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A legendary European recording by the Jimi Hendrix Experience – done for French radio in 1967, with a lot better fidelity than some of their other overseas bootlegs of the time! The show was captured at the Olympia Theater – with Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding on bass – burning with Jimi's lead on "Hey Joe", "Fire", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Rock Me Baby", "Purple Haze", "Wild Thing", "Stone Free", "Red House", and "Catfish Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Two of our favorite living improvisers – vibist Jason Adasiewicz and saxophonist Mats Gustafsson – each completely tremendous on their own, and even more amazing here together! We're not sure the musicians have ever recorded together before – and the sound of this album is way more than we might even have expected – a beautiful collaboration that brings out very sensitive sides of both artists, but at a level that's also true to greatest depths of their creative powers! Mats works these fantastic textures on alto, tenor, and baritone sax – alongside mostly vibes from Jason, who adds in a bit of balafon too – on selections that are often quite tuneful, and maybe even evoke a more soulful side of both musicians. Things are never too intense, but still push the boundaries too – and titles include "See Them Cold But See Them Last", "Time Is Less", "Valerie", "Memory Is A Voice", "A Fall They Call It", and "Dagger". CD

A monster album that's gone onto influence a generation – but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels – but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes – filled with politics, offbeat rhythms, and some very weird instrumentation. The whole thing's awash in moody, jazzy changes – of the style that showed up often in samples by Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, and other artists who drew keen inspiration from this record. Titles include the massive "Jagger the Dagger" – plus "The Lord Is Back", "Lovin Man", "Headless Heroes", "Freedom Death Dance", and "Supermarket Blues". CD

You could go 'round and 'round with music historians arguing whether or not this album, or Java Java Java or Aquarius Dub was the first full length dub LP, but it makes no difference to us, this is one mighty set of Perryisms, wrought in the pre-Black Ark era. There's a dozen of the Upsetter's finest rhythms rendered in dub versions here, and though he's uncredited on the sleeve, we've read that King Tubby was responsible for the wonderful reverb and mixing console action taking these tracks to the next level. Essential! Includes "Blackboard Jungle Dub (version 1)", "Rubba, Rubba Words", "Cloak A Dagger (version 3)", "Dreamland Dub", "Fever Grass Dub", "Sinsemilla Kaya Dub", "Moving Forward", "Kasha Macka Dub" and "Setta Iration Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

The one-and-only proper album from The Germs – one of the last great west coast punk records of the 70s! The sound is nice and raw, with recent Runaway and soon-to-be solo star Joan Jett handling the production – and she lets the Germs be the Germs, if ever so slightly less ragged than on the earlier singles. Darby's unique way of sneering and slurring the vocals at the same time are as killer as ever, as are Pat Smear's guitars. A classic! Includes "What We Do Is Secret", "Cummunist Eyes", "Richie Dagger's Crime", "Strange Notes", "Lexicon Devil", "Media Blitz", "The Other Newest One", "Let's Pretend", "Dragon Lady", "The Slave", and "Shut Down" (live). LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Chicago vibist Jason Adasiewicz and his Rolldown group – giving us some of the best vibes-led jazz in years! The group features players from the Chicago scene that are truly at the forefront of an exciting wave of modern jazz in the city, and anywhere else on the planet – coronet player Josh Berman, Aram Shelton on alto sax and clarinet, Frank Rosaly on drums, and Jason Roebke on bass – rolling along with sound that combines an avant energy with classic dexterity. The interplay is intuitive and dynamic, balancing tense and playful moments with precision. Wonderful! Includes "Green Grass", "Varmint", "Dagger", "Hide", "I Hope She Is Awake", "Punchbag" and "The Griots". CD

A monster album that's gone onto influence a generation – but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels – but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes – filled with politics, offbeat rhythms, and some very weird instrumentation. The whole thing's awash in moody, jazzy changes – of the style that showed up often in samples by Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, and other artists who drew keen inspiration from this record. Titles include the massive "Jagger the Dagger" – plus "The Lord Is Back", "Lovin Man", "Headless Heroes", "Freedom Death Dance", and "Supermarket Blues". CD

A monster album that's gone onto influence a generation – but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels – but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes – filled with politics, offbeat rhythms, and some very weird instrumentation. The whole thing's awash in moody, jazzy changes – of the style that showed up often in samples by Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, and other artists who drew keen inspiration from this record. Titles include the massive "Jagger the Dagger" – plus "The Lord Is Back", "Lovin Man", "Headless Heroes", "Freedom Death Dance", and "Supermarket Blues". CD

Seminal early dub work from Lee Scratch Perry – an album recorded in the same stretch as Blackboard Jungle Dub and Cloak & Dagger – but a record that's much more obscure than those two classics! That obscurity is no reflection on quality, though – as Rhythm Shower is superb, and maybe even more compelling in its rougher-edged presentation – as Lee works in material from Dillinger and Sir Lord Comic – with other, dubbier takes on Upsetters material – all with a super-heavy vibe that's amazing! Titles include "Skanking", "Rumpelsteelskin", "Operation", "Connection", "Kuchy Skank", "Django Shoots First", "Tighten Up", and "Double Power". LP, Vinyl record album

Daggerboard work here with the great west coast bassist Henry Franklin – aka Skipper, which you might know from his famous 70s albums for the Black Jazz label! Franklin's a talent who's been keeping the fires burning for decades on the west coast underground scene – and he's still a hell of a talent, and an equally great composer – as you'll hear here, when Daggerboard really lets him take the lead. If anything, Franklin's bass might be even more upfront in the mix than on some of his own recent albums – and the group's also joined here by the great Roger Glenn on vibes – another older west coast player who delivered a superb 70s album on Fantasy. The group's co-led by Erik Jekabson on trumpet and Gregory Howe on percussion – and some of the tracks also feature some great subtle use of a string quartet too. Titles include "Involuntary Separation", "Skipper's Garden", "Conception Point", "Video Culture", "Seven For Henry", and "Agapanthus". CD

The long awaited Cuban Linx Pt 2 from Raekwon – and one of those late model Wu Tang efforts that reminds us of how vital the Wu Tang were in their prime, as well as how sharp the still are when the moons align and the pieces fall into place! OBFCL Pt 2 is indeed one of those rare newer Wu sets that stands up proudly with the first wave. Sure, it's might not be an eternal classic, but the best stuff here is incredible. Rugged & raw, with intricate crack game noir from a master. 22 tracks in all: the bone chilling J Dilla beat backed gem "House Of Flying Daggers" feat Inspectah Deck, Ghostface and Meth, "Sonny's Missing" (produced by Pete Rock), "Cold Outside" feat Ghostface, "Black Mozart" feat RZA & Inspectah Deck, "Catalina" feat Lyfe Jennings and "About Me" (both produced by Dr Dre), "We Will Rob You" feat Slick Rick, Masta Killa & GZA, "Kiss The Ring" feat Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa, "10 Bricks" feat Cappadonna & Ghostface and many more. LP features two bonus tracks; "Walk With Me" & "Badlands". LP, Vinyl record album