Fantastic early work from Gil Evans – emerging here in this early session as an already far-thinking modernist. The tracks are shorter and less ambitious than some of Evans' work on Impulse, but the group is excellent – and even in a shorter format, the conception of the work still contains plenty of rich new ideas. Players include Louis Mucci, John Carisi, Steve Lacy, Willie Ruff, Paul Chambers, Nick Stabulis, and "Zeke Tolin" on alto, who is certainly a more famous player under a fake name. Titles include "Ella Speed", "Big Stuff", "Jambangle", "Nobody's Heart", and "Remember". CD

The title and cover are a great illustration of the direction that Ten Years After is taking here – a really wonderful blend of trippier influences with the sharp-edged, blues-influenced sound at their core! Even a look at the surface of the record will show you that something different is going on – as one track will be long, the other quite short, and others of varying lengths – really showcasing the variety the group's breaking out with here! Alvin Lee is completely on fire – really hitting Hendrix territory at a few points, such as the incredible "Skoobly Oobly Doobob", which features him scatting alongside a super-fast guitar part! Other titles are equally inventive – as are some of the way the sounds come across, even from familiar instruments – on titles that include "Hear Me Calling", "Going To Try", "Woman Trouble", "No Title", "Faro", "Speed Kills", and "A Sad Song". CD reissue includes four bonus tracks – three singles mixes and the 14-minute "Boogie On". CD

Tremendous work by Lee Morgan – easily one of his greatest albums, and a soaring session of modal energy that easily rivals the best work of the Impulse era! The album's got a slightly different feel than usual for Blue Note – a sense of freedom, joy, and soaring energy that's totally great – explored by a crack group that features Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Harold Mabern on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all coming together with a unique sense of creativity! The rhythm section is one of the key factors here – as Mabern, Cranshaw, and Higgins have a fluid groove that really sets the tone for the record – letting Morgan and Shorter stretch out to the height of their powers, and explore some incredible modal and soulful themes. Titles include the seminal 11 minute reading of "The Gigolo", plus "Yes I Can No You Can't", "Speedball", and "Trapped" – as well as an excellent reading of "You Go To My Head" that completely opens up the old standard! Plus, this CD reissue's got a bonus alternate take of "The Gigolo", for an extra 10 minutes of music! CD

Wonderful sounds from the great John Carpenter – one of those records that reminds us that his music is often just as important as the images he puts on the screen! Carpenter's music for The Fog follows nicely in his work for other films – particularly Halloween – in that it's got this slow-building style that often makes great use of keyboards – often used sparely, with a really spooky sort of energy – and even more space, and at slower speed than his other horror soundtracks! The style really fits the "fog" theme of the film! CD

Second volume collecting some excellent bits of both music and dialogue from the great TV series The Prisoner. Just like the show, which we can't get enough of, these wonderfully groovy tracks keep us coming back for more, from the more tense thriller type moments to atmospheric bits and even some lighter pieces too. 39 (!) tracks in all, with great titles like "Speedboat Dash", "Exam Results", "Number 6 Takes The Life Belt", "Human Chess", "MS Polotska" and "Nocturnal Escape". CD

One of the best, most influential indie singer-songwriter records of the 90s – and maybe the best ever by the late, great Elliot Smith! In the noisy indie rock early 90s, vulnerable, quietly-recorded, largely solo acoustic confessionals were not par for the course, but Elliot Smith was by no means an average indie rocker. It was pretty devastating stuff, even before Elliott's death, and especially so in retrospect – but there's so much heart and such a careful ear for intimate pop songwriting, it's never a depressing listen. A true classic. Includes "Speed Trials", "Alameda", "Ballad Of Big Nothing", "Between The Bars", "No Name No. 5", "Rose Parade", "Angeles", "Cupid's Trick", "2:45 AM", "Say Yes" and more. CD