A cabinet full of psychedelic wonders from Dutch genius Jacco Gardner! Jacco carries a torch from some of the more swirling psych era sounds from around the world – getting a little bit of assistance on the drums – but he otherwise wrote, produced, and plays everything on this excellent record himself. There's a lot going here, so that's mighty impressive! Reminiscent of some of our favorite late 60s psych that blends gentle melodies with thick atmosphere – with echoey vocals, organ, harpsichord and more. Nice! Includes "Clear The Air", "The One Eyed King", "Puppets Dangling", "Where Will You Go", "Watching The Moon", "Cabinet Of Curiosities", "The Riddle", "Lullaby", "Help Me Out", "Summer's Game", "Chameleon" and "The Ballad Of Little Jane". CD

Includes 30 tracks by the Oddballs, Max Lipscomb, Lonnie Miley, Kenneth Trent, Charlee Maybee, Lawrence Flippo & the Futuras, the Tempests, Del Swade, and Cuddles C. Newsome. CD

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... LP, Vinyl record album

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Crazy stuff – and a very fitting compilation of tracks designed to accompany the excellent Songs In The Key of Z book by Irwin Chusid. Chusid's book looks at the history of "outsider music" in the US – the odd fringes of the underground, where conventional expectations about music are thrown away in the mad vision of adventurous artists with a mission to create and express as never before. There's a few familiar names on here, but there's a lot more wild stuff that we've never ever heard before – and although the styles are a real mixup, the tracks are all united by their uniqueness and by Chusid's thoughtful production of the package. Titles include "Walking On The Moon" by Lucia Pamela, "Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" by Peter Grudzien, "Virgin Child Of The Universe" by Song-Poem, "In Canada" by BJ Snowden, "Cousin Mosquito #1" by Congresswoman Malinda Jackson Parker, "At The Grass Roots" by Sri Darwin Gross, and "They Told Me I Was A Fool" by Jandek. 20 tracks in all. CD

An overlooked gem from The Holy Modal Rounders – the group's fifth album, and a set that shows them moving into a slightly more subtle style than before – but still with plenty of their trademark touches intact! The work often has a sweetly folksy feel – one that conjures up the city-to-country modes of some of the Marin County bands of the time – with some sensitive lyrics and instrumentation, all produced beautifully down in Nashville by the legendary Bob Dorough – who was doing some surprising rock projects around this time. Despite the joke of the title, there actually is a timeless quality to this set – one that might almost make the record a good place to start if you've always been curious about the Rounders, but a bit intimidated by the fame of their earlier classics. Titles include "Black Bottom", "Spring OF 65", "Boobs A Lot", "Alligator Man", "City Blues", "The Whole World Oughta Go On Vacation", and "Melinda". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the most striking set in this ever-shifting series of releases from Matana Roberts – and one that shows his more advanced sonic sensibilities, in a mix of improvised jazz and more compositional settings! There's a vibe here that's almost like the more "serious" work of Roscoe Mitchell – at least in the way that reeds and strings interweave – yet Roberts, as always, brings a deeply personal approach to the music, with lots of shorter songs that weave more soulful elements amidst the avant expressions – which are served up by a lineup that includes Mike Pride on drums, Cory Smythe on piano, Darius Jones on alto, Mazz Swift on violin, and Mat Lavelle on alto clarinet and pocket trumpet. Kyp Malone brings in a bit of electronics, and there are vocalizations at points – on titles that include "A Caged Dance", "No Way Chastened", "Away Is Not An Option", "Shake My Bones", "Enthralled Not By Her Curious Blend", "Different Rings", "Predestined Confessions", and "We Said". LP, Vinyl record album

These days, pianist Billy Tipton is somewhat of a legend – largely because "he", was actually a "she", masquerading as a man, and making a name for her/himself as a moody interpreter of standards. Billy's talents on the keys are certainly not enough to get him remembered on his/her own – but the album's a nice one to have if you're curious about the myth, especially because it's got the famous cover image of the masculine Billy, sitting at the piano surrounded by two busty girls! In fact, you'll probably never play the record – with tracks like "Marie", "Delilah", and "Christopher Columbus" – but the cover's worth the price alone! LP, Vinyl record album

Rare lost work from one of the grooviest groups to work with UK production genius Joe Meek – instrumental combo The Tornados, a guitar-heavy group who were to England what The Ventures were to the US! Meek's production talents really opened up the sound of the group – taking their guitars and giving them all sorts of weird, space age sort of touches – but also keeping things rocking and catchy throughout, a blend that's always made The Tornados so great! Yet the group never issued that much music back in the day – which makes this 5CD package a real treasure trove of material to add to their catalog – lost session tapes that not only showcase their instrumental skills, but also Meek's different approaches to some tunes – as a number of cuts here are done in different variations, with different effects! The package features material from the sessions for the albums Telstar and Away From It All – plus two more CDs' worth of sessions for singles – and a full final CD of unreleased material and curiosities. CD

Alex Attias has always given us some really creative sounds in his own music – so we've got some mighty high expectations when he brings together a selection of tracks by other artists for BBE! Fortunately, the record not only lives up to those expectations, but does them one better – by opening us up to some overlooked contemporary cuts that all have the cosmic touches of Attias' work on the London scene – then interweaving them with some older tracks that resonate even more strongly in the territory! There's some wonderful work from recent years that show just how far the best side of the broken beat legacy has evolved – and other older cuts have a cosmic vibe that's plenty righteous too, with some great jazzy currents that really deepen the vibe of the collection. Titles include "Midnight Magic" by Cro Magnon with Roy Ayers, "My Dream Came True" by Root Soul, "Cascade" by Tatham Mensah Lord & Ranks, "Do The Dance" by Grooveman Spot, "Over & Over" by Material with Nona Hendryx, "Curiosity (Zanzibar rmx)" by Nicole Willis, "Could You Be Me (Theo's SS translation)" by Kathy Kosins & Paul Randolph, "Earth Overshoot Day (Hugo LX rmx)" by Cotonete, "Party Hardy (Alex Attias edit)" by Velvet Hammer, "Her Boyfriend Assesses His Value & Pleads His Case" by Kip Hanrahan, and "It's You (disco alert mix)" by Sunaga T Experience. CD

Raw rockabilly from Arkansas – with work by Bobby Brown & The Curious, plus Johnny Moore, K Owens, Chuck Comer, Earl Smith, and Bill Duniven! LP, Vinyl record album

This box set contains re-mastered versions of all the studio CDs and the rare bonus CD Cabinet of Curiosities. 17 CDs, 1 DVD and 180 pages of histories, chronology, testimony and commentaries by the band, sundry contemporary documents, and rare photographs - in a sturdy box. CD

A gem of a record from the lovely Joyce – a set recorded during the same key stretch as her early 80s albums for EMI – yet much more obscure! The album's got the same brilliant blend of jazz and bossa phrasing as her classics Agua E Luz and Feminina – and really brings Joyce's beautiful vocals to the forefront, with a strong focus on that fluid, jazzy style we totally love! Acoustic guitar is key to the instrumentation, yet there's also a few electric touches on keyboards – yet used quite softly, so that the presence of Joyce really dominates the record – but with a power that's greater than some of her more solo sets. Wonderful throughout –a nd with cuts that include "Nacional Kid", "Curioso", "Baracumbarra", "Tardes Cariocas", "Luz Do Chao", and "Ela". CD

Maybe the most striking set in this ever-shifting series of releases from Matana Roberts – and one that shows his more advanced sonic sensibilities, in a mix of improvised jazz and more compositional settings! There's a vibe here that's almost like the more "serious" work of Roscoe Mitchell – at least in the way that reeds and strings interweave – yet Roberts, as always, brings a deeply personal approach to the music, with lots of shorter songs that weave more soulful elements amidst the avant expressions – which are served up by a lineup that includes Mike Pride on drums, Cory Smythe on piano, Darius Jones on alto, Mazz Swift on violin, and Mat Lavelle on alto clarinet and pocket trumpet. Kyp Malone brings in a bit of electronics, and there are vocalizations at points – on titles that include "A Caged Dance", "No Way Chastened", "Away Is Not An Option", "Shake My Bones", "Enthralled Not By Her Curious Blend", "Different Rings", "Predestined Confessions", and "We Said". CD

A much-needed tribute to this genius power-pop trio – local Illinois legends who labored in the indie underground during the biggest years of disco and punk rock! Shoes were something else entirely – a no-nonsense group with a really tight power pop feel – easily one of the proudest of the Yellow Pills generation, with an ear for a hook and sharp guitar line to rival their Illinois contemporaries Cheap Trick – even though Shoes never broke nearly as big at the time. This set's the first full career-spanning collection of their music – and features lots of tracks from early albums like Present Tense, Black Vinyl Shoes, Tongue Twister, and Boomerang – plus a few choice bits from later years (these guys are still going today!) – all wrapped together with some wonderfully personal liner notes too. Titles include "She Satisfies", "Tomorrow Night", "Okay", "Girls Of Today", "Only In My Sleep", "Curiosity", "Get My Message", "Feel The Way That I Do", "Your Devotion", "Your Very Eyes", "Oh Angeline", "Burned Out Love", and "Torn In Two". CD

Shoes maybe look a bit too new wave on the cover, but still sound perfect within – very much in charge of that perfect yet understated approach to a tune that has gone on to make them legends in all the many years since this album was released! The group were never out to change the world, and maybe that held them back at the time – but they were also never trying for big chart success, or too-slick modes – and there's a wonderfully honest, down to earth approach to the songwriting and production that clearly sets the stage for all the bigger late 80s groups that would follow in their wake. Nearly every tune is a completely catchy mofo – and titles include "Curiosity", "In Her Shadow", "Double Talk", "The Summer Rain", "Under The Gun", "The Tube", and "What Love Means". CD

Three classic albums from Shoes, plus bonus tracks, and a full CD worth of rare material too! First up is Present Tense – a power-pop classic from Shoes – their first full length for Elektra Records, and a set that stands with all the best end of 70s gems from either coast! The songs are impeccable, and the group do a fantastic job of blending sharper guitars with really great lyricism – a mode that maybe makes the Illinois group a strong precursor for territory that The Replacements wouldn't hit until many years later – and which makes just about every track on the album a precious nugget that just gets better and better with time! Titles include "Now & Then", "Every Girl", "I Don't Wanna Hear It", "Three Times", "In My Arms Again", and "Too Late". On Tongue Twister, Shoes continue the brilliance of their first album for Elektra – serving up the kind of music that was so well-done, so subtle, it was maybe missed by most of the world at the time – even though it's gone onto the status of classic, thanks to legions of fans and critics! Shoes have a way with a tune that's unlike anyone else – maybe that compressed charm of Big Star, but fused into the sharper modes of the power pop years – but without any of the too commercial modes of some of the bigger groups of the time. Instead, the whole thing feels like you've just stumbled upon a brilliant band, playing in a backroom bar – which, unfortunately, is how Shoes spent too much of their career. Titles include "Only In My Sleep", "She Satisfies", "Found A Girl", "Hate To Run", "When It Hits", "Yes Or No", "Your Imagination", and "Girls Of Today". On Boomerang, Shoes maybe look a bit too new wave on the cover, but still sound perfect within – very much in charge of that perfect yet understated approach to a tune that has gone on to make them legends in all the many years since this album was released! The group were never out to change the world, and maybe that held them back at the time – but they were also never trying for big chart success, or too-slick modes – and there's a wonderfully honest, down to earth approach to the songwriting and production that clearly sets the stage for all the bigger late 80s groups that would follow in their wake. Nearly every tune is a completely catchy mofo – and titles include "Curiosity", "In Her Shadow", "Double Talk", "The Summer Rain", "Under The Gun", "The Tube", and "What Love Means". 4CD set features a huge amount of bonus material – 8 track demo versions of all three albums, added to their discs – and a bonus CD of 18 more rare tracks – all in a box, with a big booklet of notes! CD

The fantastic and nicely expanded Ace Story Vol 2 – the seminal series of one time vinyl only Ace Records compilations of standout late 50s/early 60s New Orleans R&B, with a bit of rock & roll & blues! Like Vol 1 of the CD revisit/revival, the 12 tracks from the original vinyl compilation are fleshed out with an addition dozen tracks that are just as great! It's steeped heavily is fantastic late 50s Crescent City R&B, jump blues and more – great stuff from Eddie Bo, Little Shelton, Jimmy Clanton, Huey Piano Smith, Earl King, Gene & Al's Spacemen, Big Boy Myles and more! 24 tracks in all: "Blow Wind Blow" by Junior Gordon, "Roberta" by Frankie Ford, "Sea Cruise" by Little Shelton, "Chickee Wah-Wah" by Bobby Marchan, "Curiousity" by Joe & Ann, "Teen Age Rock" by Little Booker, "Little Girl" by Earl King, "New Orleans" by Big Boy Myles, "Looped" by Joe Dyson with Johnny Collins and many more. CD

Alex Attias has always given us some really creative sounds in his own music – so we've got some mighty high expectations when he brings together a selection of tracks by other artists for BBE! Fortunately, the record not only lives up to those expectations, but does them one better – by opening us up to some overlooked contemporary cuts that all have the cosmic touches of Attias' work on the London scene – then interweaving them with some older tracks that resonate even more strongly in the territory! There's some wonderful work from recent years that show just how far the best side of the broken beat legacy has evolved – and other older cuts have a cosmic vibe that's plenty righteous too, with some great jazzy currents that really deepen the vibe of the collection. Titles include "Midnight Magic" by Cro Magnon with Roy Ayers, "My Dream Came True" by Root Soul, "Cascade" by Tatham Mensah Lord & Ranks, "Do The Dance" by Grooveman Spot, "Over & Over" by Material with Nona Hendryx, "Curiosity (Zanzibar rmx)" by Nicole Willis, and "It's You (disco alert mix)" by Sunaga T Experience. LP, Vinyl record album