Fantastic sounds from the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra – a group with family ties to Azymuth and Incognito, and who work here in the best blend of Brazilian and soulful elements that might imply! The ensemble is a crowning achievement for the Far Out label – a summation of all the great work they've done from the London scene, including their reintroduction of key Brazilian musicians of the 70s – all soaring to the skies here, with a richly collaborative energy! The group features lots of keyboards from Jose Roberto Bertrami, guitars from Alex Malheiros, and keyboards and rhythms from Daniel Maunick – plus great contributions from many others, including some help from the legendary Arthur Verocai. Most tunes groove in a mighty nice way – not vintage disco, but a soaring, righteous 21st Century version of club – on tunes that include "Step Into My Life", "Flying High", "Black Sun", "The Two Of Us", "Walking Bass", "Give It To Me", and "Where Do We Go From Here". CD also features bonus instrumentals of most songs on the album! CD

A really wonderful project that was years in the making – a mix of American club and Brazilian elements – put together by a group that includes members of Azymuth and Banda Black Rio, as well as the legendary Arthur Verocai! Jose Roberto Bertrami's the strongest contributor here – and the music really echoes that great late 70s/early 80s point when the Azymuth fusion groove crossed over into tighter, funkier territory – coming off here with a sound that's got really universal appeal and a wickedly classic vibe overall – like some unusual cross-breeding of Brazilian grooves and Salsoul Records! Vocals are by Mia Mendes and Marcina Arnold, but the instrumentation is even better than the lyrics – filled with jazzy touches, blended with bits of strings, and perfectly produced all the way through. Really tremendous stuff – one of the freshest records we've heard from Far Out in years – with titles that include "Mystery", "Keep Believing", "Dead Dance", "The Last Carnival", "A Disco Supreme", "Vendetta", and "Don't Cha Know He's Alright". 2CD set features 8 more bonus remix tracks too! CD

Hard to believe it's been 20 years since the Far Out label first started making wonderful music – because their sounds are always so ahead of their time, it's as if they're still coming to us from the future! This wonderful 2CD set perfectly sums up all that's great about Far Out – their longstanding commitment to Brazilian music, their London-based ear for new styles of expression, and their way of reaching out to the globe with a vision that's continued to captivate listeners around the world for the past two decades! CD 1 features key Far Out cuts – including "Meu Samba Torto" by Clara Moreno, "Escape" by Marcos Valle, "Samba Da Silvia" by Joyce, "Brisa Mar" by Sabrina Malheiros, "Aos Pes Do Redentor" by Banda Black Rio with Caetano Veloso, "Ups & Downs" by Kirk Degiorgio, "Vagalume" by Democustico, and "Agua" by Nina & Chris. CD 2 features a huge mix of 27 tracks all handled by Spiritual South – including 11 numbers that appear here for the first time ever! CD

A very hip set that goes way beyond the stock bass-heavy grooves that have been showing up on other Brazilian compilations in recent years – and a package that really does a great job of reintroducing roots to contemporary urban music in Brazil! The album offers up a Brazilian take on the heavy sound of the bass – served up here in ways that echo famous modes in hip hop, reggae, and Afro Beat – but all with a uniquely Brazilian twist as well Tracks feature a range of contemporary artists who are taking grooves past the heavy, bombastic sound of the favelas – refining things a bit more up top, while still holding onto the powerful presence of the bottom – through a range of instrumentation that includes both acoustic and electric touches, and some key nods to older Brazilian styles as well! There's a sophistication here that goes way past any booty-shaking cliches – and, quite frankly, beyond the cover art too! Titles include "Olhe O Fogo" by Os Nelsons, "Pequi Week Bar" by Sistema Criolina, "Caroco" by Nsista, "Eu Acho E Pouco" by Soraia Drummond, "Travessias" by Anton Dub, "Nao Deixe De Lutar" by Junior Dread, and "Te Amarrado (Mangaio rmx)" by O Quadro. CD

Spacey Far Out Brazilian grooves from the stellar label's roster – some of the wilder, more tripped out and psychedelic sounds on the label – from leftfield dancefloor grooves, to psych rock inspired grooves, to some of the more experimental numbers by Brazilian music legends! The 2CD set features numbers by Azymuth, Joyce, Binario, Jose Mauro and others – including a number of remixes that have never been released on CD before now! Includes "Apocalipse" by Jose Mauro, "Reza Brava" by Piri, "Tudo Bonito" by Joyce, "Black Magic" by Kirk Digeorgio Presents Offworld, "Caca A Raposa" by Azymuth, "Diretriz" by Binario, "Ao Amigo Quartin by Victor Assis Brazil, "Las Vegas" by Rabotnik, "Intergalactic You, Intergalactic Me" by Troubleman and many more. CD

Strictly Samba, and strictly great stuff – a mix of contemporary work from the Far Out label and a host of other artists too – almost all of whom work here in a relatively classic mode! Although most of the tunes are recent, they'd fit right next to some of your classic samba sides from years past – thanks to an adherence to rootsy percussion, acoustic instrumentation, and recording techniques that really let the vocals come through strongly – adding a bold sense of soul to the music that really makes it groove. The package is really well done – and the non Far Out tracks make it way more than a straight label sampler – with work that includes "Beleza Beleza Beleza" by Trio Mocoto, "Era Bom" by The Ipanemas, "Maria Jose" by Nereu Mocoto & Swing, "Swingue Do Samba" by Roge, "Foi Um Rio Que Passou Em Minha Vida" by Tereza Cristina E Grupo Semente, "Sorri Pra Nos" by Armando Marcal, "Na Cadencia Do Samba" by Grupo Batuque, "Tudo De Bom" by Arthur Verocai, "Jongo Jade" by Aparecindinha, "Casamento Na Favela" by Zaira, and "Samba De Silvia" by Joyce. CD

A really unusual little compilation – hardly anything that you might expect when you think of Hawaiian music – but that's kind of the lesson we've also been learning from the Aloha Got Soul label! Instead, the package brings together obscure recordings from the island state – tracks from the 60s, 70s, and 80s – many of which fall into a unique space that's really beyond any sort of easy categorization or genre – described on the cover as "sun-tinged folk" and "soft psych" – two phrases that only get at the tip of the iceberg of what's going on! Much of the music is laidback and mellow, but also has a sunny, breezy vibe that ever keeps things from being too sleepy – maybe touches of Cali soul and rock in the post-folk, post-Sunshine Pop world – but with a special sound that's as far from that scene as Hawaii is from the mainland. Titles include "Waves" by Harry Sonoda, "In Hawaii" by Dennis Soares, "Reb'll Echo" by Richard Reb'll, "Righteous Morning" by Gordon Broad, "Kaimu Sun" by Alice Wise, "Magic Sands" by Mofoya, "Revelation" by Burgess & Brooks, "High Tide" by Eddie Suzuki, "Garden In The Rain" by Merrell Fankhauser, and "How Many Times" by Lyle K'Ang. LP, Vinyl record album

A joyous celebration of the mighty Far Out label – now over a decade old, and still one of the most freshly creative companies around! Far Out is the brainchild of London DJ Joe Davis, who has a great way of bringing together older bossa-styled grooves with a fresher take on the genre. Joe's approach is really unique, and it's one that's neither subject with the overdone bossa-remix cliches that have cluttered the market in recent years, nor the too-sleepy bossa-revival jazz that's always nice to hear, but never that exciting. Far Out really has a tremendous way of putting over a groove – one that lets the artist work at their own pace, but which also seems to push them a bit further than they might otherwise go – a fact that's certainly apparent in the label's ability to revitalize the careers of older artists like Marcos Valle, Joyce, and Azymuth! The 16 track set features 5 previously unreleased tracks, plus some other overlooked treasures for the label – all very nicely packaged at a low low price! Titles include "O Tempo Samba" by Grupo Batuque, "Demoro" by Joyce, "Tanto Tempo (unplugged)" by Vertente, "Space Carnival (Global Communications rmx)" by Azymuth, "Nao Quero Nem Saber" by Sabrina Malheiros, "Agua" by Nina & Chris, "Espada De Prate" by Celia Vaz & APE, "Pez" by Troubleman, and "Valeu (4 Hero rmx)" by Marcos Valle & Joyce. CD

The return of a legend – and a tremendously groovy little record! Brazilian keyboardist/composer Antonio Adolfo's been making records for years – but easily his greatest albums were those cut at the end of the 60s with his Brazuka group – a cool combination of funky rhythms, electric keyboards, spacious production, and female vocals – all wrapped up with that glorious Blue Brazil sound of the EMI/Odeon label. Here, Adolfo recaptures that sound beautifully – returning to modes he hasn't touched in decades – and getting tremendous treatment from the Far Out label, who really help him hit that classic sound right. The record's an instantly timeless set that rivals all of Antonio's wonderful work from many years back – recorded with Adolfo on keyboards, live jazzy rhythms, a bit of strings, and twin harmony vocals from daughters Carol Saboya and Luisa Saboia – soaring out beautifully with a really groovy sound. The whole thing's wonderful – even better than you might expect – and titles include "Bola Da Vez", "Papo Furado", "Luizao", "Eu E Voce", "Tudo E Brasil", "Domingo Azul", "Tao Iguais", "SOS Amazonas", "Sonho Estelar", and "Dono Do Mundo". CD

A record with an unusual source, but a sound that puts it right up there with some of the most heavenly rare Brazilian albums of the 70s – served up here in a folksy, jazzy mix of acoustic and electric elements – all with help from heavyweights who include Victor Assis Brasil, Mauricio Einhorn, Durval Ferreira, and the Azymuth trio! The songs are based around creations by a Brazilian comedy duo, but they hardly sound anything like that at all – as they're easy-going, mellow-grooving, and have these vocals that flow beautifully amidst percussion, guitar, and keyboards! There are two monologue tracks in Portuguese – both with audience laughter – but all other tracks are sung, and delivered with some wonderful arrangements by Jose Roberto Bertrami and Jose Menezes. Titles include "Negra Brecho", "Ao Billilico", "Tema Do Azambuja", "A Turma", "Verde", "Maristela", and "O Poste Da Rua Jorge De Lima". LP, Vinyl record album

A very weird record – and an odd parody of both Os Novos Baianos and Caetano Veloso! The album's recorded live, and it's very much in the spirit of early work by Os Novos Baianos – with loads of tunes that have a funky samba style, with some nice rough touches – but there's also a laugh track to the set, clearly marking the record as a comedy effort! From what we know, the set's a parody of the artists named in the title, and their laidback approach to music – but since we can't really understand the lyrics, we just enjoy the grooves – as the record's got plenty of strong rootsy groovers that stand out, even if you can't get the jokes! Titles include "Ciranda", "Vo Bate Pa Tu", "Nega", "Cidadao Da Mata", "Folia De Rei", and "Dendalei". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant new vision for the legendary Banda Black Rio – the pioneering samba, soul and funk combo that broke so much ground in the 70s and remain vital to this day – led here by William Magalhaes, in a mode that celebrates decades of the best Brazilian music, while fearlessly moving it forward! William's father Oberdan Magalhaes was a driving force behind the original Banda Black Rio, and we couldn't really imagine a more appropriate new vision for the group than his son's. William wrote or co-wrote each track and he sings, plays keys and synth, guitar, bass, drums and more. The expansive group brings a depth of percussion, horns, strings and vocals – delivering timeless and dexterous jazzy Brazilian funk and dancefloor soul. The guest list includes classic and contemporary greats like Seu Jorge, Elza Soares, Marcio Local, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and others! Includes "Louis Lane" with Seu Jorge & Mano Brown, "Super Nova Samba Funk (9 No Samba)", "America Do Sul", "Isabela" feat Elza Soares and Cesar Camargo Mariano, "Samba Nova", "Quem Vem La" feat Marcio Local, "Deixa Estar" feat Aleh, "Lindos Olhos" feat Seu Jorge and Don Pixote, "Paname" feat Pyroman, "Final Feliz", "Irere" feat Gilberto Gil, "Aos Pes Do Redentor" feat Caetano Veloso and more. 16 tracks on the CD version. CD

A brilliant new vision for the legendary Banda Black Rio – the pioneering samba, soul and funk combo that broke so much ground in the 70s and remain vital to this day – led here by William Magalhaes, in a mode that celebrates decades of the best Brazilian music, while fearlessly moving it forward! William's father Oberdan Magalhaes was a driving force behind the original Banda Black Rio, and we couldn't really imagine a more appropriate new vision for the group than his son's. William wrote or co-wrote each track and he sings, plays keys and synth, guitar, bass, drums and more. The expansive group brings a depth of percussion, horns, strings and vocals – delivering timeless and dexterous jazzy Brazilian funk and dancefloor soul. The guest list includes classic and contemporary greats like Seu Jorge, Elza Soares, Marcio Local and others. Includes "Louis Lane" with Seu Jorge & Mano Brown, "Super Nova Samba Funk (9 No Samba)", "America Do Sul", "Isabela" feat Elza Soares and Cesar Camargo Mariano, "Samba Nova", "Quem Vem La" feat Marcio Local, "Deixa Estar" feat Aleha and "Lindos Olhos" feat Seu Jorge and Don Pixote. 8 tracks on the vinyl version. LP, Vinyl record album

A different groove than usual for Jose Roberto Bertrami – and a record that definitely lives up to the promise of its title! Bertrami's really broken free from the regular Azymuth groove on this set – much more so than on some of his recent solo albums – playing here with a vibe that's very jazzy at times, with a range of different modes – mod one minute, funky the next, and sweetly straight at other points! Jose Roberto handles his familiar Fender Rhodes on most tracks – but also plays a bit of organ and acoustic piano as well – and other instrumentation includes guitar, bass, and drums – plus added horns on some of the fuller, funkier tracks. A few tunes feature some great wordless vocals from Bertrami – scatting along with his keyboards in a warm and breezy way – and production on the set is great, thanks to the Far Out touch – never too smooth, and quite different from any of Bertrami's albums recorded in the US. Titles include "Laranjeiras", "Choro", "No Tempo Da Bossa", "O Pescador", "Ecstatic 70", "Brilliante", "Eighties Times", "Aventura", and "Maixa". CD

Two warmly wonderful numbers from Ricardo Bomba – both Brazilian jazz gems from the 70s! "Eu Sei" features really lovely female vocals in the lead – soaring in a Tania Maria-like way over the tune's loping funky bassline, guitar, and keyboard line from Bomba! "Flutando" has more great keyboards over a similarly soaring groove – and mighty nice use of a wordless female vocal! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A legendary early set from percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett – and a really sublime blend of spiritual jazz and Latin rhythms! Mora's percussion is definitely at the core – but the set also features wonderful contributions from Vincent Bowens on tenor and soprano sax, Jerome LeDuff on berimbau, Alberto Nacif on quinto, and Detroit jazz legend Kenny Cox on piano! There's a balance here that really matches the best Strata East energy of the 70s – an open, flowing approach that's completely sublime, and very righteous too – even more so than anything Mora's done since the 70s – making this record one of his greatest achievements ever. Tersa Mora sings a bit of vocals at times – and titles include "Afra Jum", "Five AM", "Rumba Morena", "Samba De Amor", and "Cultural Warrior". LP, Vinyl record album

A set recorded in Detroit, but one that's got a globe's worth of elements in the mix – originally recorded in the mid 80s, but not released until a brief CD issue in the early part of the 21st Century! Despite that history, the album's a really timeless record that encompasses a world's worth of elements in jazz! Francisco Mora Catlett's at the height of his powers here – leading the group with a sense of righteous majesty that takes us back to some of the most ambitious heirs of the post-Coltrane generation, but with perhaps an oddly rhythmic twist as well – such as you might find in some of the 70s classics of Bobby Vince Paunetto. Echoes of Latin, Afro, and spiritual jazz come together as one – soaring to the skies on soulful waves of sound – brought together with a sense of focus and spirit that really moves us a lot. Players include Marcus Belgrave and John Douglass on trumpets, Sherman Mitchell on trombone, Vincent Bowens on tenor and flute, Alex Harding on baritone and bass clarinet, Kenny Cox on piano, and Rodney Whitaker on bass – and titles include "Samba/Conga De Amor", "Amazona Prelude/Dawn", "Old Man Joe", "Por Que Paro", and "Afra-Jum (parts 2 & 3)". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of great albums back to back – both rare albums from a percussionist who worked with Sun Ra! First up is Mora volume 1 – a legendary early set from percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett – and a really sublime blend of spiritual jazz and Latin rhythms! Mora's percussion is definitely at the core – but the set also features wonderful contributions from Vincent Bowens on tenor and soprano sax, Jerome LeDuff on berimbau, Alberto Nacif on quinto, and Detroit jazz legend Kenny Cox on piano! There's a balance here that really matches the best Strata East energy of the 70s – an open, flowing approach that's completely sublime, and very righteous too – even more so than anything Mora's done since the 70s – making this record one of his greatest achievements ever. Tersa Mora sings a bit of vocals at times – and titles include "Afra Jum", "Five AM", "Rumba Morena", "Samba De Amor", and "Cultural Warrior". Mora 2 is a set recorded in Detroit, but one that's got a globe's worth of elements in the mix – originally recorded in the mid 80s, but not released until a brief CD issue in the early part of the 21st Century! Despite that history, the album's a really timeless record that encompasses a world's worth of elements in jazz! Francisco Mora Catlett's at the height of his powers here – leading the group with a sense of righteous majesty that takes us back to some of the most ambitious heirs of the post-Coltrane generation, but with perhaps an oddly rhythmic twist as well – such as you might find in some of the 70s classics of Bobby Vince Paunetto. Echoes of Latin, Afro, and spiritual jazz come together as one – soaring to the skies on soulful waves of sound – brought together with a sense of focus and spirit that really moves us a lot. Players include Marcus Belgrave and John Douglass on trumpets, Sherman Mitchell on trombone, Vincent Bowens on tenor and flute, Alex Harding on baritone and bass clarinet, Kenny Cox on piano, and Rodney Whitaker on bass – and titles include "Samba/Conga De Amor", "Amazona Prelude/Dawn", "Old Man Joe", "Por Que Paro", and "Afra-Jum (parts 2 & 3)". CD

A rare Brazilian album from the legendary keyboardist Deodato – recorded right around the same time as his classic CTI albums Prelude and Deodato 2 – but much more obscure! This set's got a similar electric vibe, but is much more compact – with maybe more organ than Rhodes, on tunes that are short, groovy, and very much to the point – graced with the kind of arranging genius that Eumir showed during the bossa nova years, but with a lot more soul and funk elements in the mix! The whole thing's very unique – not like any other Deodato album – and it was partly recorded in New York, with help from Phil Bodner and Romeo Penque on saxes and flute, and trumpet from Marvin Stamm. Titles include "Arranha Ceu" – a remake of his "Skyscrapers" – plus "Puma Branco", "Extremo Norte", "Menina", "O Jogo", "Flap", "Atire A 1a Pedra", and "Carlota E Carolina". LP, Vinyl record album

A whole new flavor of Brazilian jazz – served up by pianist Amaro Freitas, whose work on the Pernambuco scene is a great cross-crossing of modes! Freitas has all the fluid, modern elements of some of the better-known Brazilian pianists from Rio and Sao Paulo – but he also mixes in some rootsier elements to his music – still using conventional jazz instrumentation, but with lots of complexity in the rhythms – so much so, it's really hard to put an sort of easy label on his approach! The work of bassist Jean Elton and drummer Hugo Medeiros is equally great – and the trio cascade together in a way that we can't imagine any other group matching at all. A few tracks feature sax and flute from Henrique Albino – but the core trio dominates in a mighty nice way – on titles that include "Aurora", "Mantra", "Rasif", "Afrocatu", "Vitrais", "Dona Eni", and "Trupe". CD

A hell of a record from Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas – an artist we already loved before, but who's really stepping forth boldly with this release! Freitas has a way with the piano that's unlike anyone else we can think of – that freshness we maybe first felt when hearing a player like Robert Glasper many years back – and he works in a trio setting at a level that completely transforms the format – thanks in part to the very inventive assistance he gets from Jean Elton on bass and Hugo Medeiros on drums and percussion! If you think Freitas looks righteous on the cover, just wait until you hear his music – as he's definitely the real deal, and bound to be a big force in the jazz generation to come. Titles include "Malakoff", "Nascimento", "Sankofa", "Ayeye", "Vila Bela", "Baquaqua", and "Cazumba". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best new recordings in years from Brazilian reedman Leo Gandelman – a set that's got a lean, mean groove that's just right for the album's mix of samba, bossa, and jazz! Leo's right out front in the arrangements on saxes – but there's also a really unified groove on the set too – that old school bossa nova way of packing all the instruments together on the rhythms, creating this soaring sound that seems to unlock some of the most expressive solos we've heard from Gandelman in awhile. Some points have a slight dose of soul jazz energy too – as you might guess from the look of the cover – and the set also comes packaged with bonus video footage of most tracks too. Titles include "Luz Azul", "Sinal Vermelho", "Nego Ta Sabendo", "Vip Vop", "Reza" and "Camisa 7". CD

Jazzy samba from the Far Out label – the soundtrack the film Garrincha!! – Estrela Solitaria (The Lonely Star) – featuring a groovy mix of samba sounds, sultry & steamy jazz funk, percussion madness, more darkly cinematic grooves! The film is about the legendary Brazilian footballer of the 50s & 60s, and the sounds are truly evocative of the times and well beyond. Musical director and composer Leo Gandelman is on saxes, flutes and more, backed feverish percussion & drums, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass, guitar, piano and cello. Titles include "Abertura", "Chile", "Samba Authentico", "Na Florsta", "Iraci", "Samba Latino", "DribleDe Cadeira", "Bota Jazz" and more. CD

Possibly the best album ever by this excellent Brazilian percussive combo! The record begins the groove where the group's other albums started – by taking hard batucada rhythms, and tight samba grooves – but it also adds in a bit tighter production, and shows a marked commitment to hitting the same sort of dancefloor groove that you'd expect from other work on Far Out. Wilson Das Neves and Robertinho Silva are at the head of the percussion team – and tracks include "Roda Baiana", "Bo", "Batucumba", "Taruma", "Berimbal Capoeira", and "Read Between The Lines". CD

Another modern samba gem from the long-running Grupo Batuque – with a different sound than previous work and (we believe) a substantially re-tooled line-up – but don't fret, because this is a wonderful effort! The Brazilian percussion backbone of previous Grupo Batuque work is augmented on this album with a 70s soul jazz vibe fused with modern sounds – plus some of the African and hybridized elements we've come to expect! It has a positively sparking production, courtesy of Roc Hunter, and a clean sound that goes down surprising well with the persistent, thumping percussion, melodic vocals and sporadic modern elements. The crew seems to be spearheaded this time out by multi-instrumentalist Ivan Conti and percussionist/vocalist Cidinho Moreira – with vocals by Fabiola, Claudemir De Silva and others, percussion by Pirulito, cavaquinho by Lincoln De Lima, keys by Nico Resende and Marcos Nimrichter, bass and guitar by Alex Malheiros, horn arrangements by Leo Gandleman, trumpet by Bidinho and more! Another contender from Far Out Records! 18 tracks in all: "Bom Pra Kalimba", Cavasamba Um (edit)", "Nacao Tupi (edit)", "Afro Black", "O Tempo Do Samba Um (edit)", "Batucada Maneira", "Ida E Volta", "Cavasamba Dois (edit)", "Jacone", "Maracutaia", "Saldacao", "Mae Iemenja", "O Tempo" and more. CD

A Brazilian tribute to football – but one that's given a distinctly London twist – as core rhythms by Wilson Das Neves, Dom Um Romao, and others are mixed up and augmented by Da Lata, Zero dB, Roc Hunter, Fauna Flash, and Osunlade! The album's got a depth and compelling quality that goes far beyond other records by Grupo Batuque – as tightly-played percussion riffs are mixed with sound effects, crowd noise, and commentary from football games – all in a rich sonic tapestry that goes past simple samba or batucada! The whole thing's almost like an audio document to the greatness of the sport and its importance in Brazilian culture – but thanks to the globe-spanning efforts of Far Out, the added production help should help settle more than a few disputes at the World Cup! Titles include "Torcida Do Flamengo", "E Ruim (Zero dB rmx)", "Ole Ola", "Isto E Samb", "Na Cancao Do Samba", "Ole Ola (Fauna Flash rmx)", "Na Batida Do Agogo (Osunlade rmx)", and "Berimbal Capoeira (Da Lata rmx)". CD

Jneiro Jarel has always been way more than just a hip hop producer – even his earliest records were a bit hard to peg, and this excellent set not only pushes that bar forward a heck of a lot, but it also firmly suits the album's placement on the Far Out label! Far Out's best known for its recordings of Brazilian music – and there's some surprising currents of that scene here – amidst funkier bits, spacier sounds, and this wonderful weaving of so many different elements, both acoustic and electric – all done without any sort of gimmick, or that style that others might have – of hiding their real skills or ideas behind to much front-end production. Instead, Jneiro really lets things flow at an organic level – and opens the door along the way for guests who include Jarel Gilyard, Capital Peoples, Mel Owens, Bill Summers, and Dr Who Dat. Percussion and acoustic elements are more important here than some of the previous hip hop touches – and there's a cosmic vibe to the record that's very much in keeping with its cover. Titles include "Africa Bahia Sol", "If I Could See Heaven Without Dying", "Ce Les Tial", "Sunwakers (parts 2 & 3)", "Let The Cuica Play", and "Broken Arted". CD

Plenty cool sounds from Joyce – a lady who's always been the definition of the world used in the title – thanks to her totally unique, totally wonderful style! The album's one of a number of recent gems that have Joyce really going back to basics – hitting that soaring blend of vocals and acoustic guitar that first made her 70s recordings so great, cut here with small combo instrumentation that includes Tutty Moreno on drums and Helio Alves on piano. But the real charm, as always, comes from Joyce – the way she works her voice, plays her guitar, and ties the two of them together in a manner that's unlike anyone else – a sound inspired by bossa, inflected by jazz, but totally her own throughout. Familiar tunes get completely remade with the approach – as you'll hear on the set – which includes these sublime Joyced-up versions of "Cool", "Let's Do It", "Love For Sale", "Fever", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Invitation", and "Moon River" – all sounding very unique, and plenty darn cool! CD

Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's still working out some nutty time signatures here – but apart from the science, the thing that really makes the record cook is Desmond's alto – icy, edgey, floating, and always a treat – almost even more amazing in the space of some of these offbeat numbers. Titles include "Maori Blues", "Far More Drums", "Bluetee", "Far More Blue", and "It's A Raggy Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Ellington's greatest albums of the 60s – and a record tinged with Eastern themes and darkly angular modern arrangements. The group here features Ellington stalwarts Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, and Rufus Jones – and the players work together tightly to craft the suite of tracks based on Ellington's impressions of recent travels through the Mid and Far East during the 60s. Titles include "Tourist Point Of View", "Isfahan", "Depk", "Mount Harissa", "Amad", "Agra", and "Blue Pepper". Plus, the CD reissue features 4 alternate takes not on the LP! CD

With Pony Poindexter on alto saxophone, Harold Land on tenor saxophone, Buddy Montgomery on piano, Monk Montgomery on bass, and Louis Hayes and Tony Bazley on drums, . CD

Classic stuff – Rudy's first album, and a fitting launch to his famous career of party records and live club performances! The cover's got Rudy in front of a nude black model, laying back on the couch, and encouraging him to do the thing that's implied by the title – but the record itself is far more creative than just a bit of nasty words and sexy references. Rudy's at the top of his game here, bad rapping over a bit of music in a landmark effort that set the stage for countless other party records to come – but which is still presented here in one of its strongest examples. The set kicks off with an extended take on "Dolemite", with other tracks that include the funky groover "You Could Be Ugly Too", plus "Pimpin Sam", "So Glad I Could Come", and "Ballad Of A Boy & Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of rare dub albums – back to back in a single set, with bonus tracks too! On A1 Dub, Blacka Morwell serves up some massive dub – working at Channel 1, for an obscure album on Trojan Records – but maybe coming across with some of the richness of the Island Records generation! There's a fullness to the sound that's wonderful – top-to-bottom completely solid, and often highly focused on the rhythms, but also always using one key instrumental element on each cut – a bit of organ here, a weeping guitar there, or even an odd sonic element – always given center stage in the spotlight, and set apart from the rest of the mix in a really great way. Titles include "Downtown Rebel", "Well Crucial", "Different Style", "West Side Ranking", "Pressure Rock", "Blackboard Jungle", and "Waterpump Skank". Next is Cry Tuff Dub Encounter 4 – from Prince Far I & The Arabs – an almost seamless set of dub instrumentals, recorded at Channel One in 1981 – the underground Jamaican groove, but maybe given a slightly better sound quality overall – that good mix of indie and professional that was the Trojan Records calling card as the 70s moved on! A crisp upfront production style separates this one from some of its dub predecessors – but the record has a great analog dub sound, with many effects and instruments echoing in and out of the mix. Titles include "Lion Stone", "Foundation Stepper", "Sound Gesture", "Destruction Sound Battle", and "Stone African Ground". And if that's not enough, the whole thing features a whole CD of bonus material – rare tracks taken from the 12" Attack series by Trojan Records – with cuts that include "Jammin For Survival" by Jammy's At The Controls, "Bali Hi Special" by The Sowell Radics, "Fuss & Fight Dub" by Eddie Fitzroy, "Ball Of Fire" by Bim Sherman, "Stand & Look Dub" by Fat Man All Stars, "Caring For My Sister" by Scientist & Roots Radics, "Won't You Come On (dub)" by Witty's All STars, "Babylon Wrong Dub" by Ashanti Waugh, and "Cool Pon Your Corner Version" by Barry Brown. CD

Four fantastic albums from the legendary Prince Far I! The set begins with the classic Free From Sin – Great early work from Prince Far I – a stunning mix of reggae and dub, with a righteous quality that really gives the prince his title amongst 70s Jamaican royalty! Backing is by a version of the Roots Radics – with the excellent Style Scott on drums, Errol Holt on Bass, Bingy Bunny, Sowell and Chinna Smith on guitar, Bobby Kalphat and Snappin on keys, Bobby Ellis and Deadly Headly on horns, and Bongo Herman and Ras Millinek on percussion – but the real key to the sound is the way that Prince Far I produces the whole thing, and mixes his own sinister vocals with the heady, bottom-heavy rhythms – all with a quality that matches Lee Scratch Perry at his best! Titles include "Free From Sin", "Light Of Fire", "Reggae Music", "I & I Are the Chosen One", "Don't Deal With Folly", "Call On I In Trouble", "When Jah Ready You Got To Move", and "Siren". Jamaican Heroes is a totally great album by Prince Far I – and a set that already shows him building that crucial London/Kingston bridge that would be such a big part of his sound! The album features work from Sly & Robbie, and the killer drums of Style Scott on rhythm – but also includes contributions by London hipsters Viv Albertine & Ari Up (of the Slits), and David Toop (noted music writer and historian) – quite a mix, and all brought together wonderfully by the Prince's production, and really unique vocal approach. Titles include "Jamaican Heroes", "Prison Discipline", "Musical History", "Natty Champion", and "Golden Throne". Next up is a classic from Prince Far I – Voice Of Thunder couldn't be a more appropriate album title or moniker! Recorded at Channel One in 1981 with incredible analog dub production, it fully carries the grit, murk, heavy and heady soul of the 70s into the new decade –even if the sound is ultimately a bit different then the what he delivered in the 70s. That thunderous voice toasting over the rhythms is as incredible as ever – over the commanding bass of Professor Larry Silvera, tripped out drums & percussion by Jah Lloyd & Scully, occasional swirling keys by Steely, Tarzan and Tony Asher and the other great Channel One players. Titles include "Ten Commandments", "Every Time I Hear The Word", "Head Of The Buccaneer", "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness", "Skinhead", and "Hold The Fort". Musical History is one of the last albums ever issued by Prince Far I – and a set that marks a fantastic cap to a too-short career! The Prince's vocal contributions are as impeccable as his dubby production work – and titles include "At The Cross", "More We Are Together", "Take Heed Frontline", "What You Gonna Do On Judgement Day", and "Tell Them About Jah Love". CD

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Mad music that you might never have heard otherwise – the fantastic fifth installment in this excellent series inspired by The Cramps – and maybe the deepest-digging so far! There's no holds barred here – both in the source of the material, and the style – and the main criteria just seems to be finding tracks that are as way-out and wild as possible – almost all of which are pulled from the 45rpm underground of the late 50s and early 60s! The "jukebox" in the title is well-placed – as most of these cuts are mad rompers that would really liven up a nightclub – but we also can't imagine there ever being any jukebox as hip as this one, to bring all these fantastic singles together. Titles include "Icky Poo" by The Nomads, "Pimples & Braces" by Ric Gary, "Fling" by The Phaetons, "Laffin Beatnik" by Johnny Beeman, "Bop Crazy Baby" by Vern Pullens, "Boom Stix" by Curley & The Jades, "Cannibal Stew" by Jerry & Mel, "Talk About A Party" by Lee Braun, "Mad Gass" by The Royal Teens, "Mama's Place" by Bing Day, "Mo Taters" by The Earthworms, "I'm The Wolfman" by Round Robin, "A Logger's Wife" by Buzz Martin, and "Strollie Bun" by The Blonde Bomber. CD

A great little package, and way more than just the familiar exotica moments on mainstream compilations – as your guides here are Lux Interior and Poison Ivy of The Cramps – two folks who know more than plenty about the music of the farther reaches of the postwar years! And although their other collections for this label have gone way out to pull in some totally obscure material, the blend here is more measured – so that you'll get great cuts by some of the bigger exotica names, mixed with other numbers that are more unusual – and some that we wouldn't have even thought to include in such a package – all awash in sounds from the islands, tropical percussion, and even a few birdcalls and chants along the way! The 2CD set features a great range of material – and titles include "The Twisters" by Mel Henke, "Hampi" by Yma Sumac, "Mystery Of Love" by Olatunji, "Jardin De La Noche" by Robert Drasnin, "Mood For You" by Phil Moore, "Alegres Conga" by Cal Tlader, Envy" by Bill Russo, "Kele Kele" by Johnny Richards, "African Bossa Nova" by Ahmed Abdul Malik, "Tabu" by Augie Colon, "Pua Carnaeon" by Arthur Lyman, "Adventures In Paradise" by Leo Addeo, "Dance Of The Nustas" by Elisabeth Waldo, "Pagan Love Song" by Alex Stordal, "Balikpapan" by Jimmy Namaro Trio, and "Train To Ranchipur" by Markko Polo Adventurers. CD

Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's still working out some nutty time signatures here – but apart from the science, the thing that really makes the record cook is Desmond's alto – icy, edgey, floating, and always a treat – almost even more amazing in the space of some of these offbeat numbers. Titles include "Maori Blues", "Far More Drums", "Bluetee", "Far More Blue", and "It's A Raggy Waltz". CD features 2 bonus tracks "Slow & Easy" and "It's A Raggy Waltz (live at Carnegie Hall)". CD

Features Joe Henderson on tenor, John Scofield on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Al Foster on drums. CD

The third album of fierce, funky dub from The Revolutionaries – music that's great enough on its own, even without its promise of undressing your dance partner! The work here is in the best territory of classic dub – clear, clean rhythms that have a power in their starkness – then given some slight additional twist by the studio work of Scientist, who never goes as far out here as in some of his later work – and realizes that he can do a hell of a lot with just a little, by inflecting all the right moments on the instrumental tunes. Titles include "Friction Dub", "Runnings", "Germain Style", "DJ's Special", "Murderous Dub", "Gully Bank Rock", and "Hostile Behaviour". CD

A club crossover classic from The Rolling Stones – a track that surprisingly got the group onto the dancefloor in the late 70s, but which still held onto most of their best elements! Although sometimes panned as a cheap disco cash-in effort by some, the tune is actually pretty darn great – a gritty little tune that relies on heavy vamping, rolled-out guitar parts, and one of the catchiest vocal hooks that Mick Jagger had sung in years. Harmonica completes the sound, and the whole thing's got a bluesy undercurrent that's totally great! 7-inch, Vinyl record

With Erroll Garner on piano, John Simmons on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums. Tracks include "Laura", "Petite Waltz", "When You're Smiling", "It Could Happen To You" and "How High The Moon". CD

A classic from Prince Far I – Voice Of Thunder couldn't be a more appropriate album title or moniker! Recorded at Channel One in 1981 with incredible analog dub production, it fully carries the grit, murk, heavy and heady soul of the 70s into the new decade –even if the sound is ultimately a bit different then the what he delivered in the 70s. That thunderous voice toasting over the rhythms is as incredible as ever – over the commanding bass of Professor Larry Silvera, tripped out drums & percussion by Jah Lloyd & Scully, occasional swirling keys by Steely, Tarzan and Tony Asher and the other great Channel One players. Titles include "Ten Commandments", "Every Time I Hear The Word", "Head Of The Buccaneer", "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness", "Skinhead", and "Hold The Fort". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic music, with a sound that's as hip as the image on the cover – not jazz as we know it here in the US, but a wonderful hybrid of our own musical roots with elements of Sudanese music – all delivered with a very postmodern mish-mash of styles, and a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The blend is a bit like some of the hybrids that were occurring in Ethiopian music at the time – and is maybe as unique as some of those classic recordings – with vocals that have a stretched-out style with lots of inflections, set up next to jagged rhythms that often have as much guitar in the groove as percussion, topped with offbeat reed passages that use lots of very cool tuning! Maybe the best release so far from this wonderful label – with titles that include "El Bambi", "Ya Shagini", "Aziza", "Malak Ya Saly", "Argos Farfish", and "Kamar Dawa". CD

Really fantastic music, with a sound that's as hip as the image on the cover – not jazz as we know it here in the US, but a wonderful hybrid of our own musical roots with elements of Sudanese music – all delivered with a very postmodern mish-mash of styles, and a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The blend is a bit like some of the hybrids that were occurring in Ethiopian music at the time – and is maybe as unique as some of those classic recordings – with vocals that have a stretched-out style with lots of inflections, set up next to jagged rhythms that often have as much guitar in the groove as percussion, topped with offbeat reed passages that use lots of very cool tuning! Maybe the best release so far from this wonderful label – with titles that include "El Bambi", "Ya Shagini", "Aziza", "Malak Ya Saly", "Argos Farfish", and "Kamar Dawa". LP, Vinyl record album

A key comeback moment for Arthur Alexander – arguably one of the first great soul talents to rise from the south at the start of the 60s, but an artist who'd fallen far from fame by the time of this early 90s set! The record was cut at a time when Alexander had all but given up music, and was driving a bus in Cleveland – but it shows a singer who's lost none of his power over the years, and who's very much at home with his own songs. Production is by Ben Vaughn, and while it's possibly not as "authentic" as some of that done on soul revival sets in recent years, we actually like it all that much more for that. Instrumentation is mostly small combo, and features plenty of piano and organ from Spooner Oldham, guitar from Dan Penn, and work by other soul studio luminaries – on titles that include "If It's Really Got To Be This Way", "Go Home Girl", "Every Day I Have To Cry", "Lonely Just Like Me", "All The Time", "There Is A Road", and "Mr John". CD