 70s working with ‘The Hitmaker from Jamaica’ Mr. Bunny 'Striker' Lee. Bunny put Leroy Smart's vocals on some of his best rhythms starting in 1973 with ‘God Helps The Man’ and ‘Wreck Up My Life’. Other killer hits were to follow such as ‘Mr.Smart’, ’Pride and Ambition’, ’Bad Minded People’ and the attacking ‘Mr. Richman’. All tracks telling it like it is...

Kingston Sounds have compiled all these cuts together, every song a story in itself, told only as Leroy Smart could.

Consisting of brothers Dallas and Travis Good, drummer Mike Belitsky and upright bassist Sean Dean, The Sadies' inspired culmination of psychedelia, country and western and instrumental rock has made them the preeminent torchbearers of cosmic Canadiana music.

Internal Sounds was recorded in Toronto. Though Gary Louris was an integral part in making the album, it was produced by Dallas Good. "There was a conscious effort to deliver a finished product that wouldn't suffer from a deadline or budget. We recorded this record over a span of a year, in session for twenty plus days. By the end, we'd spent every dime we had and used up every favour. There is usually a sense of immediacy to our records, maybe because we make a lot of them. I didn't want that this time" says Good. This time, Peter J. Moore was enlisted to mix with The Sadies, a first for them. Internal Sounds also welcomes Canadian legend Buffy Sainte-Marie who contributes her haunting voice to the closing track "We Are Circling". The Sadies continue working to make a greater live show and better albums, integrity intact. Internal Sounds is The Sadies continuing to grow, and getting better with each step

Thee Spivs are back with their third album in as many years and with ‘The Crowds and The Sounds’ they’ve honed their canny blend of trad punk, garage punk, post punk, new wave, classic English rock’n’roll and pub rock to create a magnificently varied album. Dare we say, these young men have matured, with Ben Edge proving his worth as an accomplished songwriter. Drawing from a more diverse array of influences, Thee Spivs have lapped up and reimagined sounds from bands such as The Television Personalities, The Ramones and early Wire. The new album is a natural progression from their critically acclaimed debut ‘Taped Up’ (which landed the band an early Mojo Rising feature and a Guardian New Band of the Day piece as well as praise in The Sunday Times and Artrocker) and last year’s ‘Black and White Memories’ (with reviews including Q, Uncut and BBC). ‘The Crowds and The Sounds’ is instantly more melodic and you can see additional influences from the very British qualities of The Kinks. The songs are slowed down and slightly longer in length, with a lot more thought and work in to each one than the furiously fast, punchy numbers from their early records.

TRACK LISTING

1. Social Network
2. Outside Myself
3. The Crowds And The Sounds
4. Straight Out Of Art School
5. Weathered Men
6. Mickey Pearce Waved Goodbye
7. Heroin Pin Ups
8. Lets Talk About The Weather
9. Jigsaw Man
10. Mozart’s Locked Away

Dennis Alcapone, initially inspired by DJ U Roy, was soon to challenge his crown in the early part of the 70s releasing over 100 hit tunes. He could weave his vocal magic over any tune / rhythm that came his way and take it to another place. Alcapone began DJing (toasting) for the El Paso Hi–Fi Sound System around 1969. His first releases resulted from working with producer Keith Hudson, a succession of hits followed. Dennis moved camp to work with producer Duke Reid reworking some fresh ideas over classic Treasure Isle rhythms. He then went on to work with many top producers between 1970 - 1973, including Coxonne Dodd, Lee Perry, Sir JJ, Winston Riley, Joe Gibbs, Prince Buster all provided an outlet for his musical endeavours.

Another great relationship was his work for producer Bunny Lee, again scoring some big hits including, ‘Guns Don’t Argue’ and ‘Ripe Cherry’ the later adding a twist to Bunny’s massive hit of the time ‘Cherry Oh Baby’. Kingston Sounds have looked to this period in Dennis’s career where there is a wealth of great music.‘Go Deh’ (on Leroy Smart's ‘How Long’), ‘Eternal Life’ (Johnny Clarke’s version of Peter Tosh’s ‘Legalise It’) 'Steve Austin' (The Six Million Dollar Man tale over Leroy Smart’s ‘Pride and Ambition’), 'Wise Man From The East' (Johnny Clarke’s ‘You Have Caught Me Baby’), It Must Come (Delroy Wilson’s ‘Better Must Come’), 'Blessed Are The Meek' (Slim Smith’s ‘Blessed Are The Meek’) to name but a few. Dennis left Jamaica in 1973 just after being awarded the Cup for Best DJ by Swing magazine. With his signature shout of "Yeah Yeah Yeah!" you knew he was going to mash up the dance wherever his musical talents led him.

Niney the Observer, one of Jamaica’s great producers, cultivated a distinctive sparse / heavy sound to his productions.Add to this the poignant lyrics that many of these tunes carried, builds to a roots music catalogue that few could match. Winston Holness, aka Niney the Observer (named due to a workshop accident in which he lost a thumb!), began his musical induction working for producer Bunny Lee in the late 60s.Around 1968 Niney worked alongside Lee Perry for producer Joe Gibbs eventually taking over Perry’s role as ‘in house’ producer in 1968, when Perry decided to go his own way and start his own label.

Niney by now had learned his craft ,especially known for building strong original rhythms which he put to good work on his first production called ‘Mr Brown’ / ‘Everybody Bawling’ for DJs Dennis Alcapone and Lizzy. This was a hometown hit in Jamaica but its follow up in 1970, Niney’s ‘Blood & Fire’ featuring Niney himself on vocals was a runaway hit selling over 30,000 copies in Jamaica alone. Niney’s production work hit another high around 1973 when he began working with singer Dennis Brown. The records initially were released on Joe Gibbs label but soon appeared on Niney’s own imprint ‘Observer’ label. Hit after hit came from this chemistry that flowed between Niney and Dennis Brown, ’Westbound Train’ following in 1974 with, ‘Cassandra’, ‘I Am The Conqueror’ and the timeless ‘No More Shall I Roam’.

Kingston Sounds have culled some great tunes that Niney added his magic production skills to around this time, they show his vast talents and also the cross-section of artists that he worked with. Dennis Brown provides ‘Stages of Life’ alongside Leroy Smarts classic ‘Mr Richman’, Max Romeo ‘Don’t Be Prejudice’, Bob Andy ‘War War’, Delroy Wilson ‘Pretty Girl’. Ken Boothe provides us with two cuts, ‘Namibia’and ‘Peaceful Day’, vocal legend Alton Ellis features with ‘Change My Life’ and vocal groups are represented by the Versatiles ‘Trust The Book’ and Tamlins ‘Give It Up’. A great selection of songs that work so well together, not only because of the heartfelt singing that the artists put across but also the songs are interlinked by Niney’s rich studio style… Hope you enjoy the set……

"Listen To The Music" is the second Pressure Sounds album of Caltone productions. It's a 21 track set of tunes that cover the years from 1966 to 1969. From the late period ska years through to early reggae. This album is full of rare rocksteady gems.

Ken Lack who founded the Caltone label was a businessman with a passion for music. His connections with Jamaica’s top session players resulted in a series of 45s that were both tasteful and well produced.

Included in this 21 track album are tracks by Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. 'Smooth Sailing' and 'Killer Joe' are both superb horn driven instrumentals. There are three tracks by The Clarendonians led by the vocal talents of Peter Austin. 'I'm Sorry' and 'Lonely Heartaches' are top draw rocksteady 45s that have never been re-issued since the original Jamaican pressings. It was Bunny Lee and Phil Pratt who handled most of the hands-on production for Ken Lack although there was undoubtedly much input from Lynn Tait, Tommy McCook and Johnny Moore.

The music recorded at WIRL, Federal and Treasure Isle studios is filled with the kind of creativity and attention to detail that has made Caltone records so collectable to this day. Ken Lack died in 2001 in Miami, Florida of a heart condition. He left behind a unique set of recordings and should be remembered for bringing a more collaborative and cooperative spirit to Jamaican music.

STAFF COMMENTS

Philippa says: "Listen To The Music" is the second Pressure Sounds album of Caltone productions. It's a 21 track set of tunes that cover the years from 1966 to 1969. From the late period ska years through to early reggae. This album is full of rare rocksteady gems.

TRACK LISTING

1. Peter Austin &The Clarendonians With The Ernie Ranglin All Stars - I'm Sorry
2. Lloyd & The Groovers With Tommy McCook And The Supersonics - Listen To The Music
3. Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Killer Joe
4. Devon And The Tartans - Making Love
5. Alva Lewis With Lynn Taitt And His Band - Return Home
6. Chuck Jaques & With Lynn Taitt And The Comets - Dial 609
7. The Uniques With Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - The Journey
8. The Kingstonians - Why Wipe The Smile From Your Face
9. The Clarendonians - I'll Never Try
10. Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Smooth Sailing
11. The Kingstonians - Love Is The Greatest Science
12. The Clarendonians With The Aubrey Adams All Stars - Lonely Heartaches
13. The Cool Cats - Hold Your Love
14. The Uniques With The Caltone Studio Orchestra - Do Me Good
15. The Diplomats With Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Going Along
16. Lloyd And The Groovers With Lynn Taitt & His Band - My Heart And Soul
17.Chuck Jaques & The Supersonics - Now That You've Gone
18. Eric 'Monty' Morris - Hear Them Say
19. Honey Boy Martin & The Voices With Tommy McCook And The Supersonics - Dreader Than Dread
20. King Rocky & The Willows With The Super Sonics - You Are The One
21. The Emotions With The Lynn Taitt Band - Gypsy

The Ting Tings trademark which inspired the album title for bandmates Katie White and Jules De Martino is simple; to make tracks that sound different to the one before; to have musical freedom and to be held by no boundaries.

‘Sounds From Nowheresville’ didn’t come quickly to Katie and Jules. After achieving worldwide success with their debut album ‘We Started Nothing’ the duo spent a relentless two years touring before eventually returning to the studio. Following a brief spell in Berlin where they recorded and subsequently ditched a whole batch of songs they weren’t happy with; The Ting Tings packed their bags and landed in Southern Spain where they threw out the rule books and made music that made them happy.

Jules said: “Everything before then had been a struggle. Suddenly it wasn’t. Everytime Katie went up to the booth she was nailing it. The lyrics were happening. The whole weight of our shoulders was lifted. This was enjoyable again. It was being dictated by its own energy again.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Silence
2. Hit Me Down Sonny
3. Hang It Up
4. Give It Back
5. Guggenheim
6. Soul Killing
7. One By One
8. Day To Day
9. Help
10. In Your Life

The Ting Tings trademark which inspired the album title for bandmates Katie White and Jules De Martino is simple; to make tracks that sound different to the one before; to have musical freedom and to be held by no boundaries.

‘Sounds From Nowheresville’ didn’t come quickly to Katie and Jules. After achieving worldwide success with their debut album ‘We Started Nothing’ the duo spent a relentless two years touring before eventually returning to the studio. Following a brief spell in Berlin where they recorded and subsequently ditched a whole batch of songs they weren’t happy with; The Ting Tings packed their bags and landed in Southern Spain where they threw out the rule books and made music that made them happy.

Jules said: “Everything before then had been a struggle. Suddenly it wasn’t. Everytime Katie went up to the booth she was nailing it. The lyrics were happening. The whole weight of our shoulders was lifted. This was enjoyable again. It was being dictated by its own energy again.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Silence
2. Hit Me Down Sonny
3. Hang It Up
4. Give It Back
5. Guggenheim
6. Soul Killing
7. One By One
8. Day To Day
9. Help
10. In Your Life
11. Silence (Bag Raiders Remix)
12. Hang It Up (Inertia Remix)
13. Give It Back (Demo)
14. Hang It Up (Abacus & Vargas Predator Remix)
15. Hands
16. Guggenheim
17. Hang It Up
18. Aint Got Shit
19. Hang It Up

Nadja is a duo of Aidan Baker & Leah Buckareff alternately based in Toronto & Berlin. The duo makes music that encompasses experimental/drone, ambient, shoegazer, & doom metal.

Originally available as a very limited mail-order only CD in 2008, this was Consouling Sounds first release. It contains a re-recorded version of 'Absorbed in You' (which originally featured on the long time sold-out split album with Methadrone), and the new track 'The Bungled & The Botched'.

This disc provides a monolithic yet melodic assault of epic proportions.

Prince Alla began his singing career working for producer Joe Gibbs. Cutting three tracks as a member of the vocal group the Leaders around 1968 and a solo single ‘Woo Oh Oh’.1969 saw Blake follow his strong Rastafarian faith by moving into the Rasta camp of Prince Emmanuel Edwards initially in Spainish Town and later moving to Greenwich Farm. It was at the latter that he crossed paths with Tapper Zukie who was just beginning to work as a producer as well as a singer. Prince Alla played Tapper a tune he had written called ‘Bosrah’ ('Bozrock'),so blown away with the tune that Tapper took Prince Alla up to Lee Perry’s Black Ark studio’s to record the track.The results were great so they worked on various other tracks ‘Funeral’ which was a 12’’ version to the track ‘Daniel’ and another track called ‘Heaven Is My Roof’ which would go on to be the title track to the album Tapper Zukie would release to showcase his recordings cut with Prince Alla. It is this collection of songs and their extended versions ‘Black Man (Daniel mix featuring Tapper Zukie),‘Bosrah Dub’, ‘Funeral Dub’ that we have put together for this release. Alongside three classic extra cuts, ‘Hail Rastafari’, ‘Black Roses’ and the sublime title track to this collection ‘Royal Throne Room’ that completes this set.

Kevin Martin (aka The Bug / King Midas Sound) and Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz Records) have put together a unique project bringing together new, exclusive and in demand digital music by electronic futurists Harmonic 313, Diplo, Roots Manuva, South Rakkas Crew,The Bug and more, alongside a killer selection of Jamaican digital and electronic scientific dub and dancehall. Exclusive new tracks and mixes by Harmonic 313, Stereotyp, Federation; in demand tracks from the likes of Roots Manuva, Diplo and South Rakkas Crew; the toughest digital and twisted rhythms from legendary producers King Jammy, Steely and Clevie, Sly Dunbar, Prince Jazzbo, King Tubby, Firehouse Crew and more all feature on this unique release.

The double album comes in special edition heavyweight deluxe hardcover 2CD card casing complete with a deluxe graphic novel by Italian comic book designer Paolo Parisi (whose books include subjects as diverse as John Coltrane and Chernobyl). This specially commissioned graphic novel is a science fiction vision of the future of digital music, featuring King Tubby, Steely & Clevie, Jammy, Jazzbo, complete with Alien Sound Lord Abductors, Aural Freedom Fighters and Digi-Dub Voyagers.

TRACK LISTING

CD ONE:
1. Steely & Clevie ‘Streetsweeper’
2. Lenky & Sly ‘Now Thing’
3. Ricky Ranking Ft. Roots Manuva ‘Doogoo Dub’
4. Dave Kelly ‘The Return’
5. Annex Crew ‘Summerbounce’
6. Federation Sound ‘Flatlands (Brooklyn Dub Mix)’
7. Lenky ‘Diwali Riddim’
8. Team Shadatek ‘Yoga Riddim’
9. Stereotyp Ft. Alley Cat ‘Modern Times’
10. The Grynch Ft. Tippa Irie ‘Electro Agony In Dub’
11. Fira ‘Hummer Version’
12. Diplo ‘Diplo Rhythm’
13. Harmonic 313 ‘Bazooka Riddim’
14. Ward 21 Productions ‘Pit Bull’
15. Redlight ‘M.D.M.A’.
16. The Bug ‘Aktion Dub’

CD TWO:
1. Fat Eyes ‘Clothes Pin Rhythm’
2. Steven Ventura 4 Kings Of Kings ‘Throw Your Hands Up Version’
3. Sly Dunbar And Christopher Birch ‘Corners Boy’
4. David Jahson ‘King Of Kings Dub’
5. Fat Eyes ‘Steel Plate’
6. South Rakkas Crew ‘Red Alert’
7. Parara And McCoy ‘Them Can’t Hold Yuh Gal Version’
8. King Tubby ‘Fat Thing Version’
9. World Beat ‘Gold Mine’
10. Andre ‘Suku’ Gray (Jammys) ‘Sign Rhythm’
11. Henfield And Shadowman ‘Babatunde’
12. Firehouse Crew ‘No False Hair’
13. Computer Paul ‘World Talk’
14. Fat Eyes ‘Overdose’
15. Prince Jazzbo ‘Great Stone Version’
16. Kickin’ Productions ‘What You Gonna Do’
17. Pliers (Bonner Productions)’ I’m Your Man Dub’
18. Wiz Kidz ‘Team In My Heart Version’
19. Jammys ‘Jam 2’ James (Jammys) ‘Peenie Peenie’

Following the runaway success stories of Staff Benda Bilili and Konono No.1 in recent years, Crammed Discs now present more incredible tradi-modern music from a different corner of the Congo.

After introducing the now-famous electrified traditional music of Congolese capital Kinshasa, Congotronics producer Vincent Kenis travelled to the mining city of Lubumbashi to record and film four Karindula bands during a 3-day mini-festival. Their wild, raw and dynamic performances are documented on this 90+ minute DVD and 79 minute audio CD.

In Katanga (south-eastern Congo), young local musicians have created their own tradimodern style of music, which they call Karindula, a word which also designates the main instrument they use - a giant banjo made out of an oil barrel, a goat skin and four strings. The Karindula style is heavily influenced by Bemba and Luba traditional music, with some hints of reggae. Karindula bands mainly perform at mourning ceremonies, and are feared for their sometimes very provocative and rebellious lyrics. The four bands appearing on this audiovisual album are BBK, Bana Simba, Bena Ngoma and Bana Lupemba. The festival was organized at the last minute and took place in the street, with no amplification whatsoever. A rotating cast of guest dancers and performers add an engaging, and at times edgy, visual component to the music and a crowd of excited children, aged from 2 to 12, often participate in call-and-response exchanges with the bands.

Long time friends and established tour compatriots on the Manchester scene – this isn't the first time Onions and The Generalissimos have found themselves shouldered together. Occupying either side of a limited edition, special release 7" – the two impossibly energetic, infectiously buoyant and unashamedly poppy singles are guaranteed to do battle for your attention.
The Onions sound is forged from Jim's catalogue of Tamla seven inches, Martin's wealth of 80's rock double live CDs, Chris' plethora of (legally) downloaded jazz classics mixed with the reasoning that music should be about having a damn fun time and just plain enjoying it!
The Generalissimos honed their own skewed version of pop music over several years in a South Manchester basement, producing several albums worth of home recorded material under various pseudonyms along the way. After recruiting Ted in late 2008 with a remit to provide 'keyboards and weird synth noises' they are now making the colourful, harmony laced, occasionally confounding, but most importantly fun music they have always aimed at!

First was "Neurotic Reactions", then "Some Songs Stuck In My Mind" and now it's "Artificial Faces!" One of the most exciting and higher quality compilation labels is back with another eclectic comp featuring 16 underground dancefloor tracks from the late 60s/early 70s. Groovy psychedelia, freakbeat, garage, hard funky-rock grooves... you can expect the usual dose of fuzz guitars, Hammond organs, drum breaks and psychedelic effects! Including bands and artists from USA, South America, France, Spain. Listen to the crazy electro-psych sounds from Erasmo Carlos, Elevators influenced garage-psych by The Hobbits, female garage by Sonia and Enchanted Forest, Spanish soul-freakbeat by Nino Bravo, John Wonderling with the original pop-sike version of "Midway Down", later popularised by The Creation, heavy phasing-psych by Giant Crab, Brazilian fuzz-freakbeat by Eduardo Araujo, hard psychedelic grooves by Skins, The Bag... and more! Fully remastered sound, great artwork, with detailed liner notes and pictures.

"Painted By Numbers" is the new punk-pop infused, hook-laden smash single from Swedish indie-rockers The Sounds. It's a superb, anthemic treat lifted from their highly acclaimed album "Dying To Say This To You". This single version has been reworked and mixed by legendary producer Alan Moulder.

Swedish outfit The Sounds are a female fronted indie-pop-rock-alternative band with guitar driven basslines, synth keyboards and a stadium filling sound. Constant gigging (260 dates in 2006!!) and a penchant for up-beat songs and instant sing-along choruses has meant their MySpace site has had over 2.5 million hits over the last 10 months.

"1,2,3,4" is two minutes of pure pop and roll perfection: multi-voiced, harmony stacked and bursting at the seams with Friday-night fun. The AA-side "Put Your Guitar Where Your Mouth Is" is the snarling sugar-crash of the morning after, featuring fighting talk and duelling guitars. The latest single from London's sassiest doo-wop dollies is a no-prisoners battle cry against all pretenders to their all-girl all-action crown.

Originally out in 1967, this is one of two LPs The Freedom Sounds recorded for Atlantic. Based round the nucleus of Jazz Crusaders' trombonist Wayne Henderson, "People Get Ready" is a pot pourri mix of jazz, latin, funk, r'n'b and soul.

This the ?rst time this monumental album has been available on the vinyl format in ?ve years.

The album is split into six suites combining texture, atmosphere and melody. Expansive melodic structures, created with field recordings, strings, guitar and horns.

"Put simply, 'Tired Sounds Of...' is one of the most unremittingly beautiful albums I've ever heard." Drowned In Sound
"Unspeakably beautiful." AllMusic.com
"One of the most beautiful recordings we have ever heard." Aquarius Records
"A fantastic masterpiece, missing this would be foolish." Touching Extremes
"Their relentless commitment to subtlety sets them apart, as does their masterful hand with tone… dissonance is doled out in small portions, perfectly coloring the sculpted ?elds of sound." Pitchfork
"When all else fails and you need to shut the rest of the world out, this is a guaranteed mute button." Self-Titled. 

The usual suspects on another ace San Francisco compilation. Encapsulating the heady Haight Ashbury trip are the Jefferson Airplane, It's a Beautiful Day, Tripsichord and more.

Moby Grape, It's a Beautiful Day, Jefferson Airplane, Tim Hardin and more - 'nuff said.