The US debut from Japanese pop genius Keigo Oyamada aka Cornelius! The set is a fabulous ride that careens in and out of all the various corners of Cornelius's imagination, bouncing from sunny pop moments to bursts of garagey then back to some sweet easy passages! 13 numbers in all, including "The Micro Disneycal World Tour","New Music Machine", "Count Five Or Six", "Magoo Opening", "Star Fruits Surf Rider", "Chapter 8 - Seashore & Horizon", "Freefall", "God OnlyKnows", "Thank You For The Music" and "Fantasma". (Rock, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

Japan's Fantastic Plastic Machine are back with a great little set of soulful tunes – less gimmicky than earlier work, with an approach that has the group working in a solid songwriting approach, throwing in some great hooks, straight ahead vocals, and crafting some excellent rhythms that really make the set groove! Think Brand New Heavies-ish soul, filtered through some of the recent Japanese two step projects, and you've got a good idea of the sound. Titles include "Beautiful Days", "On A Chair", "Whistle Song", "Black Dada", "God Save The Mona Lisa", "I'm Still A Simple Man", and "Todos Os Desejos". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant set from Santigold – blending a world of sounds and styles into one of the more exciting and unique major label pop album's '12 – build to last! African, Caribbean and urban American sounds blend very well here – in both the the electronic and organic instrumentation and in Santi White's voice – and the songs are make deep impact, too. Pretty exciting stuff! Includes "Go", "Disparate Youth", "God From The Machine", "Fame", "Freak Like Me", "This Isn't Our Parade", "Riot's Gone", "Pirate In Water", "The Keepers", "Look At These Hoes", "Big Mouth" and more. CD

The roots of the Verve Remixed Christmas album – but a set that stands strongly on its own as a sweet batch of classic Holiday tunes! Most of the numbers here are jazz and vocal chestnuts pulled from the Verve catalog of the 40s through the 60s – and although most are familiar, they're put together nicely – with the same sort of hip undercurrent that informs the remix project. Titles include "Chilly Winds" by Nina Simone, "Good Morning Blues" by Count Basie, "Zat You Santa Claus" by Louis Armstrong, "Winter Wonderland" by Shirley Horn, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Jimmy Smith, "I Am Blessed" by Nina Simone, "Silent Night" by Dinah Washington, "What Are You Doing New Years Eve" by Ella Fitzgerald, "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" by Billie Holiday, "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme, and "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. (Holiday Music, New Grooves) CD