Eduardo Araujo cut some more soul-based music in Brazil during the 60s – but here, he's weaving together all different strands and styles – going for a blend that both takes on rootsier modes, but also has some of the fuzzier rock-based elements of the post-Tropicalia years too – with guitar by the man himself, and help from a nice lineup of very hip rock and soul musicians! Things get a bit straightforwardly funky at points, but are nicely complex at others – and titles include "Misturando Rock Com Baiao", "Opanige", "Ter O Que Eu Tenho Sem Voce", "Sou Filho Deste Chao", "Capoeira", and "Girassol". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The great CD release of two previous albums from this hip contemporary combo – two vinyl albums back to back on a single CD! Both albums have a fantastic blend of jazz, contemporary soul, and hip hop – served up by a group who can really get the sound right – Terrace Martin on keyboards and alto, Robert Glasper on keyboards, Kamasi Washington on tenor, and 9th Wonder on beats! Vocals on most tracks are by Phoelix, who really helps give the instrumentation some focus – yet the jazz component of the record is never buried under the lyrics, as the players get plenty of space to do their thing – with a vibe that's a bit like some of Glasper's Black Radio project, yet given much more the kind of cool Crenshaw vibe that we've loved in Martin's previous records. All four artists are credited with songwriting and production and you can really hear that balance in the sound – on tracks that include "Love You Bad", "Sleepless Nights", "The Mighty Tree", "Freeze Tag", "Luv U", "Sleepless Nights", and "From My Heart & Soul". The Dessert album offers up a reworked version of the core record – with titles that are partly remixes, partly reworks – with guest appearances from Snoop Dog, Cordae, Herbie Hancock, Reuben Vincent, and others! CD

An incredible album – one of the greatest rock albums of the 60s, and a record we'd place right up there on the shelf next to Pet Sounds or Forever Changes! The arrangements are sublime – proof that the Zombies were growing way past just a simple Brit Invasion style, into a world of complicated orchestrations, subtle songwriting, and some of the most baroquely beautiful vocals ever recorded in the service of pop music! The whole thing's amazing – the kind of essential record we never tire of – and tracks include "Changes", "Care of Cell 44", "Rose For Emily", "Hung Up On A Dream", "Friends Of Mine", and "Butcher's Tale". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album – one of the greatest rock albums of the 60s, and a record we'd place right up there on the shelf next to Pet Sounds or Forever Changes! The arrangements are sublime – proof that the Zombies were growing way past just a simple Brit Invasion style, into a world of complicated orchestrations, subtle songwriting, and some of the most baroquely beautiful vocals ever recorded in the service of pop music! The whole thing's amazing – the kind of essential record we never tire of – and tracks include "Changes", "Care of Cell 44", "Rose For Emily", "Hung Up On A Dream", "Friends Of Mine", and "Butcher's Tale". Plus, this CD version features bonus mono mixes of the whole set of tracks, plus bonus alternate mixes of "Rose For Emily" and "Time Of The Season", and the backing track for "Prison Song". CD

Richly complicated material that really fits the incredible voice of Lenita Bruno! Titles include "Cantigas", "Casinha Pequenina", "Conselhos", "Modinha", and "Se Os Meus Suspiros Pudessem". LP, Vinyl record album

Bossa piano, harmony vocals, and a sound that's unlike anyone else – heard here in some really classic sides by Brazil's legendary Tamba Trio! The group had a way of approaching a groove that was (and is) truly revolutionary – a sound that not only carried some of the freshest, most modern elements of 60s bossa – but which also encouraged a newly spacious approach overall, thanks to the mighty arranging talents of pianist Luiz Eca! This set features some of the group's greatest sides – and is a perfect introduction to their work – with titles that include "Mas Que Nada", "Reza", "Tamba", "Barquinho", "O Samba Da Minha Terra", "Influencia Do Jazz", and "Se Eu Pudesse Voltar". LP, Vinyl record album

The Houseplant series really takes off with this killer triple-LP set – a massive batch of funk and soul, both old and new – presented here in a really great assortment of modes! There's some great deep tracks from the 70s here, alongside some well-chosen contemporary cuts from the international funk underground – plus a few other assorted surprises along the way – keeping the label's strong reputation for serving up a record that's way different than the standard funk compilation! Titles include "Short Stopping" by Veda Brown, "What's Good For You" by Harvey Scales, "Little Saddy" by Andre Ethier, "The Devastator" by Stormy, "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "Slide" by Adesse Versions, "Gettin Funky Round Here" by Black Nasty, "Love Theme From Spartacus" by Yusef Lateef, "Town Called Nowhere" by Skip Mahoney & The Casuals, "Blind Alley" by The Emotions, "Blah Blah Blah" by Saun & Starr, "Gotta Let Me Know" by Breakestra, "Jamaica Ska" by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, "Legend In My Own Mind" by The Stepkids, "Lament 1" by Dustin Laurenzi, "Trouble" by Frederick Knight, "The Echo" by Epsilons, "A Little Bit More Won't Hurt" by Bettye Crutcher, "The Who Who Song" by Jackie Wilson, and "Don't Stop" by The Bar Kays. LP, Vinyl record album

Disco sounds from the Caribbean scene of the 70s – a really unique mix of regional styles with the kind of rhythms that were coming from New York and Philly at the time! The groove here is really unique – even different than some of the reggae or African disco numbers of the time – as the sunny style of Trinidad & Tobago and other islands turns out to be a perfect fit for clubby elements – mixing riffing instrumentation with playful lyrics that would have been right at home in older musical modes, but which are tuned just right here to match the energy of the disco generation. And these cuts have an appeal that goes way beyond any sense of novelty or gimmick – often served up with a soulfulness that meets or beats mainstream US disco of the period. Hats off to Cultures of Soul for bringing all these great grooves together – on a set that includes "Dance With Me" by Odessey One, "Feel Like Dancing" by Levi John, "Instant Funk" by Merchant, Be Yourself" by Mighty Duke, "The Rebels" and "Living On A String" by Wild Fire, "Peace Without Love" by Ronnie Butler And The Ramblers, "Rockers Delight" by Prince Blackman (a nicely simmering Jamaican funk take on "Rappers Delight"), "Got To Have You" by Joanne Wilson, "Disco Music" by Trinadad Troubadours – plus the bonus tracks "Got To Have You (Whiskey Barons Rework)" and "Dance With Me (Al Kent Version)" by Odessey One. LP, Vinyl record album

A true treasure trove for any fan of the Zombies, Rod Argent, or Colin Blunstone – magical material recorded in the immediate post-Zombies years – offered up here with a few rare late Zombies tracks as well! The genius of Odessey & Oracle still hangs heavy here on most of the tracks – as does the earliest solo work of Colin Blunstone – an airy mix of pop harmonies, spacey instrumentation, and baroquely psychedelic touches – all strung together lightly, but slowly pulling in the different directions the members were taking after the breakup of the original group. Perhaps the greatest bits here are Colin Blunstone tracks recorded under the name of Neil MacArthur for Decca – titles that predate his brilliant Year One album, but which have a very similar feel. Neil MacArthur tracks include "Hung Upside Down", "Without Her", "Twelve Twenty Nine", "World Of Glass", "Never My Love", "It's Not Easy", "Don't Try To Explain", and "She's Not There". Also great are some Rod Argent & Chris White tracks – again pre-Argent material, but with a strong Zombies link in their sound – on tracks that include "It Never Fails To Please Me", "I Could Spend The Day", "She Loves The Way They Love Her", "Telescope", "To Julia", and "Unhappy Girl". CD also features some great "orchestral mix" titles by The Zombies – "If It Don't Work Out" and "Walking In The Sun" – both of which sound beautiful with added strings! CD

The lovely Marilia Medalha turns her talents to a host of songs penned by Vinicius De Moraes – all numbers done in collaboration with the singer, at a level that's quite different than some of the other Vinicius projects of the time! The poet produced the set, and arrangements are by Edu Lobo and Chiquinho De Moraes – who both bring in this warmly sophisticated style that really makes things interesting – charts handled with that special care that Edu always had for his best work – with a blend of fullness in the setting, but never in a way that overwhelms the vocals. Medalha's got this well-paced, sometimes spacious approach to the music that really opens up the tunes – and titles include "Mr Toquinho", "Se O Amor Pudesse", "Moinho D'Agua", "Algum Lugar", "Ausencia", "Sagarana", "Meu Tempo", and "Distante". LP, Vinyl record album