Mocko Jumbie is an unusual skill – a the word stands for stilt dancing at carnival time – something that Hugo Moolenaar could do very well, as you'll see on the cover – although he's even better here on record in a musical mode! The EP brings together four of the best tracks from Hugo's rare records – all of them funky, but in a Caribbean mode – with all these light colors bursting over the top of the lively rhythms – riffing guitar next to basslines, percussion, and keyboards – while Hugo calls out the lyrics with plenty of charm throughout. Titles include "Big Man Cry", "Give It Your Best Shot", "We Can Live Together", and "Children Children". LP, Vinyl record album

A German group, but one who've got a sweet, sunny sound that would have been right at home in the Cali scene of the 70s! The harmonies on the record alone are great – right up there with America or CSN – and the instrumentation has slight jazzy currents, with a blend of acoustic guitar, flute, percussion, and other electric instrumentation – delivered in a style that's tight, but never commercial or overproduced – which is really the charm of the album! If these guys were working in LA, no doubt a bigger label would have mucked things up with too much polish for the charts – but instead, the record has this down to earth quality that makes the tightness seem even more appealing. Tracks include "Natures Melody", "Tears Take It Away", "Expression Of Feeling", "Upside Down", "Like A Ship On The Water", and "Out On the Road". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure pre-Mode date from vocalist Lucy Ann Polk – and a set that's got a wonderful LA 50s feel! Backings here are by the Dave Pell Octet – with Pell on tenor, Ronny Lang on alto, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, and Claude Williamson on piano – and arrangements are by Wes Hensel and Shorty Rogers, nice and jazzy throughout! Lucy's approach to the tunes is light and lovely, but she also burns with a bit of a deeper fire at times too – a bluer tone underneath the charm up top. Titles include "But Beautiful", "Imagination", "It Could Happen To You", "It's Always You", and "Darn That Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

A very beautiful, very intimate album from Venezuelan singer Isaac Sasson – a set that's got an acoustic, gentle approach throughout – almost recalling some of the more inventive post-bossa experiments from the Brazilian scene, but with flavors that are very much its own! In addition to personal, poetic vocals from Isaac – who has a raspy charm that goes beyond language – the set also features a mix of percussion and wind instruments, and work on bandola llanera, charango, and cuatro – all used in these subtle ways to create a light sonic palette – maybe with the same laidback and spacious vibe as the instrumentation of Fabiano Do Nascimento. Titles include "Manos Largas", "Tu Puente Punteo", "El Credo", "Mare Mare", "Chuma", and "La Cancion De Mi Abuelo". LP, Vinyl record album

Two contemporary soul giants – coming together in a set that's even better as a whole than their work apart! As you might guess from the name, Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak are going for a classic old school style working together as Silk Sonic – soul music that's heavy on both 70s funky modes and early 80s grooves – but presented with some contemporary flourishes from time to time, at a level that really gets at the charm that both artists have on their own – somehow magnified as they work here together as a duo! The harmonies and trading vocal leads are great – and titles include "After Last Night", "Skate", "777", "Put On A Smile", "Fly As Me", "Leave The Door Open", "Smokin Out The Window", and "Blast Off". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those lost 60s nuggets that should have been huge – the only album ever cut by this excellent Arizona band, and a record done with a quality that matches mid 60s Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, or any other big names from the LA scene! There's a tunefulness here that really comes through – worked especially well with acoustic elements next to the electric guitars and bass – all with a sense of focus and charm that should have catapulted these guys to superstardom with a record this great! All tracks are originals – and titles include "Crazy Town", "People In The Street", "What's The Hurry", "The Other Sidewalk", "It's Raining", "Day & Night", and "My Place". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge crossover hit for the Talking Heads – music released in conjunction with the great film of the same name, but with a unified vibe that made the whole thing way more than just another soundtrack! In many ways, the set's a part two to Little Creatures – delivered with the same sort of upfront charm, and ear for well-crafted tunes that really display the sharper songwriting skills of David Byrne in this period. Yet there's also some hints of the global elements that were always present in his music, and which would come more to the fore during the Luaka Bop years – used in more subtle ways here. Titles include the big hit "Wild Wild Life" – plus "People Like Us", "Puzzlin Evidence", "Love For Sale", "Radio Head", "Dream Operator", "City Of Dreams", "Hey Now", and "Papa Legba". LP, Vinyl record album

Tsutchie does a really wonderful job here – blending hip hop elements and some warmer melodic moments – all with a vibe that makes the Samurai Champloo soundtracks so unique! Think of a hip hop take on the instrumental music from a Studio Ghibli film, and you'll get part of the charm – but there's a lot more going on at the core – and at many moments, the simplicity of the sound is the real charm – as you'll hear on "Flip", "Mists", "Absolute", "Adapt Myself", "No Icon", "Stretch Out", "Tune", "Deeper Than Words", "Let Me Know What U Think", and "Strike Back". Azumi Riki of Small Circle Of Friends also makes an appearance on "Fly". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that definitely funked our head up at the time of its release – a rock-solid follow up to the UMCs Critical Beatdown – and another record that has us just wishing they'd given us more music in this incarnation! A very young Kool Keith is key to the album – giving it an early dose of that special charm that would later make him a star, as a very fresh approach in hip hop at the time – working next to killer production from Ced Gee and Moe Love! The album's brimming over with gems – including the classics "Poppa Large", "Chorus Line Pt. 2", and "Make It Happen" – plus "Funk Radio", "Stop Jockin Me", "Bust The Facts", "I Like Your Style", "MC Champion", "Go For Yourz", "Message From The Boss", "Pluckin Cards", "You Ain't Real", "Moe Love On The 1 & 2", and "Porno Star". LP, Vinyl record album

The smoking second set from The Undertones – a record that maybe has the group moving slightly away from the rougher punk territory of their debut, but still at a level that's full of raw guitar-driven power throughout! Feargal Sharkey's become a hell of a singer by this point – and really knows how to work that raspy charm to great effect – as clearly one of the most distinct punk vocalists of his generation! The guitar interplay by the O'Neills is great too – and titles include "See That Girl", "More Songs About Chocolate & Girls", "Hard Luck", "The Way Girls Talk", "My Perfect Cousin", "What's With Terry", "Girls That Don't Talk", "Nine Times Out Of Ten", "Wednesday Week", and "Tearproof". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by Marcos Valle after years and years away from the studio – a set that really reintroduced his talents to a whole new generation! The set was recorded for the Far Out label in London – a then-new imprint who were doing a great job to bring back a Brazilian groove that had been lost since the 70s – and Valle was one of a few key artists they had a big hand in reviving! The record's got a great modern bossa nova feel, with a good electric sound, and lots of nice moody grooves on piano and guitar, plus nice vocals by Marcos himself – sounding a bit older than on his 80s soul records, but in a way that really makes the album crackle with charm! Titles include "Novo Visual", "Nordeste", "Bar Ingles", "Bahia Blue", "Cidade Aberto", and a remake of "Vontage De Rever Voce". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky gem from Hammond hero Reuben Wilson – one of the last great organ players to emerge from the 60s soul jazz scene – and a musician who seemed to have a great ear for funky currents right from the start! Part of the album's charm is the drums of Idris Muhammad (aka Leo Morris) – who brings a sound here that's similar to his famous late 60s work with Lou Donaldson – and the group also features a few nice Donaldson-styled touches from Grant Green on guitar, helping merge the groove here with some of his own great Blue Note dates from the time. The rest of the lineup features Lee Morgan on trumpet and George Coleman on tenor – a rare funky date for a player like Coleman – and titles include the funky cuts "Hot Rod" and "Love Bug", plus other groovers like "Back Out", "Stormy", and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost bit of Sunshine pop – and one of our favorite indie sides from the late 60s! The Yellow Balloon may not have been a household name, but they've got a heck of a talent for harmonizing in the best sunny style of the time – matching The Association or The Beach Boys for sheer sweet vocal approach, and working with some nice Left Banke-ish touches that bring a baroque edge to the set. The tunes are all pretty darn catchy – sitting nicely between Pet Sounds and Pretty Ballerina for sheer charm – and although the set's an indie effort at heart, it comes across like the best from the bigger labels of the time! Titles include "Yellow Balloon", "Junk Maker Shoppe", "Springtime Girl", "Stained Glass Window", "How Can I Be Down", and "I've Got A Feeling For Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing look at a really stunning musical moment in Indonesia – a postwar period when older sounds from the nation were updated with more western-styled instrumentation – yet often at a level that still retained all of the charm of their roots! If you dig Indonesian gamelan or vocal performances, you'll find plenty to love here – as rhythmic and melodic elements from those worlds are mixed with jazz instrumentation, electric guitar, and plenty of percussion that often seems to draw a bit from Latin inspirations as much as it does from larger local ensembles and their musical legacy. The style is maybe a bit like musical shifts that were taking place in other Southeast Asian nations at the time – but the results are far less slavish to western pop, and still really retain all the cultural care of earlier years – sometimes in ways that are a lot more lean and personal, with extremely beautiful sounds throughout. Maybe one of the best collections the Soundway label has ever given us – with the usual detailed notes, and tracks by artists who include Orkes Kelana Ria, Mus DS, Zaenal Combo, Yanti Bersuadara, Band Nada Kentjana, Orkes Tropicana, Nada Kantjana, and Chris Byantoro. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection of Stevie Wonder cover versions – different versions of familiar tunes, but ones that really manage to sparkle with all the righteous soul of the Stevie himself! It's been over a decade since DJ Spinna brought us the last version of his Wonder Of Stevie series – and during that time, he's managed to come up with a huge amount of great tracks that make the whole thing go way way deeper than before – not just cuts that copy the Wonder mode, but which seem to draw strong inspiration from its genius, and really soar to the skies! Much of the music here resonates with a charm that's located around the years of albums like Music Of My Mind and Innervisions, with all the jazzy currents that might imply – and some cuts are 70s vintage, others are more contemporary. Titles include "Bird Of Beauty" by US Atlantic First Navy Show Band, "It's My Pleasure" by Billy Preston, "Love's In Need Of Love Today" by John Minnis Big Bone Band, "As" by Tony Sherman, "Buttercup" by Jackson 5, "Have A Talk With God" by East St Louis Gospelettes, "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me" by Quincy Jones, "Golden Lady" by Reel People with Tony Momrelle, "If You Don't Love Me" by GC Cameron, "If She Breaks Your Heart Again" by Foreign Exchange, "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing" by Black Sugar, "Go Home" by Jrod Indigo, and "Make My Water Boil" by David Ruffin. LP, Vinyl record album

A mighty great little record – a mixture of jazz and soul from the heavy talents of Hilton Felton – and a record that not only features some of his own great work on organ and keyboards, but some great contributions from other members of the DC scene of the 70s! In addition to help from The Blackbyrds in the core combo, and guest tenor from Andrew White, the set also features vocals from a young Angela Winbush on one track – singing backup on some others! But the core charm of the record comes from the grooves – the kind of upbeat, righteous sounds that we've always loved in Felton's keyboards – almost an extension of the Prestige Records jazz funk groove from the start of the 70s, with echoes of records by Funk Inc, Melvin Sparks, and Leon Spencer – but given a particularly hip east coast indie sort of spin! Titles include "Family & Friends", "Spreading Fever", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Family Reunion", "Clay's Way", and "The Power Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

The title says it all – as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe – which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer lines that work perfectly with the modal grooves of the tracks – very unusual rhythms for the time, and a real precursor to some of the world jazz experiments to come from overseas. The rest of the group features pianist Barry Harris, drummer Lex Humphries, and bassist Ernie Farrow, who also plays a strange instrument called a rabat – which further adds to the charm of the record. Titles include "Plum Blossom", "Purple Flower", "Three Faces Of Balal", and "Chinq Miau". LP, Vinyl record album

A mysterious bit of group soul from the 70s scene – a record that's full of original material, and delivered in a style that's very much like the best New Jersey and Philly indie sides from the start of the decade! By that, we mean that the group's a little rough around the edges – and we mean that in the best way possible, because the set eschews some of the more commercial styles that were coming up in the big disco year of 1976 – and instead goes for a stripped-down sort of vibe that really lets all the charm of the vocals come through! And although you might guess that the title track is a remake of a tune by the Chi-Lites – it's not, and that cut and most of the others are originals done for the album – titles that include "Like I Do", "Rich Man Alone", "I'm Gonna Be A Star", "When I Met You At The Circus", "Patience", "The Outsider", and "Stone Out Of Your Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first giant hits by the Grateful Dead – and a record that has the group tightening things up a bit more, and stepping into some of the country-tinged territory of The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers! Turns out, the move is a great one – as the songs come across with a real down to earth charm that maybe humanizes the group a bit more for the uninitiated listener – a mix of northern Cali pastoral with some of the musical dexterity they'd brought with them from the Haight – folded together perfectly, with a quality that's made the album one of their best-remembered over the decades. Titles include "Uncle John's Band" – maybe their biggest hit at the time – plus "Dire Wolf", "New Speedway Boogie", "Cumberland Blues", "Casey Jones", "Easy Wind", "High Time", and "Black Peter". LP, Vinyl record album

If you've ever needed a definition of hardbop, this is it! The set's a crack quartet session for Blue Note, recorded in the mid 50s by a young Johnny Griffin – fresh in from Chicago, and playing with tons of fire and loads of imagination! Wynton Kelly's on piano and Max Roach is on drums – and the excitement never stops as the group rolls their way through the tightly-crafted tunes on the set. And don't mistake the session as just a head-blowing album with no creativity – because the whole thing's incredibly precise, and the real charm is the way in which the razor-sharp group manages to twist and turn so deftly – yet still always plays with creative imagination and thoughtful solos! Cuts include "Mil Dew", "Chicago Calling", "These Foolish Things", The Boy Next Door", "Lover Man" and "It's Alright With Me". LP, Vinyl record album

The Hurley machine keeps heaving forward – stepping out here in a set of contemporary recordings, but with sounds that are as timeless as anything else we've heard from him before! The album begins with a haunting number that features just vocals and electric piano – but played in ways that are almost like hammered dulcimer – and two more cuts feature wonderfully spooky pump organ, pulsating in ways that make the music sound even moodier than ever. Other tracks feature acoustic guitar, but still mighty nice, with all the Hurley charm in the vocals – and titles include "The Corridor", "In The Morning", "Tea", "Meara O'Reilly", and "Shockoe Bottom". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the rarest work ever from composer Graeme Miller – tracks done for continued episodes of the Moomin animated series he scored with Steve Shill, but which were unused at the time, due to a shift in presentation of the series! The music here as all the charm of the other Moomins releases, and is maybe even more personal too – an odd mix of spare themes and light, lovely melodies – created by Miller on unusual instruments that include ocarina, kalimba, squeak box, shakers, and a whole host of other homemade instruments and lo-fi techniques! If you've seen the animation, you'll know how much these sounds match the warmth and intimacy of those images – on titles that include "Raft Journey", "The Cave", "Climbing The Lonely Mountain", "Indigenous Woodland Bird", "The Tornado", and "Locusts". LP, Vinyl record album

Part of the great 80s run from The Smiths – and a record that has them continuing to grow, continuing to express new ideas – yet still find a way to hang onto all the charm and catchiness that made them so great in the first place! Morrissey's definitely stretching out a bit with his songwriting, and Johnny Marr's guitar finds lots of lovely places to show us why he was such a standout talent in his generation – and production, as always, is wonderfully uncluttered – none of those too-smooth or too-commercial modes that held back so many Smiths contemporaries once they started raising in fame. Titles include "A Rush & A Push & The Land Is Ours", "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", "I Won't Share You", "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before", "Death Of A Disco Dancer", and "Girlfriend In A Coma". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the building blocks of the late 60s Tropicalia scene in Brazil – and a standout solo debut from the young Caetano Veloso! The album's got an approach that's as dynamic and trippy as its cover image might imply – the same amazing blend of sounds and styles you'd hear on contemporaneous records by Gal Costa or Os Mutantes – served up with similar wit, wisdom, and charm! Caetano's vocals are amazing throughout – filled with raspy power that goes beyond the barriers of language – and the production has loads of surprising elements tripping through the mix – some rootsy, some slightly orchestrated – but with a softer approach that resonates strongly with more psychedelic use of organ and guitar. The album's as powerful today as it was decades ago – an essential recording that holds up beautifully year after year! The kickoff track is "Tropicalia" (surprisingly enough!), and the album is a non-stop ride through gems like "Alegria, Alegria", "Onde Andaras", "Paisagem Util", "Ave Maria", and the groovy "Soy Loco Por Ti America", written by Gilberto Gil. LP, Vinyl record album

A record as unique as its title – a set led by saxophonist Devin Brahja Waldman, but done with a soaring ensemble spirit that takes us back to 70s material by Eddie Gale or The Descendants Of Mike & Phoebe! Part of the record's charm is the presence of vocals from Janice Lowe – a singer who rises and falls with the pulsating rhythms of the record, which get a lot of inspiration from the basswork of Luke Stewart, who's got a very spiritual vibe here. The lineup also includes tenor from James Brandon Lewis, who's as powerful here as on any of his dates as a leader – and additional elements include flute, bass clarinet, piano, trumpet, and drums – working in well-crafted arrangements by Brahja, filled with spirit and soul. Titles include "Accessibility Of Soul", "Sorcery Of Terminology", "Querencia", and "Watermelancholia". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare material from John Coltrane – tracks that were done for Bethlehem Records at a time when he was just rising up as a leader, and still contributed work as a sideman! The album features Trane playing tenor on only four of the album's eight tracks – making it kind of surprising that they used his name in the title – but the album is a lesser-known batch of large group recordings that offer an interesting early chapter in his career! The main force behind the album is arranger Harry Tubbs – possibly not a name that's as sexy as John Coltrane, hence the billing – but a worthy leader for the date, given the quality of the music. Many of the other players here are small combo heroes who can also shine brightly in bigger groups – such as Donald Byrd and Art Farmer on trumpets, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Al Cohn on baritone sax, Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, and Oscar Pettiford on bass – plus Rolf Kuhn, making an early American appearance on clarinet. Coltrane gets in some nice, but short moments on the date – but the bigger charm is the full ensemble work – on titles that include "She Didn't Say Yes", "Turtle Walk", "At Home With The Blues", "Seabreeze", and "Love & The Weather". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible lost slice of work from one of our favorite singers of all time – a set of different live performances recorded in the Netherlands, most of which have some larger arrangements that give the whole thing the same sort of vibe as Blossom Dearie's famous London recordings of the 60s! The material here spans a time that stretches from 1968 to the end of the 80s – and Blossom is on piano throughout, and works with large backings from the Metropole Orchestra on about half the tracks – with arrangements from Arthur Greenslade and Rob Pronk, who really get the groovy spirit of the music right! Other tracks feature smaller group recordings, but still with that special charm that Blossom has in the London years – on titles that include "Discover Who I Am", "The Music Played", "You Have Lived In Autumn", "Who Knows Why", "Both Sides Now", "Bring All Your Love Again", "Bye Bye Country Boy", "Sammy", "Winchester In Apple Blossom Time", "Sweet Georgie Fame", and "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary album – and for good reason too – a set that's as mysterious as it is funky, and a record that's stayed at the top of our crates for years! The album features a really unusual collective of musicians, pulled together under the guidance of producer Paul Winley – a group that features George Benson on guitar, Dave Baby Cortez on organ, Willis Jackson on tenor sax, and Earl Williams on some massively funky drums! The music's a mix of funky jazz and gritty soul – put together with some really weird studio touches – including an uncredited male voice that comes in and out of the tracks, bad-rapping along with some very hip commentary. Ann Winley sings the female vocals on the set – often egged on by the dude – but the real charm of the record lies at the bottom – the wicked drums, funky basslines, and choppy instrumental bits that have gotten the set sampled plenty over the years. Titles include the classic "Smokin Cheeba Cheeba" alone, the groovy "Finger In It", a great breakbeat version of "Ain't No Sunshine" with a tenor solo by Willis Jackson, and the slow bluesy talking cut "Fed Up", a baaaad rap about a couple splitting up – done here in both vocal and instrumental versions. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best Motown Christmas albums ever – a really playful romp through a set of classic Holiday tunes, all sung by the youthful Jackson 5 at their best! There's a charm here that's undeniable – and the energy of the group at this point in their career makes the music way more than just a simple Christmas set – almost a poetic homecoming of sorts, an imagined warm and peaceful place amidst what must have been a pretty hectic time in their young lives. The set features 11 tracks in all, with titles that include "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Give Love On Christmas Day", "Frosty The Snowman", "Up On The House Top", "Someday At Christmas", "Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year", "The Christmas Song", "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town", and "The Little Drummer Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a record from the mid oughties – but one that's got all the charm of some of the Native Tongues classics from farther back – thanks to a superb mix of jazz and hip hop from MC/producer Kero One! The album's maybe Kero's greatest calling card – a set that really does more with less – as the instrumentation draws just the right bits from some of the energy going on in the neo soul underground, including live keyboard and trumpet solos – blended with wonderful lyrics that push a positive agenda, but without hitting you over the head too much. The whole thing's got an instant classic vibe, and maybe sounds even better as the years go on than many of its contemporaries – with tracks that include "Give Thanks", "Musical Journey", "My Story", "In A Dream", "Ain't That Somethin", "Tempted", "In All The Wrong Places", "Keep It Alive!", "The Cycle Repeats", "Fly Fly Away", "It's A New Day", and "Check The Blueprints". Japanese pressing features a bonus track – "My Story (DJ Mitsu rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album

A really early experiment in mixing South African styles with jazz – a set that's maybe more strongly on some of Township modes of the years before than a few of the other key modern projects of the time! Instrumentation often has pennywhistle in the lead on solos, used in a way a funky flute might on an American jazz set – and the rhythms often have raw hand percussion, mixed with warmer riffing currents on electric guitar – creating this sense of balance that gives the whole record a hell of a lot of charm! The sound is nice and lean, in a really great way – and titles include "Abbey's Mood", "Lousy Fever", "A Tribute To Birds", "Blues After Lunch", "Grab This For Me", "Root Of Africa", "Vuma Mbari", and "Jikeleza". LP, Vinyl record album

A live album from the mighty Frankie Beverly and Maze – and a set that's every bit as important as their studio classics for Capitol Records! It's always a sign of how huge Frankie Beverly was during the 80s that Capitol let him cut not one, but two double live albums during the early part of the decade – and this one, his first, has the band grooving wonderfully before a crowd going mad in the Crescent City – while the group keep all the perfection, sharp grooves, and sophisticated soul that they had on record! The songs retain all the charm of the studio renditions – and are stretched out a bit more in the live setting, with some really nice interplay with the crowd – who are clearly going nuts in the presence of the group. Titles include the famous live version of "Joy & Pain" – sampled heavily back in the day – plus other classics that include live takes on "Happy Feelins", "Southern Girl", "Look At California", "Before I Let Go", "We Need Love To Love", "The Look In Your Eyes", "Running Away", "Reason", "Feel That You're Fallin", "You", and "Changing Times". LP, Vinyl record album

A really raw set from 70s Africa – one that's more rock than Afro Funk, but which has a pretty hypnotic groove overall! The group's heavy on guitars, which are often played in a fuzzy, jamming sort of way – but with different tones and phrasing than American or Anglo psyche groups – even though they're clearly an inspiration to the sound! Most tunes are strongly rhythmic – guitars grooving away over muddy drums and a bit of rumbling bass – all produced in very basic, stripped-down ways – but that makes for a big part of the charm of the set. Vocals are mostly in English, and often more chanted than sung – and titles include "I Need Mercy", "I Don't Know", "Peaceful Man", "Get On The Way", "This Is The Time Now", and "Black Power". LP, Vinyl record album

Totally rare, totally Trash-y holiday hi-fi cheer from the Trashmen – adding a strange garage charm to the 60s novelty Christmas template! "Dancin' With Santa" has a stripped down Phil Spector kind of vibe, with lots of chimes and soulful backing vocals behind the Trashmen's unusually straight rock tunefulness. "Real Live Doll" is a really weird little charmer, a story song with amusingly stilted, spoken line delivery. It's a great re-production of the original 45, too! 7-inch, Vinyl record

New work from Togolese music legend Roger Damawuzan – but a set that feels as fierce and funky as if it were recorded in the 70s! The group is super-tight throughout – more inspired by the James Brown Band of the late 60s than other West African groups – and tracks are short, funky, and bristle with a quality that's more like that of a set of funky 45s than it is the longer jams you might find on other records. The whole thing's got as much appeal as a deep funk record than as an African one – and Roger sings in English throughout, with really raspy and soulful charm – on titles that include "Fine Fine", "Paris", "Shut Up", "Mama", "I'm Crying", "Juliana", "Need My Money", "What Time Is It", and "Why Why". LP, Vinyl record album

Ernesto Djedje left the planet at a very young age – but thanks to recordings like this, he really left his mark on the music scene in the Ivory Coast – and the larger world of West African music as well! There's a special blend of traditional sounds and contemporary elements going on here – a hybrid that Djedje clearly picked up while working in the French scene earlier in his career, before returning home to make some really amazing records like this! Tracks have a pulsating groove throughout – more a flow directed by the guitar and bass than the heavier sound of Afro Funk – and Djedje's vocals have a raspy charm that grabs you instantly, and which really work well beyond the boundary of language. Titles include "Zigilbithiens", "Golozo", "Bilwana", and "Nini". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer groove from the legendary TP Orchestra – served up here with these really playful vocals from Tomede Ehue, a singer whose style really amplifies the groove! The original itself is great enough on its own – a killer club track with great percussion and horns – and the remixes do a good job of adding subtle contemporary elements, but without dimming any of the charm of the original! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A wonderfully obscure set of jazzy soul from keyboardist Billy Foster – a musician who's been making waves on the scene in Gary, Indiana for many decades – but has never fully gotten his due! This project captures a younger Billy – working in a soul-based mode that blends vocals with his own work on a variety of keyboards and acoustic piano – maybe an indie take on modes that artists like Rodney Foster or Bobby Lyle were exploring on the bigger labels at the time, but with a lot more charm. Vocals are by Glenda Eskew and Brenda Marshall McClure – and titles include the instrumental "City Lights", which has a nicely pronounced guitar solo by Henry Johnson – plus the tracks "As A Matter Of Fact", "Night Music", "I Need Your Love", and "It All Depends On You". LP, Vinyl record album

Lovely sounds from Masumi Hara – an album that was originally issued in 1984, and which ties together a few different strands running through Japanese music at the time – some of the more electronic pop-styled elements in the post-city pop generation, and some of the mellower, more atmospheric styles of the ambient scene! The result is an album that's got a surprising amount of depth, and a good deal of charm – an album that's playful one minute, and dreamy the next. Titles include "To live in the Sea", "Living With Sound", "Twist", "Doncha Of The Moon & The Stars", "Futon Making", "The Deepest Of Nights", and "Orion". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with an unassuming cover, but a wonderfully rich sound within – a set of easygoing spiritual jazz numbers that have a very live, very spontaneous vibe – in part because the musicians collaborated on the cuts in a very short span of time, and were able to create something very fresh and vibrant in the process! Miles Spilsbury leads the group on saxes and keyboards – and the lineup features additional piano and keys from Oliver Cadman, drums from Finn Booth, and a bit of vocals from Alizee Leriche – plus percussion and "texturising" from Carlos Nino – whose spiritual sonic touches are very clearly present on the recording! We're not sure why the record was issued in such a limited, white label pressing – as it hardly fits the depth of the music – yet perhaps that's also part of the mystery and charm as well. Titles include "Tungsten", "Water On Water", "Cyclamen", "Gratitude", "Light Theme", and "Cloud Formations". LP, Vinyl record album

A new album from the great Willie West – an artist we love for his rare vintage New Orleans work of the 60s and 70s – still sounding surprisingly wonderful all these many years later! Willie's vocals have this raspy, honest charm that's totally great – and like Lee Fields during his revival years, West gets superb backing from a small combo of younger players who really appreciate the best roots of the music – tight but unpretentious grooves that feel just like a vintage 45, and suit Willie West to a T! The style is less New Orleans than it is a more righteous, sophisticated version of funky soul – one with some nice dark corners that really raise our opinion of Willie's talents – again with the sort of deeper vibe we love in the recent work by Lee Fields. Titles include "Slow & Easy", "Cold In The Storm", "She's So Wise", "The Devil Gives Me Everything", "Getting Down", and "I'm Aware Of What You Want". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully fuzzy work from Amanaz – one of the trippiest, headiest groups of the Zamrock scene of the 70s! The guitars here are very full and present – not at a hit you over the head jamming label, but with this rich sonic element that has lots of bassy undercurrents – at a level that makes the album a head-nodding gem all the way through – poised perfectly between some of the more psyche styles of the African scene of the time, and some of the more thoughtful singer-songwriter material. The group have a quality that's surprisingly deep – very soulful, and with a subtle power that comes through strongly – thanks to a mostly-English batch of lyrics (although a few tunes here are in their native Bemba.) No cuts are all-out funky, but all have this great slow-funk sort of charm – and titles include "I Am Very Far", "Sunday Morning", "Khala My Friend", "Green Apple", "Africa", "Making The Scene", "Easy Street", "Big Enough" and "Kale". LP, Vinyl record album

Very joyous sounds from Konkolo Orchestra – an Afro Funk group, but one with a really uplifting vibe – a really special approach to the music that definitely sets them apart from the rest! Part of the music's charm lies in the vocals – often sung by lead singer Nongoma Ndlovu, a vocalist with a quality that's instantly endearing, and often echoed by other members of the group in a very joyous way! Vocals are by a few others at points, and the album also has a few instrumentals – with a small tight mix of one sax and one trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums, and some great percussion as well. Titles include "Cover Up The Bruises", "How We Got Here", "Blue G", "Count Your Blessings", "Future Pasts", "That Good Thing", and "Yese Yese". LP, Vinyl record album

A heady helping of rare singles from the farther reaches of the indie scene in early reggae – labels that include Duke, Grape, Splash, High Note, Explosion, and JJ – all tiny companies that are now part of the larger Trojan Records empire! The work here is nicely varied – as many styles as promised in the title, but with maybe the soulful edge of rocksteady at the core – a strong focus on the kind of late 60s singles that had more than enough depth to cross the Atlantic and get plenty of play on the London scene too! Titles include "Old Time (dub)" by GG All-stars, "Black Power" by Dave Barker, "Wondering" by The Hippy Boys, "Let My People Go" by The Rulers & The Carib Beats, "It's Too Late" by Chosen Few, "Going In Circles" by Charmers All Stars, "Love Brother" by Herman, "Rim Bim Bam" by The Ethiopians, "Fire Fire (take 3)" by Tony & His Group, "Night Of Love" by Ansel Collins, "Pony Ride" by Winston Groovy & Pat Rhoden, "Dee's Special" by Lynn Taitt & The Jets, and "Going In Circles" by Charmers All Stars. LP, Vinyl record album

Very early work from the Jamaican scene – a set that includes cuts by artists who'd later record classic tracks in the rocksteady years, but who here are working in a much different mode! The title is plenty apt, but only gets at part of the sound – as this isn't straight doo wop as you'd know from the American scene, but instead some early group harmony – of the sort that would flourish even more strongly on famous Jamaican trio recordings of the late 60s – handled here with much more stripped-down instrumentation, and a shifting set of rhythms that mixes US influences with other more Caribbean modes. Titles include "Muriel" by Alton & Eddie, "Dearest Darling" by Jiving Juniors, "Til The End Of Time" by Chuck & Dobby, "Dearest Beverly" by Jimmy Cliff, "Heavenly Angel" by Laurel Aitken, "Do You Know" by Owen & Millie, "I'm Going Back" by The Charmers, "Diamonds & Pearls" by Dobby Dobson, and "Album Of Memory" by The Mellowlarks. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most righteous albums to come out of the Kingston scene in the early 70s – a set that's driven by the new spirit of the Rastafarian generation, but which also pushes the music much more than some of the commercial efforts of the time! The style of the music here is almost to mainstream reggae what spiritual jazz was to 70s funk – richer, deeper, more thoughtful, driven by message, and carried forth through instrumentation and production – a heady brew cooked up by Lloyd Charmers in the studio, with work from Willie London on guitar, Lloyd Parks on bass, and Charmers himself on organ, piano, and lots of earthy percussion. Of course, the vocals of Ras Michael are the real driving forces of the record – again very different than any mainstream singers, as he stretches out on these long, hypnotic tracks that include "Run Come Rally", "Seventy Two Nations", "Zion Land", and "Know How You Stand". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest projects so far from Grey October Sounds – a set that has all the crispy beats and laidback vibe of previous records, but which also focuses on themes from anime as well! There's plenty of tunes from the world of anime, but they're nicely changed up with the instrumentation and production of Grey October Sounds – done as hip hop-styled instrumentals, but still with the gentler currents that echo the originals – including plenty of piano lines that float with a very dreamy vibe over the beats of the tracks! The record has all the charms you could hope for – covering songs Bleach, Saint Seiya,, K-ON! Dragon Ball and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The duo of Vinicius De Moraes and Toquinho were already making some great music in Brazil at the time of this set – and for this rare Argentine recording, they were also joined by vocalist Maria Bethania – who makes for a wonderfully charming sound that really sends the record over the top! As on some of the duo's other albums, Vinicius and Toquinho trade vocals back and forth next to guitar lines from the latter – and here they get some great small combo jazz backing by a group that features pianist Mike Ribas – in a style that's leaner and even groovier than some of their other albums in Brazil! Bethanias joins the pair on a number of tracks – and titles include "Testamento", "Samba De Bencao", "Viramundo", "Tarde Em Itapoa", "O Dia Da Criacao", "Como Diza O Poeta", and "Apelo". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are writing the kinds of songs that nobody ever seemed to pen before, and which few other groups could match later – despite the countless legions who tried! The guitars are all nice and strong – that sharp Skunk Baxter edge that helped get the group firmly onto the charts right away – on titles that include their classic singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin In The Years", the oft-showcased "Dirty Work", and other cuts that include "Kings", "Midnite Cruiser", "Only A Fool Would Say That", "Fire In The Hole", "Brooklyn Owes The Charmer Under Me", "Change Of The Guard", and "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Lebanon never got much global exposure during the 70s – but it's clear that Ferkat Al Ard was bringing plenty of the globe's influences to play on this amazing record – mixing together bits of electric funk, Brazilian jazz, and soulful strings at a level that completely transcends the boundaries of language! The set's a bit like the classic self-titled set by Arthur Verocai from the 70s – music that's completely in a space that's all its own, and which has legendary properties, but also opens up to the listener with charms of its own that require no history or introduction at all – a set that's both personal and majestic at the same time, and which has charms that are impossible to put in words, but which grab you the moment you first give the set a listen. Titles include "Matar Naem", "Juma'A 6 Hziran", "Oghneya", "Matar Al Sabah", "Entazerni", and "Lahnon Lemra'Ati Wa Beladi". LP, Vinyl record album

An underground soul gem from DJ Harrison – aka Devonne Harris – a set that features the man himself on all the instruments, served up in a lean take on classic soul modes of the 70s! Think of the record as a one-man effort to capture some of the charms of Curtis Mayfield or the Isleys – sometimes on short tracks that are more sketches of ideas, but woven together as a much larger whole that really bristles with color and imagination throughout! There's plenty of Fender Rhodes on the set, and Harrison's got this crackling vocal style that's instantly charming – on cuts that include "Cigarette Ember", "Chester Fields", "I Gotta Go To Work", "The Man", "Soul Food Nostalgia", "DayDreaming", and "Chinatown Bus". LP, Vinyl record album

Really beautiful later work from Michael Hurley – a set recorded in the 21st Century, and with some slightly more sophisticated settings than some of Hurley's earliest records – yet still overflowing with all the charms that make his music so great! Hurley handles guitar, vocals, and a bit of piano – and there's some light backing elements on bass clarinet, dobro, bass, and violin – the last of which sounds very nice, as it's used in these really light, sweet ways – not polished, but also not like a fiddle either. Katie Clayborn sings some backing vocals at times, almost acting like the Emmylou Harris to Hurley's Gram Parsons – on titles that include "Edinburg Lag", "Got Over It", "O My Stars", "The End Of The Road", "Blockade Stillers", and "The Rue Of Ruby Whores". LP has a different track order than the original CD – and includes a bonus recent live recording of "Murderer's Home Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Homegrown grooves, but with a wonderfully soulful vibe – music recorded in the mid 80s by Dutch jazz legend Ronald Langestraat, but in a way that's different than his projects with larger groups at the time! The record's got plenty of the funk and soul that Ronald was hitting with those acts – but is delivered with a leaner quality, as Langestraat captured this music at home on a four track recorder – with acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Farfisa organ, tenor, alto, and other instruments – all topped with some of his dreamily light vocals too! The approach is completely charming – somewhere between jazz funk and soul, but also very much its own thing too – on titles that include "Gotta Get Away", "Pandora's Box", "You Need To Cry", "I'm Ready For Dancing", "Girl Where Are You", "Then & Forever", and "In The Middle Of The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

It's been quite awhile since the last High Llamas album – and in that time, the genius of Sean O'Hagan seems to have distilled even more – to a point where all those great elements he was able to layer together on previous records come out with a spare focus that maybe makes the whole thing even more wonderful! The album's as completely charming as its title and title track – and maybe seems to even borrow a bit from the coolest currents of the Japanese indie scene in the 90s, while also letting Sean's wonderful vocals warm things up – every bit as great as when we first fell in love with his music in Microdisney, but maybe even better with age. The record features guest appearances from Bonnie Prince Billy, Rae Morris, and Fryars – and titles include "Hey Panda", "Sisters Friends", "Hungriest Man", "The Water Moves", "Yoga Goat", "Stone Cold Slow", "The Grade", and "Fall Off The Mountain". LP, Vinyl record album

A bristling, crackling, completely charming set from Bruno Mars – and a record that lives up to all the best promise he has to offer! We don't know the man personally, but Bruno seems like a hell of a guy – warmly confident, upbeat, and positive – all qualities that really come through here – on tunes that are already pretty darn catchy at the start, then just keep growing on you the more you give them a spin! Instrumentation is very much in an 80s mode – with some sweet keys on most tracks, and a backing vocals that really flesh out the lyrics in a great way – unabashedly 1982, but maybe at a level that's better than most of the mainstream soul from the time. Titles include "Calling All My Lovelies", "Versace On The Floor", "That's What I Like", "Chunky", "24k Magic", "Finesse", and "Straight Up & Down". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible early work from Willie Nelson – quite different from his outlaw material of the 70s, but equally compelling in its own sort of way! As you'd guess from the title and cover, the set came out at a time when Willie was a real up-and-coming songwriting in country music – responsible for hits for artists like Faron Young, Patsy Cline, and others – and finally given the chance to start as a singer on his own. Willie's style is as amazing as his songs – very different than the mainstream, and often inflected with plenty of jazz – which, for some odd reason, as wonderful as it sounds, is what also kept Nelson away from stardom for most of the 60s. Yet don't let that put you off at all, as the presentation of the material is sublime – completely personal, almost heartbreaking, and still with all those charms that most of the rest of the world didn't discover with Willie for another decade or so. Titles include "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Crazy", "Mr Record Man", "One Step Beyond", "Wake Me When It's Over", "The Part Where I Cry", "Hello Walls", and "Darkness On The Face Of The Earth". LP, Vinyl record album

A warmly robust piano trio and one with a really magnificent sound – a real richness that comes from the subtle command of the keys expressed by Roberto Olzer – a player who has this way of being gently emotive, through a great sense of tone – a quality that's also underscored by superb work on bass from Yuri Goloubev! The pair aren't exactly household names in jazz, but they work here alongside excellent drums from Maruo Beggio – in a beautiful set that really lives up to the long legacy of sublime piano trio recordings we've enjoyed from the Sawano label! The set's also got some really great tracks that round out the set – originals that include "Charisma", "La Luna E I Falo", "Little Requiem", "La Bella Estate", and "Le Vieux Charme" – plus a great take on the Ryuichi Sakamoto tune "Bibo No Aozora", and other titles that include "Seaward", "Beautiful Love", and a version of Poulenc's "Adagio" LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest spacey club tracks of the 70s gets a superb remix here in the hands of Dimitri From Paris – all done at a level that still keeps all the great charms of the original! There's a new 2023 mix and extended mix of the cut that follow the soaring groove, building bassline, and incredible breaking rhythm of the original – then the two Dimitri mixes pick up some clubbier elements, but still with an old school vibe that's mighty nice – and which leaves plenty of room for those spacey vocals by Asha Puthli! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Really wonderful work from Towa Tei – an artist who's lost none of the charms that first made us fall in love with him when he was a member of Deee Lite! As with his earlier solo material, this set's got a wonderful combination of sounds, samples, and styles – that quality that has Towa maybe bringing forward some of the best spirits of the initial Japanese electro pop generation, but fused with a more dynamic sense of rhythm that he picked up while part of the scene in New York in the early 90s! All the elements crash together with non-stop action and a real sense of sonic delight – and titles include "Beautiful", "My Baby", "Sea Change", "Immunitas", "Ear Candy", "Hold On", and "OPA". LP, Vinyl record album