The extremely successful union of two of Atlantic's biggest funky jazz stars, caught live in Switzerland, with the amazing Benny Bailey sitting in on trumpet. The tracks are long and funky, and are virtually a blueprint for pop soul jazz playing of the time – mixing slinky rhythms with some breakout solos that show that all players are still deeply committed to a strong jazz sound. Titles include "Cold Duck Time", "The Generation Gap", "Kathleen's Theme", and their great version of "Compared To What", with the famous vocal by Les that made the track a soul jazz vocal hit! LP, Vinyl record album

The extremely successful union of two of Atlantic's biggest funky jazz stars, caught live in Switzerland, with the amazing Benny Bailey sitting in on trumpet. The tracks are long and funky, and are virtually a blueprint for pop soul jazz playing of the time – mixing slinky rhythms with some breakout solos that show that all players are still deeply committed to a strong jazz sound. Titles include "Cold Duck Time", "The Generation Gap", "Kathleen's Theme", and their great version of "Compared To What", with the famous vocal by Les that made the track a soul jazz vocal hit! CD also features the bonus track "Kaftan". CD

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The rare first album by The Next Movement! The band was an obscure Chicago group that had a funky soul sound with a bit of clubby feel to it – not really disco, but more in a mode that was in line with east coast groups of the mid to late 70s, especially those from Philly. This album has lots of help from the Chicago scene – and Tom Tom Washington handled a number of the arrangements, with that bounce he was putting into his soul arrangements at the time. Nice tracks include "Never Stop Dancin", plus "Sweat It Out", "Night Stalker", "You're The One", "Kid Stuff", and "How Did We Get To This (The Letter)". LP, Vinyl record album

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Heavy heady funk from the 70s Nigerian scene – a wicked little record that's unlike anything else we've heard before! SJOB is a combo made from ex-members of the group of Sonny Okosuns – all top-shelf players who've clearly got their chops down in the groove department, but are also really willing to experiment with their sound as well! There's some hip spacey elements to the music – cool keyboards that weave in and out of the guitar and tighter rhythms – creating a sense of darkness that's totally great, even when things are still pretty funky. The structure of the tunes is far from familiar Afro Funk too – pretty offbeat and jagged – familiar rhythms one minute, then fresh ones the next! Titles include "Countrylove", "No One Cares", "Stone Funk", "Omo Oloro", and "You Only Live Once". LP, Vinyl record album

A great moment in chart soul – when the legendary Soul II Soul were restoring our faith in modern music again! This US 12" single features 2 Teddy Riley new jack remixes (to pop into the charts), plus the Caron Wheeler 12" version and that Nellee Hooper 7" version. All that and extra beats, too! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great pairing of two Chicago soul talents – as vocalist Jackie Ross gets backing from the funky South Side Movement! The album's an obscure EP put together by producer Jimmy Van Leer – possibly as an attempt to revive the careers of both artists, and possibly only ever circulated as a promo – since we've never seen an official commercial release of this material. Jackie's vocals are a lot bolder and more adult here than on some of her earlier work – sung fully and with some backup vocals from members of South Side Movement, who also hit a pretty tight, almost clubby groove for the set. The album features 6 tracks that include "Inner Light", "Open Air", "You Are The One That I Need", "Cold Hearted Woman", "It's All Over", and "Try It Before You Buy It". Plus, this CD version features rare bonus material – additional tracks that include "Funk Talk", "Pay My Dues", "Done Got Good To Me", "I'm So Glad That I've Got You", "Disco Freak", and "Soap Opera Law". CD

A great pairing of two Chicago soul talents – as vocalist Jackie Ross gets backing from the funky South Side Movement! The album's an obscure EP put together by producer Jimmy Van Leer – possibly as an attempt to revive the careers of both artists, and possibly only ever circulated as a promo – since we've never seen an official commercial release of this material. Jackie's vocals are a lot bolder and more adult here than on some of her earlier work – sung fully and with some backup vocals from members of South Side Movement, who also hit a pretty tight, almost clubby groove for the set. The album features 6 tracks that include "Inner Light", "Open Air", "You Are The One That I Need", "Cold Hearted Woman", "It's All Over", and "Try It Before You Buy It". Plus, this LP version features rare bonus material – additional tracks that include "Pay My Dues", "Done Got Good To Me", "I'm So Glad That I've Got You", and "Keep On Doing It". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classic funk records from the 70s – a set that grabs you with the very first note, and lets you know that you've really stumbled onto something groovy! South Side Movement have a sinister groove that's very much their own – not like James Brown, The Meters, or just about anyone else – cooked up on the south side of Chicago at a time when the city was a real hotbed of creative activity in all sorts of different ways – and served up with the sort of sophistication that often marked some of the best Windy City groups of the time! Jimmy Van Leer produced, and the whole thing's got a mix of sophisticated instrumentation and straightforward funk that's wonderful – heard to great effect on the classic leadoff track "I Been Watching You" – and followed by so many other great gems that include "Mud Wind", "Superstition", "Can You Get To That", "La Dee Da", and "You're Gonna Lose My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classic funk records from the 70s – a set that grabs you with the very first note, and lets you know that you've really stumbled onto something groovy! South Side Movement have a sinister groove that's very much their own – not like James Brown, The Meters, or just about anyone else – cooked up on the south side of Chicago at a time when the city was a real hotbed of creative activity in all sorts of different ways – and served up with the sort of sophistication that often marked some of the best Windy City groups of the time! Jimmy Van Leer produced, and the whole thing's got a mix of sophisticated instrumentation and straightforward funk that's wonderful – heard to great effect on the classic leadoff track "I Been Watching You" – and followed by so many other great gems that include "Mud Wind", "Superstition", "Can You Get To That", "La Dee Da", and "You're Gonna Lose My Love". CD features bonus tracks – the previously unissued "Done Got Good To Me", and the single mix of "Mud Wind". CD

From the Beef soundtrack, with KRS One and Lil Al. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Kamasi Washington opens the door to a bit more collaboration here – while also really managing to stay true to the vision that he's given us on his previous instant-classic albums! In just a short span of time, Kamasi has become a saxophone voice for a generation – linking past traditions with some of the more forward-thinking elements of the west coast underground – and even the presence of some bigger names on the record doesn't knock Washington from his visionary path! The set's grounded with work from drummers Ronald Bruner and Tony Austin, and bass from Stephen Bruner too – a great lineup that also includes trombone from Ryan Porter and piano from Cameron Graves – both artists you'll know and love for their own great records from the LA scene. And since we've mentioned the guests, the most likely partners here are Terrace Martin and Andre 3000 – the latter of whom is at his spiritual, meditative best – the new vibe he released on his own album – and other guests include George Clinton, Patrice Quinn, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Thundercat – on titles that include "Road To Self", "The Garden Path", "Lesnanu", "Asha The First", "The Visionary", "Dream State", "Prologue", and "Interstellar Peace". CD

Kamasi Washington opens the door to a bit more collaboration here – while also really managing to stay true to the vision that he's given us on his previous instant-classic albums! In just a short span of time, Kamasi has become a saxophone voice for a generation – linking past traditions with some of the more forward-thinking elements of the west coast underground – and even the presence of some bigger names on the record doesn't knock Washington from his visionary path! The set's grounded with work from drummers Ronald Bruner and Tony Austin, and bass from Stephen Bruner too – a great lineup that also includes trombone from Ryan Porter and piano from Cameron Graves – both artists you'll know and love for their own great records from the LA scene. And since we've mentioned the guests, the most likely partners here are Terrace Martin and Andre 3000 – the latter of whom is at his spiritual, meditative best – the new vibe he released on his own album – and other guests include George Clinton, Patrice Quinn, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Thundercat – on titles that include "Road To Self", "The Garden Path", "Lesnanu", "Asha The First", "The Visionary", "Dream State", "Prologue", and "Interstellar Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks from Candlesnuffer, Brendan Walls, Sue Harding, Oren Ambarchi, Chris Smith, Scott Horscroft, Alan Lamb, Julian Knowles and more. CD

London DJ Nik Weston put together this hip set of modern tracks – a 2CD selection of groovers that includes lots of singles we've stocked in the past few years, and a number of hard to find (and expensive!) Japanese titles! There's a total of 20 cuts in all – and titles include "Earth Is The Place" by Nathan Haines, "Spiritual War (Kaidi Tathham rmx)" by Fertile Ground, "Outside From The Inside" by Modaji, "Trash Da Junk" by Da One Away, "Buttamilk (Domu's Soya spread rmx)" by Oba Funke, "Spaces & Places" by Mitchell & Dewbury, "Going Down" by Joi, "Ladies" by Agent K, "Tempest (Atjazz rmx)" by Kabuki, "Meu Samba (Nicola Conte's Bossa Ahead rmx)" by Eli Goulart e Banda Do Mato, "It's You (Versione Tokyo Bossa)" by Sunaga't Experience, "Play Back" by Yukihiro Fukutomi, and "Bamboozled" by Watusi. CD

Four classic albums from UK singer Tina Charles – an artist who mixes older vocal touches with the swirling sounds of the legendary Biddu – in a groove that's got a heck of a lot to offer! Tina never was one of the most underground singers of her generation – but it's her confidence in that fact that makes this music so great – an unabashed love of the poppier sounds of the dancefloor, in a way that beautifully mixes together 70s AM sensibilities with the growing sounds of the disco movement. Biddu's a great choice for the project – as the use of light strings and disco grooves resonates with his own solo work, but also maybe has more of a crossover focus, thanks to Tina's poppy vocals in the lead! The 2CD set features the full albums I Love To Love, Dance Little Lady, Heart N Soul, and Just One Smile – with a total of 40 tracks in all. CD

Seminal early work from guitarist Charlie Christian – tracks that really preface the development of bop in the 40s – recorded at the birthplace of that movement, the legendary Minton's Playhouse in Harlem! Christian's sense of tone and timing is amazing – even sharper and bolder than his already-famous work with Benny Goodman, laid out here with a deftness that really paves the way for the kind of fast-thinking, fast-moving creativity of bop – in a combo that also includes Thelonious Monk on piano and Kenny Clarke on drums! There's still a bit of older swing style guitar work at points, but Christian's command of single-note lines is definitely bop-like riffing too. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary group who never fully got their due – and maybe one of the creepier acts on the British scene at the start of the 70s! The cover art probably gives things away – but the sound of the record is even more haunting – with some acoustic elements that echo the acid folk movement of the time, but more dynamic energy at other spots that resonate more with prog – all topped by vocals that have a completely sinister sound that really makes the group stand out! Despite the acoustic guitars, these guys are hardly the traditional-leaning style of some of their folk rock contemporaries – and, if anything, it feels like they opened up some Pandora's box from the past, and let out all this weird Wicker Man energy. Titles include "Bitten", "The Prisoner", "Diana", "The Herald", "Song To Comus", and "Drip Drip". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully weird combination of sounds – one that might almost be called psychedelic jazz at times, yet which also has a more freewheeling quality as well! Brent Cordero plays a very cool combo organ next to piano and synth on the record – in a core trio that features Ryan Sawyer on drums and Peter Kerlin on a variety of basses – which are then augmented by differing contributions from track to track, shaping the color palette of the record in a wonderful way! Players include Daniel Carter on alto and flute, James Brandon Lewis on tenor, Jessica Pavone on viola, Aaron Siegel on vibes, and Adam Amram on congas – each making great contributions to the record – on ttles that include "Movement To Protect The People", "Decolonize This Place", "White Supremacy In Black Face", "Pyrrhic", "Between The Carrot & The Stick", and "Affordable For Who". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". CD

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". LP, Vinyl record album

All the great early albums from Creation Rebel – plus their excellent comeback too! The set begins with Dub From Creation – not just the debut album from Creation Rebel, but also a set that marks the first studio work from the young Adrian Sherwood – part of the long On-U Sound legacy to come, and a wealth of other wonderful music! There's a spareness here that's great – maybe a bit less dark than later Sherwood projects, but no less stark – with melodica and keyboards weaving nicely amidst the dubby rhythms! Titles include "Basic Principals", "Dub Fusion", "Liberation", "Rising Star", "Vision Of Creation", and "Creation In A Iration". Next is Close Encounters Of The Third World – an early part of the On-U Sound legacy, even if the set wasn't issued on the label – a key effort by Creation Rebel that features recording work done both in London and Kingston, layered together in a beautifully dubby way! The sound here is definitely underground – full of message-oriented lyrics from Crucial Tony, who sings in a style that definitely earns him his name – with great melodica and organ flowing through the mix next to Lizard's bass – topped with added horn work from The Arabs in all the right spots! The production is superb – flat on the drums, wide on the sides, which makes for a really wonderful groove – on titles that include "Know Yourself", "Conspiring", "Creation Fever", "Natty Conscience Free", and "Joyful Noise". Rebel Vibrations features early production genius from Adrian Sherwood – and a record that sets the tone for all the On-U Sound genius to come! The set's a huge step forward from even the previous excellent Creation Rebel album – as the way the sounds are layered together is incredible – almost modes learned from post-punk production, but used to deliver a pure, righteous dub album – one that drops out all the vocals, and allows you to concentrate even more on the totally wicked instrumentation! The set features stunning drums from Style Scott, heady bass from Lizard, and all sorts of very cool keyboard work from Clifton Morrison – used in these ways that float about like a swarm of sounds, especially when mixed with the melodica of Doctor Pablo. The whole thing's amazing – and titles include "Diverse Doctor", "Hunger & Strife", "Jungle Affair", "Rebel Vibration", "Black Lion Dub", and "Mountain Melody". Starship Africa is a brilliant Creation Rebel effort for On-U Sound from the dawn of the 80s – landing in the futuristic dub spacecraft that is their Starship Africa – percussion heavy and spaced out ingenuity from Adrian Sherwood & co! Tripped, echoey atmospherics that's cast as a soundtrack to movie that doesn't exist, the music is forward thinking, boundary busting dubby grooves exists out of time and sounds great to this day. Includes "Starship Africa" (Sections 1-5) and "Space Movement" (Sections 1-4). On Psychotic Jonkanoo, Crucial Tony is back in the mix for this righteous early 80s album from Creation Rebel – a set that has Adrian Sherwood only furthering his production genius as he layers together stunning instrumental work from the group! The presence of the vocals has the instrumentation slightly back in the mix – but there's still a great run of rhythms throughout, all driven by the mighty heady basslines of Lizard Logan! There's less keyboards than before, but still some nice electronic bits all over the place – and titles include "The Dope", "African Space", "Threat To Creation", "Highest Degree", "Mother Don't Cry", and "Drum Talk". From 2023, Hostile Environment is the first album in many years from this legendary studio project from On-U Sound and Adrian Sherwood – and one that makes us feel as if the passage of decades hasn't happened at all! Sherwood's production is still wonderful – and, if anything, maybe less showy, or more soulful, or less moody – just something that seems to let the work of the group come through with energy that's wonderfully warm and organic, while still resonating with plenty of touches that will make longtime label fans proud! Vocals are shared between Charlie Eskimo Fox and Mr Magoo, and the set also features guest appearances from Prince Far I and Daddy Freddy – on titles that include "That's More Like It" "Jubilee Clock", "Swiftly", "Stonebridge Warrior", "Crown Hill Road", "The People's Sound", and "Whatever It Takes". CD

A lasting classic from Digable Planets, and a record that really helped push the bar forward for hip hop at the time – at a level that's still kept this one strong all these many years later! Digable Planets weren't the first group to bring in some influence from jazz to their work – but they definitely found the right balance here, and a way of setting things up that was real and organic, instead of maybe just a nodding reference to the past that always felt a bit out of place. The use of live instrumentation next to samples is also key to the record's sound – common now, but pretty important at the time, especially in a world of declining sample access. The trio of Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug have a wonderful way of tripping through the lyrics – and titles include "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", "Black Ego", "Dog It", "Jettin", "Borough Check", "Highing Fly", "Dial 7", "The Art Of Easing", "KBs Alley", "Graffiti", "Blowing Down", "9th Wonder", and "For Corners". CD

A lasting classic from Digable Planets, and a record that really helped push the bar forward for hip hop at the time – at a level that's still kept this one strong all these many years later! Digable Planets weren't the first group to bring in some influence from jazz to their work – but they definitely found the right balance here, and a way of setting things up that was real and organic, instead of maybe just a nodding reference to the past that always felt a bit out of place. The use of live instrumentation next to samples is also key to the record's sound – common now, but pretty important at the time, especially in a world of declining sample access. The trio of Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug have a wonderful way of tripping through the lyrics – and titles include "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", "Black Ego", "Dog It", "Jettin", "Borough Check", "Highing Fly", "Dial 7", "The Art Of Easing", "KBs Alley", "Graffiti", "Blowing Down", "9th Wonder", and "For Corners". LP, Vinyl record album

A lasting classic from Digable Planets, and a record that really helped push the bar forward for hip hop at the time – at a level that's still kept this one strong all these many years later! Digable Planets weren't the first group to bring in some influence from jazz to their work – but they definitely found the right balance here, and a way of setting things up that was real and organic, instead of maybe just a nodding reference to the past that always felt a bit out of place. The use of live instrumentation next to samples is also key to the record's sound – common now, but pretty important at the time, especially in a world of declining sample access. The trio of Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug have a wonderful way of tripping through the lyrics – and titles include "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", "Black Ego", "Dog It", "Jettin", "Borough Check", "Highing Fly", "Dial 7", "The Art Of Easing", "KBs Alley", "Graffiti", "Blowing Down", "9th Wonder", and "For Corners". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best books we've ever read on any sort of creative scene and cultural moment – a superbly-penned account of the rise of underground comix in the 60s, and the growth and changes of the movement in the decades that followed! Author Brian Doherty makes the scene come alive in ways that are even more powerful than most music books that try to do the same – tracing the disparate roots of key figures like Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, Trina Robbins, and others – as they end up converging in San Francisco in the late 60s, finding a way to express themselves through new styles and new means of production and distribution – then spread out as the 70s move in, and underground comix provide the building blocks for the graphic novel generation to come. The book is insanely well-researched, but also written with a lively style that really gets at both the creative talents and individual personalities of each of the folks involved – all at a level that makes for a hell of a read that goes way past the usual book on comics, music, or any other sort of cultural creative scene! Hardcover edition is 439 pages. Book

A mindblowing first album from ELO – recorded back at a time when the group were taking the "Orchestra" in their name seriously, and when the group included Roy Wood! While Jeff Lynne's nascent pop genius is firmly in place already, the album's also awash in some of Wood's madder, folksier touches – making for a juxtaposition of styles that really amazing. Strings, guitars, oboes, and horns all come together in a post-folk mode that conjures up images of a crumbling England that stretches back to years before the birth of the British Empire! Titles include "First Movement", "Mr Radio", "Manhattan Rumble", "10538 Overture", "Look At Me Now", and "Whisper In The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing first album from ELO – recorded back at a time when the group were taking the "Orchestra" in their name seriously, and when the group included Roy Wood! While Jeff Lynne's nascent pop genius is firmly in place already, the album's also awash in some of Wood's madder, folksier touches – making for a juxtaposition of styles that really amazing. Strings, guitars, oboes, and horns all come together in a post-folk mode that conjures up images of a crumbling England that stretches back to years before the birth of the British Empire! Titles include "First Movement", "Mr Radio", "Manhattan Rumble", "10538 Overture", "Look At Me Now", and "Whisper In The Night". Anniversary edition includes new mastering, six CD bonus tracks, and DVD-audio mixes of original stereo master and 1973 Quad mix! CD

A record that blew the world away when it was first released – and still continues to delight all these many years later! Brian Eno had first rose to fame in Roxy Music – where his sonic sensibilities and ear for electronic experimentation really added a lot to their initial albums – and here, on his own, he's in somewhat side-stepped territory – mixing things up in the art/glam generation of Roxy and Bowie, but also already showing a darkness that really sets him apart from the pack! The first three songs alone are a hell of a statement from any musician in the 70s, and the titles alone almost get at their impact – "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", and "Baby's On Fire" – all songs that offer a rare blend of ferocity and humor that wouldn't emerge elsewhere until the punk movement. Yet Eno's hardly the forerunner of punk, but he's also not glam, metal, or anything else – a supremely impactful artist with this record, completely in his own space – like a rare breed that might include The Velvet Underground, Gram Parsons, or Bowie. Titles include "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", "Baby's On Fire" "Blank Frank", "Some Of Them Are Old", "Cindy Tells Me", "On Some Faraway Beach", and "Dead Finks Don't Talk". CD

A record that blew the world away when it was first released – and still continues to delight all these many years later! Brian Eno had first rose to fame in Roxy Music – where his sonic sensibilities and ear for electronic experimentation really added a lot to their initial albums – and here, on his own, he's in somewhat side-stepped territory – mixing things up in the art/glam generation of Roxy and Bowie, but also already showing a darkness that really sets him apart from the pack! The first three songs alone are a hell of a statement from any musician in the 70s, and the titles alone almost get at their impact – "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", and "Baby's On Fire" – all songs that offer a rare blend of ferocity and humor that wouldn't emerge elsewhere until the punk movement. Yet Eno's hardly the forerunner of punk, but he's also not glam, metal, or anything else – a supremely impactful artist with this record, completely in his own space – like a rare breed that might include The Velvet Underground, Gram Parsons, or Bowie. Titles include "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", "Baby's On Fire" "Blank Frank", "Some Of Them Are Old", "Cindy Tells Me", "On Some Faraway Beach", and "Dead Finks Don't Talk". CD

A record that blew the world away when it was first released – and still continues to delight all these many years later! Brian Eno had first rose to fame in Roxy Music – where his sonic sensibilities and ear for electronic experimentation really added a lot to their initial albums – and here, on his own, he's in somewhat side-stepped territory – mixing things up in the art/glam generation of Roxy and Bowie, but also already showing a darkness that really sets him apart from the pack! The first three songs alone are a hell of a statement from any musician in the 70s, and the titles alone almost get at their impact – "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", and "Baby's On Fire" – all songs that offer a rare blend of ferocity and humor that wouldn't emerge elsewhere until the punk movement. Yet Eno's hardly the forerunner of punk, but he's also not glam, metal, or anything else – a supremely impactful artist with this record, completely in his own space – like a rare breed that might include The Velvet Underground, Gram Parsons, or Bowie. Titles include "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", "Baby's On Fire" "Blank Frank", "Some Of Them Are Old", "Cindy Tells Me", "On Some Faraway Beach", and "Dead Finks Don't Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great 70s album from Gil Evans – a set that's got some great use of electric instrumentation, and a mighty groove on the best cuts! The overall approach is different than the early modernist sound of Gil Evans, but still very striking – a 70s equivalent to Gil's famous 60s work – and as always with Evans, the players in the ensemble are impeccably well-chosen – as the lineup includes Hannibal Marvin Peterson on trumpet, Billy Harper on tenor, Ryo Kawasaki on guitar, and a young Dave Sanborn handling the solos. Includes the odd spacey Tony Williams number "There Comes A Time", plus a cover of Hendrix's "Little Wing" – both of which have vocals by Peterson. Other tracks include "Aftermath Of The Fourth Movement Children Of The Fire", "Anita's Dance", and "Makes Her Move". CD

A really well-chosen set of classic Afro Funk records from Fela Kuti – hand-picked by Idris Elba, and brought together in this limited box set! Open & Close is an early classic from Fela Kuti & Africa 70 – the kind of early 70s record that helped both the leader and the group establish themselves as a global powerhouse of funk and soul! The set begins with the side-long "Open & Close" – a righteous tune that's driven onward by lots of tight drums from Tony Allen – young, focused, and completely amazing here – while Fela delivers all these madly leaping electric piano lines amidst the super-sharp horn section – all moving instrumentally for many minutes before the vocals come into play! Side two features two shorter tracks, but still nice and long in comparison to most funky groups – the wonderful "Swegbe & Pako" and "Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo" – tunes that really send the record over the top! Fela teams up with vibist Roy Ayers on Music Of Many Colors – one of the best soul collaborations ever – a whopping album that brings together the best sides of these monster soul talents of the 70s! In keeping with Fela's work, the tracks are long and Afro-tinged, with a complicated groove that grows over the length of the track. And in keeping with Roy's work, the album has a sweet soulful feel, with lots of nice jazzy touches, cool vibes, and great vocals by Roy. Two long tracks, both classics: "2000 Black" and "Africa, Center of the World". Opposite People is seminal work from one of Fela's most crucial periods – recorded at a time when his soul was the deepest! The album features 2 long tracks – "Opposite People" and "Equalisation Of Trouser & Pant" – and they both have beautiful spooky keyboards in the instrumental passages, then leap into hard soul vocals by Fela. Tremendous stuff – done in a style that shows that no matter how many people cop or remake Fela's sound, he's still the best one to do it! The rare Stalemate album features the side-long tracks "Stalemate" and "Don't Worry About My Mouth" – both really hard-driving numbers, with a fantastic mix of vocals and grooves! Live In Amsterdam is an excellent live set from Fela – one that shows that he was still very capable of going over the top during the 80s! The set's a double LP – and it features 4 great numbers by the group, with Fela on soprano sax, piano, and organ, and plenty of other great work on tenor, alto, and trumpet. Titles include "Gimme Shit I Give You Shit", "Custom Check Point", "Movement Of The People", and "Political Statement Number 1". I Go Shout Plenty is a great one from Fela – with a date of 1986, but a sound that's pure late 70s! The record features 2 long tracks – "I Go Shout Plenty" and "Why Black Man Dey Suffer" – and they're both hard groovers with a strong political feel. "Why Black Man" is especially nice, and has some great keyboard riffing in the middle, with that great tinny sound that you'll hear on the best Fela albums. One that we almost never see – and issued on the Decca subsidiary Afrodisia. LP, Vinyl record album

The piano of Anat Fort gets some great accompaniment here – the alto clarinet of Gianluigi Trovesi, a player with some very sharp edges at times – and an approach to his instrument that seems to lock some of the moodier corners of Fort's music! The tracks seem to build in almost a blocky structure – whether from the movement of Anat's piano, or the rhythms of Gary Wang on bass and Roland Schneider on drums – in ways that are inherently rhythmic, even when the music's going outside a bit – which allows for a nice balance with some of Trovesi's more freewheeling contributions. The result is a relatively poetic sound – sometimes far from jazz, but still quite beautiful – and titles include "Meditation For A New Year", "Earth Talks", "First Rays", "Jumpin In", and "Murmuration". CD

There's few singers lovelier than Astrud Gilberto – and this "great women" set is a perfect introduction to her music – a package filled with the key cuts she recorded for Verve Records during the big bossa nova boom of the 60s – a movement that lifted Astrud from obscurity into the realm of undeniably classic singers! The set features some of Gilberto's original recordings with tenorist Stan Getz, and others on her own – with backings from arrangers Don Sebesky, Claus Ogerman, Gil Evans, and Marty Paich – and one tune done with Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley too! Titles include "Agua De Beber", "Take Me To Aruanda", "O Morro", "Berimbau", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "How Insensitive", "Girl From Ipanema", "Fly Me To The Moon", "So Nice", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Once I Loved", "Corcovado", and "So Tinha De Ser Come Voce". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that really takes its title seriously – as this debut by pianist Georg Grawe definitely marks a new movement in free jazz – work from some slightly younger players who maybe open up with even more intensity than the founders of the movement – completely breaking down any expectations of what you might get from a quintet that seems to otherwise feature familiar jazz instruments! Grawe has a monstrous approach to the piano – really taking on the instrument with unbound frenzy, alongside Harald Dau on tenor and soprano sax, Hort Grabosch on trumpet, Hans Scheider on bass, and Achim Kramer on drums – a group who at times seem to try for some more composed modern jazz conceptions at the start of a tune, but quickly break out and really revel in the group freedom of the performance! A key record in the second chapter of FMP – and titles include "New Movements", "Green Screen", and "V 626". CD

NSI stands for "new sounds from the islands" – and that's definitely what you'll get here from this combo who serve up a fantastic blend of Antilles rhythms and contemporary club funk – all very much in the best spirit of the early zouk movement at the time! There's lots of great bass on the record – often used as the key core element of the tunes, with keyboards, guitar lines, and vocals layered alongside – almost with a quality that seems to echo the way that American groups were borrowing bits from the Caribbean and using it to inflect funk and soul up in the New York scene of the early 80s. The music is plenty playful, and very groovy – and titles include "Turn Your Face On Me", "Steel Ka Dance", "Oui Ce Yes Roger A Ti Wawa", and "Moin Epi Vou". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Sir Roland Hanna on piano , who also contributes the songs "Cameo" and "4M". Other titles include "Acrobop", "Brazilian Breeze", "Ellingtone Poem - Duet", and "Bubba's Movement". CD

A spiritual masterpiece from Matthew Halsall – a record that still has the beautiful trumpet work we've loved from the start, but which also shows just how much Halsall has been expanding his talents in search of new meanings, and new modes of expression! Matthew handles a fair bit of instrumentation here himself – including Fender Rhodes, piano, kalimba, percussion, and effects – but there's also a shifting lineup of guests throughout, coloring things in really particular ways – with performances from Chip Wickham on soprano sax and flute, Matt Cliffe on alto and flute, Alice Roberts on harp, and Liviu Gheorge and Jasper Green on Fender Rhodes. The tunes have a sense of gentle majesty that's completely sublime, as they unfold in these very righteous currents – on titles that include "Mountains Trees & Seas", "Calder Shapes", "An Ever Changing View", "Tracing Nature", "Water Street", "Triangles In The Sky", and "Natural Movement". CD

A spiritual masterpiece from Matthew Halsall – a record that still has the beautiful trumpet work we've loved from the start, but which also shows just how much Halsall has been expanding his talents in search of new meanings, and new modes of expression! Matthew handles a fair bit of instrumentation here himself – including Fender Rhodes, piano, kalimba, percussion, and effects – but there's also a shifting lineup of guests throughout, coloring things in really particular ways – with performances from Chip Wickham on soprano sax and flute, Matt Cliffe on alto and flute, Alice Roberts on harp, and Liviu Gheorge and Jasper Green on Fender Rhodes. The tunes have a sense of gentle majesty that's completely sublime, as they unfold in these very righteous currents – on titles that include "Mountains Trees & Seas", "Calder Shapes", "An Ever Changing View", "Tracing Nature", "Water Street", "Triangles In The Sky", and "Natural Movement". LP, Vinyl record album

Very interesting work from Chico Hamilton – one of his most compelling albums of the 50s! The three "faces" of Chico are as follows: his vocals, his solo percussion, and his quintet. Forget the vocals, because they're just OK (and Chico hardly embarked on a singing career after this one) – and focus on the percussion and quintet sides, because they're totally amazing! The percussion tracks have Chico playing solo, with a really haunting sound to them. There's not a lot of tricks, or pyrotechnics, and his work in this respect almost points the way to later recordings by Andrew Cyrille. The quintet sides are great, too – as this is the point at which Chico's got Eric Dolphy and Dennis Budimir in the group, both of whom draw a good edge on Chico's popular sound of a few years previous. Titles include "No Speak No English Man", "Miss Movement", "Trinkets", "Happy Little Dance", and "Newport News". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Wendell Harrison – a set that has the Tribe Records giant of the 70s taking the sound of the Detroit underground into a whole new vibe! The record takes the spiritual post-Coltrane jazz of Harrison's earlier days, and infuses it with some warmer, electric modes – a way of pushing spiritual jazz currents into other territory, a bit like Gary Bartz did with some of his work in the late 70s! Tracks are shorter and slightly less political than before – but the overall vibe is equally soulful in an 80s indie jazz style – and proof that Harrison was still keeping strong after the early days of the Tribe movement. There's some nice dark edges to the record that really keep things interesting – maybe imagine Larry Mizell producing some of the more off-beat albums on Strata East – and there's a bit of vocals on the set, which also features work from Phil Ranelin on trombone. Tracks include "Where Am I", "Sea Minor Blues", "Take Time Out", and "Dreams Of A Love Supreme". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Wendell Harrison – a set that has the Tribe Records giant of the 70s taking the sound of the Detroit underground into a whole new vibe! The record takes the spiritual post-Coltrane jazz of Harrison's earlier days, and infuses it with some warmer, electric modes – a way of pushing spiritual jazz currents into other territory, a bit like Gary Bartz did with some of his work in the late 70s! Tracks are shorter and slightly less political than before – but the overall vibe is equally soulful in an 80s indie jazz style – and proof that Harrison was still keeping strong after the early days of the Tribe movement. There's some nice dark edges to the record that really keep things interesting – maybe imagine Larry Mizell producing some of the more off-beat albums on Strata East – and there's a bit of vocals on the set, which also features work from Phil Ranelin on trombone. Tracks include "Where Am I", "Sea Minor Blues", "Take Time Out", and "Dreams Of A Love Supreme". CD

Great later work from Wendell Harrison – a set that has the Tribe Records giant of the 70s taking the sound of the Detroit underground into a whole new vibe! The record takes the spiritual post-Coltrane jazz of Harrison's earlier days, and infuses it with some warmer, electric modes – a way of pushing spiritual jazz currents into other territory, a bit like Gary Bartz did with some of his work in the late 70s! Tracks are shorter and slightly less political than before – but the overall vibe is equally soulful in an 80s indie jazz style – and proof that Harrison was still keeping strong after the early days of the Tribe movement. There's some nice dark edges to the record that really keep things interesting – maybe imagine Larry Mizell producing some of the more off-beat albums on Strata East – and there's a bit of vocals on the set, which also features work from Phil Ranelin on trombone. Tracks include "Where Am I", "Sea Minor Blues", "Take Time Out", and "Dreams Of A Love Supreme". Includes a bonus 7" single with the tracks "Rocket Love" and "No Turnin" – plus the bonus track "Patrina's Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest Isaac Hayes albums for Stax – thanks mostly to the extended title cut! The tune "Joy" is a monster – running for nearly 16 minutes long, and starting with a killer drum break on the intro – then full, proud, bad-stepping Isaac Hayes grooves throughout! It's hard to believe that a track that runs so long could be such a delight – but the whole thing's a joyous as the title might imply! Other tracks are pretty darn great too – and include the slightly shorter "I Love You That's All", "A Man Will Be A Man", and "The Feeling Keeps On Coming" – plus the 11 minute "I'm Gonna Make It Without You". All tracks originals by Isaac, with stone backings by The Movement, and some super-dope use of strings and horns! LP, Vinyl record album

Richly complex later work from Larry "Mr Fingers" Heard – proof that he wasn't just a simple house musician on the Chicago scene! The album's a great illustration of the bridge that Heard helped provide from original house towards some of the deeper, more complicated modes that took hold once the 21st Century approached – a style that was especially important in paving the way for some of the bigger names from the London scene, especially those most strongly influenced by jazz. Heard's keyboard lines here are supposedly improvised over rhythm programs – and while they're not as openly jazzy as you might expect, they're certainly a far distance from basic house music – making the album an adventurous instrumental affair for the time! Titles include "Snowcaps", "One Three Five Seven", "Midnight Movement", and "Dolphin Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful solo set from John Hulburt – a little-known Chicago guitarist in the early 70s, and almost our city's answer to the beauty of John Fahey at his best! Hulburt's music is a bit more straightforward, and his tunes a little shorter – but the overall sense of conception is equally imaginative – and we love the way he can spin out these wonderful lines on acoustic guitar, seeming to wrap together a hundred years' worth of musical history, but coming across with a very fresh, personal vision throughout! John's way more than a folk artist, and also isn't one of the precursors of the new acoustic movement to come – and instead, he's got this sound that's incredibly moving and powerful, but in very subtle ways. Titles include "Libby", "Inner Garden", "Evil Olive Waltz", "Guitar On My Knees", "Inside & Otherwise", "All Night Waitress", "Freak On The Black Harley", and "Clark Street". CD

Includes the songs "Country", "Ritooria", "The Journey Home", "Staircase (Part II)", "String Quartet (2nd Movement)", "Invocations (Recognition)", and "Nagoya (Part II B)". CD

Hard to hold your horses with music this great – a really great moody take on deep funk territory – nicely laidback, and served up in a way that really lets the group enjoy all the rich tonal colors they produce along the way! The lineup is spare, and nicely kicked back – chromatic guitar riffs, watery keyboard lines, slow-stepping bass, and drums that kind of jitter nervously at points – all of which creates a nice sense of tension in the grooves! The whole thing's definitely a standout set in the world of instrumental funk – and titles include "One Hand One Bounce", "8th Movement", "Incredible Wonderful", "Not For The First Time", "Eyes On The Prize", "The Early Bird Catches", and "All Aboard". CD

Hard to hold your horses with music this great – a really great moody take on deep funk territory – nicely laidback, and served up in a way that really lets the group enjoy all the rich tonal colors they produce along the way! The lineup is spare, and nicely kicked back – chromatic guitar riffs, watery keyboard lines, slow-stepping bass, and drums that kind of jitter nervously at points – all of which creates a nice sense of tension in the grooves! The whole thing's definitely a standout set in the world of instrumental funk – and titles include "One Hand One Bounce", "8th Movement", "Incredible Wonderful", "Not For The First Time", "Eyes On The Prize", "The Early Bird Catches", and "All Aboard". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard to hold your horses with music this great – a really great moody take on deep funk territory – nicely laidback, and served up in a way that really lets the group enjoy all the rich tonal colors they produce along the way! The lineup is spare, and nicely kicked back – chromatic guitar riffs, watery keyboard lines, slow-stepping bass, and drums that kind of jitter nervously at points – all of which creates a nice sense of tension in the grooves! The whole thing's definitely a standout set in the world of instrumental funk – and titles include "One Hand One Bounce", "8th Movement", "Incredible Wonderful", "Not For The First Time", "Eyes On The Prize", "The Early Bird Catches", and "All Aboard". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful images from the late 70s onwards – posters, advertisements, album covers, and lots of other visual creations used to help showcase the new sounds and styles of the punk and new wave generation! The book is better than we even could have hoped – as it's not just a loose collection of classic records, and instead is a really thoughtful presentation of a wide array of media – divided up into sections that really make sense, often with a fair bit of history and other detail that really illuminates this new movement in style! The book is split in half – half US, and half UK – but also does a great job of linking the images to global trends in aesthetics too. A hefty 335 pages, hardcover, and full color throughout! Book

Great early work from Lake – playing here in a number of different settings, but always with well-matched collaborators! 3 tracks on the set – "Owshet", "Heavy Spirits", and "While Pushing Down Turn" – featuring Lake with Olu Dara on trumpet, Donald Smith on piano, Victor Lewis on drums, and Stafford James on bass, playing in sort of a freebop mode. Three more tracks – "Movement Equals Creation", "Intensity", and "Altoviolin" – feature Lake on alto, playing with a violin trio that sounds very dark and moody. "Rocket" is a trio piece, with Joseph Bowie and Charles Bobo Shaw – and "Lonely Blacks" is a somber solo sax piece. LP, Vinyl record album

A four movement suite composed and performed by Yusef Lateef – with Adam Rudolph, Charles Moore, Ralph Jones, Federico Ramos, and the Cologne Radio Orchestra! CD

A great guide for digging into the world of Japanese music from the mid 80s onward – and a book that's different than some of the more vinyl-centric disc guide, in that it focuses strongly on city pop titles that were only issued on CD! The Japanese city pop movement really got going at the start of the 80s, when vinyl and cassette were still king and queen – but it kept on going even after formats shifted – at a level that makes this book such a key document of the scene and style, which is often just tied to the vinyl market. As with other Japanese disc guides, the bulk of the text is in Japanese – which can now easily be read using Google Translate on your phone – but the book has entries for hundreds of titles, each with a full color image of the cover – which will offer up plenty of information for your digging. The book has a few other features alongside the disc listings – and is a total of 242 pages, softcover, with hundreds of full color images throughout. Book

A brilliant and beautiful album from Damon Locks – even more powerful than his Where Future Unfolds album, and that's saying a heck of a lot! The record proclaims part of its mission in its title – and is maybe the first set we've heard to point the way forward creatively after the dark days of 2020 – reclaiming the future for the present, as Locks works with a stunning array of Chicago-based talent – including Angel Bat Dawid on clarinet, Ben LaMar Gay on cornet and melodica, Dana Hall on drums, and Arif Smith on percussion! There's no other instruments in the core of the combo – but Locks adds in plenty of electronics and sound samples, including both musical moments and all these many found voices which are woven through the record alongside vocals by a sextet of singers – a chorus who rise up and give the whole thing a heavenly vibe that's completely mindblowing! While so many others are doing a decent job of reworking a 70s jazz spirit, Damon's giving us the future to come – the kind of visionary work we always knew he was capable of, but which is now finally getting the chance to exist on record. Titles include "The People Vs The Rest Of Us", "Keep Your Mind Free", "Movement & You", "Now", and "The Body Is Electric". CD

The debut album from pianist Junior Mance – a session that showcases some of the harder, more soulful modes he'd soon bring to his great run of records in the 60s, but one that also has some of the more easygoing modes of 50s Verve Records too! Junior's got some surprisingly lyrical touches at times – still using plenty of hard left hand movement on the rhythms, which are augmented by Ray Brown on bass and Lex Humphries on drums – but also moving fluidly on the higher side of the keyboard too, crafting all these beautiful melodies that resonate with effortless ease! There's maybe less space between the notes than on some of Mance's work a few years later, and it's also clear that even at this young age, he's already a hell of a pianist, with a very individual touch. Titles include "Jubilation", "A Smooth One", "Miss Jackie's Delight", "Small Fry", "Love For Sale", and "Junior's Tune". LP, Vinyl record album

Different work than usual for Herbie – a series of sides recorded in Sweden in the late 50s, featuring Herbie on both flute and tenor! The feel here is at once more poised and more open than some of Herbie's US sides from the time – as the groups shift from track to track, and Herbie's movement between tenor and flute gives the album a nicely rough edge. Players include Ake Persson, Rolf Blomqvist, Arne Domnerus, and Beng Arne Wallin – and titles include "Cherry Point", "Serenata", "Hurry Burry", "Adam's Theme", "Ow", and "Nature Boy". 1969 pressing of an album originally titled Mann In The Morning. LP, Vinyl record album