Funky punk from Medium Medium – one of the strongest proponents of such modes on the UK scene of the post-punk years, yet one who never issued much material at the time! The group are heavy on basslines mixed with scratchy guitars – all in this art funk approach that resonates strongly with some of the groundbreaking material issued on 99 Records at the start of the 80s – and although this set's put together by Cherry Red, the work inside has more of that aggro vibe you'd hear during the glorious early days of Rough Trade! This double-length set brings together rare singles, live material, unreleased tracks, and cuts from their sole full length album – a lineup that includes "Stir Me Up", "Full Of Secrecy", "Serbian Village", "7th Floor", "Hungry So Angry", "Guru Maharaji", "The Glitterhouse", and "Them Or Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary compilation – and one that marked the start of the huge On-U Sound legacy to follow throughout the 90s! The work here is maybe even more messed-up than some of the later productions by Adrian Sherwood – as there's maybe a bit more post-punk influence in the blend, alongside plenty of that Jamaican groove that was so important to both Sherwood and the UK scene at the time, already getting manipulated here in the way that made the producer and label such an important aesthetic force in years to come! Titles include "Bed Bound Saga" by Machine Gun Hogg & Co, "Woodpecker Sound" by Jah Woosh, "Quit The Body" by The Chicken Granny, "Dreams Are Better" by London Underground, "Demonic Forces" by Alan Pellay, "Afghani Dub" by The Mothmen, "The Dice" by Judy Nylon, "Yipee I Aah" by New Age Steppers, "Quante Jubila" by Prince Far I & Creation Rebel, and "Asian Rebel" by Suns Of Arqua. (Reggae, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A near-lost set from the 80s, but one that we'd almost put right up there next to some of our favorite work by artists like Sade or Working Week – as the record shares a similar blend of jazz, soul, and catchy pop! Linda Di Franco sings in English, but with a nicely accented style – in a way that's a bit like Anne Pigalle over at ZTT Records – and the album's got these gentle-flowing grooves that are mighty nice – catchy, but just the right side of the spectrum to never sound too commercial at all – and instead maybe come across like some of the hipper British work of the time. Titles include a great take on "The Look Of Love", plus "My Boss", "Bless My Soul", "TV Scene", "Fran", and "The Rise Of The Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album of jazzy tunes from the British pop scene of the early 80s – and the kind of work that really helped set the stage for the later Acid Jazz movement in London – but which is equally enjoyable as one of the loveliest moments in the post-punk generation! Weekend's a combo that features players from Young Marble Giants, Working Week, and other Brit groups of the period who were strongly committed to the warmer sounds of music in a world that was often a bit colder and more post-punk – and they work here in styles that borrow heavily from bossa and certainly have a bit of jazz – all gentle pop of a style shared by contemporaries Antena, Everything But The Girl, and Kalima. Titles include "Sleepy Theory", "End Of The Affair", "Life In the Day Of", "Drum Beat For Baby", and "Summerdays". (Rock, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A record that was initially thought by some as a cheap cash-in on the Sgt Peppers concept – but an album that, to us, really helped set The Rolling Stones free to express themselves in so many new and amazing ways! There's definitely a bit of the hippie vibe to the set at times – such as sitar that might have been unimaginable on a Stones track a few years before – but there's also an explosively creative approach to the album's arrangements and production, creating a kaleidoscope of sounds that only further seems to illuminate the Jagger and Richards genius! Titles include the classic "She's A Rainbow" – plus "Citadel", "2000 Man", "On With The Show", "Sing All This Together", "In Another Land", "The Lantern", and "Gomper". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Brian Eno leaves the Airports, and moves On Land – but still keeps things pretty much in the spare sound of the Ambient series! The lineup here features a few more extra musicians – including Michael Beinhorn on synth, Jon Hassell on trumpet, Axel Gros and Michael Brook on guitars, and Bill Laswell on bass – but all players are used sparingly, and the overall sound hardly acknowledges their presence. Daniel Lanois helped in the recording of some of the material – an early moment in his famous partnership with Eno – and the tracks were recorded over the space of 4 years – with occasional glimmers of the British countryside through the hazy atmospherics of Eno's landscape. Titles include "Lizard Point", "Tal Coat", "Shadow", "A Clearing", "Unfamiliar Wind", "Lantern Marsh", and "The Lost Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Almost a late British invasion group – and a pretty darn groovy one at that! The Magic Lanterns hail from the UK, but they've got a sound that's picked up some of the Sunshine pop and jazzier touches of the US pop scene in the late 60s – heard to great effect on the title hit "Shame Shame", but coming through nicely throughout the record, which seems to benefit strongly from arrangements by the likes of Big Jim Sullivan, John Paul Jones, and Reg Tilsley. Titles include "Out In The Cold Again", "Shame Shame", "Impressions Of Linda", "Never Gonna Trust My Heart Again", "Give Me Love", "When The Music Stops", and "Pussy Willow Dragon". LP, Vinyl record album