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Nocturnal boombap from Blockhead – a sleepless, samples and electic-beats heavy survey of an after hours metropolis – finding Blockhead as insistently inventive and timeless in approach as ever! We love that Blockhead's work kind of exists in it's own world, yet clearly shows love for NYC life – and the globally diverse soundscapes strongly represent both that great urban landscape and Blockheads inner genius. Includes "Never Forget Your Token", "Creeps Crouchin", "Panic In Funkytown", "Meet You At Tower Records", "Escape The Meadow", "Smoke Signals", "Midnight Blue", "Snapping Point", "Beyond Reach" feat Baby Dayliner and "The Robin Byrd Era".

"Scenester" produced by Blockhead. "Left To Us" produced by Camu Tao. Features El-P, Aesop Rock, Tame One & Yak Ballz.

The next set in the stellar Next Stop Soweto series from Strut Records – highlighting rare South African sounds – this one infused with the western party music influences of funk, soul and organ drenched grooves of all kinds! Volume 1 in the series concentrated on the lively township jive sounds, this one gets gritty and funky – American funk, soul and R&B drenched organ grooves are more prominent in the sound – combining with regional traditions masterfully and coming out feverish and ready for the dancefloor! Includes material from the small, but exciting South African soul scene by groups The Klooks and The Anchors, mbaqanga numbers liberally infused with soul and funk by the Mgababa Queens and Mahotella Queens, jazzier funk from The Heshoo Beshoo Group and much more! 22 tracks on 2LPs: "Khubani" by JK Mayengani & The Shingwedzi Sisters, "Blockhead" by The Monks, Nkuli's Shuffle" by The Klooks, "Come With Me" and "Funky Message" by The Heroes, "Last Time" by The Anchors, "I Am There" by The Grasshopers, "Saduva" by Gibson Kente, "Wozani Mahipi" by Mahotella Queens and more.

This is the Aesop album on MUSH records before he got signed to Def Jux. It is a piece of raw, dark, poetic artistry that describes his hometown of NYC and the trials and tribulations in it beautifully. This album is a little rougher and his lyrical style is just a little more advanced on his later work, but all the same, it gets massive praise here. Tracks include "Commencement At The Obedience Academy", "Drawbridge", "Big Bang", "Garbage", "Basic Cable", "I'll Be OK", "Attention Span", "Spare A Match", "Breakfast With Blockhead", "Fascination", "Skip Town", "How To Be A Carpenter", "The Mayor And The Crook", "Prosperity", and more.

An overlooked bit of crossover funk from Chas Jankel – best known both as the musical force of Ian Dury & The Blockheads during the late 70s, and as the composer of "Ai No Corrida", which was covered more famously by Quincy Jones! This set's got a surprisingly great feel that's ripe for new discovery – a tightening up of the kinds of tunes that Jankel was doing with Dury (who still contributes lyrics but not vocals here), and a warmly gliding style that's halfway between the New York Ze Records mode of the time, and some of the growing wave of British imports. Titles include the great club track "Glad To Know You", plus "3,000,000 Synths", "Questionnaire", "109", "Now You're Dancing", "Boy", and "Magic Of Music".