Amazing music from Laurance Vanay – actually a recording name for Jacqueline Thibault, a hell of a great keyboardist but an artist the label thought would be better off billed as a man! The sound here is halfway between the spacey experiments of Brian Eno and Cluster, and some of the more ambitious sound library work of the time – particularly those rare moments when prog artist got to do some studio work! Thibault's keyboards are wonderful – lots of Fender Rhodes mixed with Hammond and early synth – usually spun out at an instrumental level that has the tunes building slowly in these really great layers of sound – almost like a Popol Vuh soundtrack, but a lot more tuneful too. There's a fragile complexity that really makes the music special – and unlike anything we've ever heard from the European scene of the time – and titles include "Alone In The Rain", "Evening Colours", "Forgotten Moments", "Twin Cities", "Eyes Closed On The Way", "Sunshine In My Heart", and "Underwater Light Reflection". CD features a huge amount of bonus tracks – includign "Mamie"," Mop", and "Fausse Fn" – plus alternate takes of songs on the album. CD

Late Ben Webster – recorded with a freer approach than some of his 50s sides, working in a live setting with a rhythm group that includes Kenny Drew on piano, Neils Henning Orsted Pederson on bass, and Alex Riel on drums. Tracks include "I Can't Get Started", "Londonderry Air", "My Romance", and "Blues For Herluf". LP, Vinyl record album

Not a selection of pop music from Angkor, but instead a Cambodian tribute to Iggy Pop – served up here in a selection of contemporary recordings from that scene, each of which offers up a different vision of the famous shirtless one! Most of the songs are covers of tracks that Iggy recorded on his own, or with The Stooges – and while there's definitely a strong inspiration from the originals, the execution maybe feels more like the music of that 80s generation who were so taken with Iggy's music, then made their own version of fuzz and frenzy. Titles include "Gimme Danger" by Nightmare AD, "No Fun" by The Schkoots, "The Passenger" by Cambodian Space Project, "I'm Bored" by Kampot Playboys, "Wanna Be Your Dog" by Doch Chkae, "Funtime" by The Bat Bangers, and "TV Eye "by Professor Kinski. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare sounds from the UK underground of the mid 80s – work from a post-post-punk period that's come to be known as the cold wave – when electronic musicians who weren't sucked into the pop mainstream went deeper down and created some really wonderful sounds on their own! Most of the tracks here were only ever issued on cassette – which makes them even more lost to the sands of time than vinyl from the period – and the music has a rich blend of different analogue electronic modes that takes us from the moodier sounds of early Sheffield and Manchester to some of the warmer work of the Rough Trade or Cherry Red scenes. A few cuts here are appearing for the first time ever – and titles include "Don't Surrender" by WeR7, "Age Of Lights (inst)" by Modern Art, "Pigst Cafe" by Mystery Plane, "Space Is The Bass" by The Lord, "Beyond Reason Beyond Time" by Disintegrators, "Lives Of Angels" by Lives Of Angel, and "Tease" by Berserk In A Hayfield. CD

A heady brew of rare electronic tracks – and a package that's every bit as wonderful as the first Cold Waves volume! Like that set, this one really digs deep in the post-punk electronic underground – and features a lot of tracks that are appearing here on vinyl – either because they only saw original issue as cassette material, or because they were never issued at all – lost in the shifting sands of the time, in a generation that was dominated by bigger names like Cabaret Voltaire or New Order! These guys travel in similar, but much darker territory – and songs are often the best stark illustration of the cold wave style – on titles that include "Find Some Body" by Mystery Plane, "Pulse" by Berserk In A Hayfield, "Radio" by Void, "Elixir Vapor" by Disintegrators, "Transvision" by Void, "Undercurrents" by Body Electric, and "Out Of Space & Out Of Time" by The Lord. CD version includes the bonus "Fatal Crash Immersed The Start (Bass Mix)" by Modern Art. CD

The depths of the early 80s underground never fail to amaze us – because while the late 70s punk rock years are constantly being reissued and compiled, the electronic scene of just of a few years later is still so largely undiscovered! Part of the situation is that much of the work came out as cheap 45s, or cassette-only releases – which didn't lend themselves to the same level of collecting – and other groups who started dark hit the bigtime and went onto great fame – like Human League or Cabaret Voltaire – but for every one of those, there were a hundred left behind in the shifting sands of time – only to be discovered by the tireless efforts of the current generation! Titles include "Universe" by The Lord, "X Cell" by Silicon Valley, "Oscillations" by The Disintegrators, "Red Suit" by Lives Of Angels, "Destination" by Echophase, and "Club Paris" by Berserk In A Hayfield. CD

The cold waves of color keep on coming – reminding us again and again that there's still so much more to discover from the early 80s underground! As with previous volumes, the focus here is on electronic work that's way different than mainstream pop of the period – often forged out of the same instrumentation as the hits, but in a much more stripped-down way – with lots of dark and moody corners that really keep things interesting! Much of this music got no circulation at the time, which is why this series is so crucial – and even if you know some of the more obscure Sheffield or Manchester material from the post-punk generation, you'll probably still find plenty to discover here. Titles include "Transit 6" by Silicon Valley, "Pavilion" by Lives Of Angels, "Production Line" by The Lord, "Silent Sky" by Echo Phase, "August Haze" by Berserk In A Hayfield, and "Isotope" by Void. CD

A wicked collection of French prog and fusion from the start of the 70s – all with a jazzy or folky vibe that shows just how wonderfully warm the French scene was at the time – and how it could be very different than similar music coming from Germany, England, or Italy during the same stretch! All tracks here were recorded live, and although the groups are varied, the sound is surprisingly unified – with loads of funky fusion moments that are kind of an offbeat, outside take on styles that American groups were just beginning to explore – with some especially strong keyboard moments that point the way towards directions that Herbie Hancock would take a few years later. There's a few other tunes that bring in acoustic elements, almost with an acid folk sound – and titles include "Charles" by Catharsis, "Arkham" by Spectre, "Mekanik Kommando" by Magma, "Informers Blues" by Zabu, "Jappy's Boogie" by Solitude, "All's So Comic" by Ergo Sum, "I'm On My Way" by Voyage, "Promenade"b y Claude Engel, "Aria Populaire" by Catherine Ribeiro & Alpes, and "Iguane" by Alain Markusfeld. LP, Vinyl record album

An acid-drenched classic – beautifully reissued! The album's the one and only effort from South Carolina's Christopher – but it's a record that easily matches more famous psyche efforts from either coast at the end of the 60s, even though the music was really just recorded as a demo! The album's got plenty of heavy fuzz guitar, but also some surprisingly personal vocals – sung in a mode that's heartfelt, yet not really that sweet – more slightly sad and dreamy, creating a sense of loss that really marks the mood of the album. When the heavier guitars kick in, the blend with the vocals is especially great – almost Black Sabbathy at points, but not nearly as overblown. Other tracks get slightly bluesy, but in a way that's not cliched – and titles include "Holiday", "The Great Clock", "What'cha Gonna Do", "Death Song", "Modern Day Oracles", and "Day Of Sunshine". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful early work from the great pianist Stanley Cowell – a set that pre-dates his famous sides for the Strata East label – but which soars out in a very similar style! The material was recorded in New York in 1969 – with a great lineup that features Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Tyrone Washington on tenor, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Cowell on long, spiritual tracks that include "Earthly Heavens", "Boo Ann's Grand", and "Bobby's Tune". CD reissue has two bonus cuts: "Musical Prayers" and "Brilliant Circles"! CD

Rare tracks from this obscure Detroit combo of the 60s – stripped down here to a trio lineup, which gives the music a really lean, clean focus that sounds years ahead of its time! The group definitely have their ears turned towards the psych side of the spectrum – but often mix fuzzy guitars and moody production with tighter drums and sharp songwriting – all on tunes that are never too indulgent, and which often have this vibe that could be coming more from the American underground of the early 80s, instead of the Motor City at a time when many other groups were gaining fame. The tracks here were all found on tapes many years after recording – and provide a great counterpart to the group's Red and Black albums – with titles that include "It's All In Your Mind", "Street Crime", "I Walk Alone", "Tired Of Being Told", "Be My Friend", "Yesterday & Today", "Don't You Know", "Kick It Out", "431 Lakeshore", and "Livin In Detroit". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A folk funk masterpiece from Korea – sung with breathy brilliance by female singer Kim Jung Mi, and featuring some great fuzzy backgrounds from guitarist Shin Jung Hyun! Although not in English, the record has a very similar feel to some of the hippest British female work of the same period – a style that takes older folk styles and gives them a trippier, more psychedelic twist – largely through the use of echoey production that makes the voice sound all flanged-out next to the guitar, but also through some spacious arrangements that give most of the record a nicely floating sort of feel! Titles are finally listed in English and include "Haenim", "Wind", "Spring", "Unknowingly", "Blow Spring Breeze", "Your Dream", "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains", "Lonely Heart", "It's Raining" and "Ganadaramabasa". All lyrics in Korean but the record's got an undeniably universal appeal. The deluxe LP sleeve CD version has a 20-page booklet with rare photos, and great stories about Shin Joong Hyun and Kim Jung Mi's continuing place of prominence in the Korean music scene. CD

Hard grooving, heavily grooving South American rock from Miguel Y El Comite (Miguel & The Committee) from the early 70s – led by Miguel Livichich, who made waves a bit earlier with El Syndikato! The percussion drives the sound pretty well, but the vocals are nicely out front in the mix, where they should be, as their charismatic and inviting as can be – with a nice fuzzed out guitar sound and a killer bass sound. Includes " Para Hacer Musica, Para Hacer...", "No Va Mas (Ya)", "Mi Sol", "Que Me Importa", "Junto Al Mar", "No Ves Que No Cabe", "Candombe Triste", "Hiroshima (1945)", Rompan Todo" and more. One bonus track: "Mala-Mala", a 1972 single b-side. CD

A very groovy record from a very unique band – a homegrown set by an obscure Pennsylvania combo from the 70s – a group who were equally schooled in jazz fusion and progressive rock! Probe 10 are a rock group at their core, but they've also drank heavily from the brew of 70s Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, and electric Miles Davis – and use all those elements to forge these really creative explorations in music – tracks that stretch out with some great lines on Fender Rhodes, and also feature solos on trumpet, flute, and guitar – mixed with vocals that are sometimes surprisingly poetic. The best passages are instrumental – and these guys definitely have a King Crimson inspiration, too, although maybe without the chops – and titles include "There Is A Universe", "Invasion Of The Mallandroids", "Intergalactic Crossfire", "To Improvise A Dream", and "Galaxy Five". CD features 5 more bonus tracks – including "The Playing Of The Game (parts 1 & 2)" and "Enchanted Mountain (parts 1 & 2)". CD

Haunting work from the duo of Sandhy & Mandhy – a pair from the Buenos Aires scene at the end of the 60s, working in a weird mix of beat group styles and hipper rock rhythms! There's a slightly ethereal quality to the work – partly because of the way the pair trade back vocals, partly because of the light organ lines used to support the groove – which brings a haunting Zombies-like quality to the record at times – although produced with a bit simpler sound than Odyssey & Oracle! Most tunes are original, and showcase a surprising depth in songwriting – and some numbers feature some really cool percussion that complicates the sound nicely – pushing the duo past simple pop lines, into some of the headier territory of the late 60s South American scene. Titles include "Yo Te Buscare", "Hasta El Manana", "Lluvia", "La Chica Sola Y Triste", "Quisiera Olvidarte", "Esta Noche No Debes Llorar", and "Recuardo Hoy". Amazing vinyl reissue – very heavy cover and vinyl, and beautifully done overall! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The continuing genius of this really wonderful series – just about the only way you'll get to hear this wealth of work from the UK electro scene of the early 80s – most of which was only released on cassette at the time! These tracks follow strongly on the electronic sounds of scenes like Sheffield or Manchester – work that's much more underground than material by groups like New Order or Cabaret Voltaire – with maybe more of the darkness of the latter in their earliest days, and a continuing legacy to the starker, minimal modes – even when the songs have a bit of vocals. Perhaps a strong comparison might be the turn that Section 25 too with their classic From The Hip album on Factory – and titles include "Danse Electrique" by Beatmixer, "Going Out" by Silicon Valley, "Start Of Something" by Berserk In A Hayfield, "World Perfect (edit)" by WeR7, "I'll Get You For This" by Mystery Plane, and "Train" by Echophase". CD

The cold waves of color keep on coming – reminding us again and again that there's still so much more to discover from the early 80s underground! As with previous volumes, the focus here is on electronic work that's way different than mainstream pop of the period – often forged out of the same instrumentation as the hits, but in a much more stripped-down way – with lots of dark and moody corners that really keep things interesting! Much of this music got no circulation at the time, which is why this series is so crucial – and even if you know some of the more obscure Sheffield or Manchester material from the post-punk generation, you'll probably still find plenty to discover here. Titles include "Transit 6" by Silicon Valley, "Pavilion" by Lives Of Angels, "Production Line" by The Lord, "Silent Sky" by Echo Phase, "August Haze" by Berserk In A Hayfield, and "Isotope" by Void. LP, Vinyl record album

German psychedelic folk from the early 70s – a pretty far reaching mix of sweet, often wordless vocals, long and free flowing instrumental washes of sound, and even some offbeat, humorous lyricism! When there are words, they're sometimes in English and at others in German, with male and female voices – but Saat is really all about the textural mood. It's not easty stuff to pin down, sometimes with a lilting folky feel, others with echoey electronics that move it a little bit more towards Tangerine Dream-like astral planes. Titles include "Walking In The Park", "Traume", "Touch The Sun", "Love Time Rain", "Saat" and Die Reise". CD

With a look like this, and a sound so great, The Flies should have been huge – and hearing this collection, it's a complete mystery as to why the group's work has always been relegated to obscurity status of the psychedelic era! It's possible the reason likes in the ultimate lack of work by The Flies – a handful of singles at best, something that's corrected by this 17 track set, which is filled with loads of excellent unreleased numbers. But it's also possible that these guys were truly years ahead of their time – as you might guess from the modernly menacing look of the combo on the cover. Bits of mainstream psyche mix here with fuzzier guitars, rougher production, and a brewing, bubbling sort of sound that filters through all the tunes and gives them a sense of greatness that's hard to describe – which which is definitely part of the appeal of the record. At moments, we find ourselves thinking that these guys could have easily knocked down any number of bigger acts that come to mind – but at others, we find ourselves loving this work even more for its lack of common late 60s cliche. Titles include "Talk To Me", "House Of Love", "Alexander Bell Believes", "Where", "Turning Back The Page", "Just Won't Do", "Gently As You Feel", "The Magic Train", and "Winter Afternoon". LP, Vinyl record album

Dreamy psychedelic folk pop from The Folklords – an obscure Canadian group with delicate male & female harmonies, but a catchy and less arch and wispy vibe than many of the more famous acts of the time! The secret might the harder hitting drums underneath the tunes that make the album all the sweeter, and certainly more insistent. Well worth a late discovery! Titles include "Jennifer Lee", "Don't Hide Your Love From Me", "Child", "Windows", "Pardon Me Judas", "Thank You For Your Kindness", "We'll Love Like Before", "Suzanne Marie", "Don't Look Back", and "The Slave" – plus bonus tracks "Unspoken Love" and "Forty Second River". Great reissue – with detailed notes on the band, too! CD

A beautiful bit of folk-psyche from the late 60s UK scene – recorded for Polydor in 1969, but never issued at the time – now finally getting its first exposure to the world at large! The group have a really easygoing approach – blending fuzzy electric and softer acoustic guitars, slow-stepping rhythms, and some slightly more tripped-out instrumentation – all with vocals that take on a nicely lyrical approach – never too hippy-dippy, but with an evocative quality that has echoes of the ancient. Group members have ties to Band Of Joy and Velvett Fogg – and the set features uncredited work from Peter Frampton, and members of The Herd and East of Eden. Like other Lion reissues, the quality here is top-shelf – full notes, photos, and lots of information on the lost album – presented here with 12 tracks that include "Execution Of The Child", "Rain Day Julep", "Hello Goodbye Victoria Cane", "Hanna Wife Of Thomas Kite", "Harpsichord", "Roses & Ribbons", "Masochists Of Strangulation", and "The Story Of Acorn Rose". CD

A really unusual set from the mid 70s underground – recorded by an obscure group in a tiny studio, but with a care and class that easily matches bigger records from the time! The guitar work is excellent – as tight as any heard on 70s AOR albums of the period, but much more relaxed, and not nearly as slick – so that the chromatic tunes really have a way of cascading out and illuminating the surprisingly sensitive lyrics of the tunes! The overall style is a bit hard to peg – might be roots or country-tinged, but not really – and with the intimacy of folk at times, but definitely an electric album all the way through. Whatever the case, it's a great lost treasure that has really held up over the years – if not grown even better! Titles include "Know That I'm Not Alone", "This Road", "Roll On Life", "On He Goes", "The Wind", and "At My Home". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Hypnotic and frenzied instrumental sounds from the early 70s – heavy rhythms and fuzzy walls of guitar from Bob Thompson and Doug Snyder – a masterful piece of avant rock! Daily Dance is one of those records that's so far ahead of the pack stylistically, you can hardly believe it was made when it was. The songs are long and roll out in a way that makes it clear the players are unafraid of noise, but it's wholly riveting and finds a real groove – they set up their own dynamics and they work well within them. The duo does more with electric fuzz, echoes, and pounding rhythms than all too few boundless artists dared to even attempt – and it's a record that you could have easily convinced us was produced at some point in the 80s, 90s, or 00s rock underground had we not been informed it was from early 70s southern Ohio! Timeless, original and exciting stuff. Includes "Daily Dance", "Living With The Crocodiles", "Time Overlaps Itself", "Soul And Universe", "Hit And Run", "Truth Is A Pathless Land" and "Teenage Emergency". CD

A record that's virtually impossible to describe in words – partly because it's got a trans-historical, trans-spatial sort of vibe – effortlessly filtering together the best roots of older French pop music, and combining them with a range of underground pop elements that reach out to the farther reaches of the globe! Jean Emmanuel Deluxe sings lead – often with a raspy style that's partly sung, partly spoken – but never in a Serge Gainsbourg mode. Instead, he gets lots of spacey support on keyboards, echoey drums, and other instrumentation that feels like reworked 60s modes – ala Stereolab, High Llamas, or Pearlfishers. Yet the record is nothing like any of those references at all – even though Sean O'Hagan provides some guest work – as does Bertrand Burgalat, Misawa Masanori, and drummer Werner "Zappi" Diermaier of Faust. Titles include "Lushy Life", "The Girl Who Was Talking In Reverse", "Claire", "La Gourveneur De California", "Hollywood Parties", and "Comme Une Video Star". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost treasure from the mid 80s Chicago rock scene – the self-titled, self-released first record from Green – with ultra catchy power pop melodies and an excitability that's as infectious as anything that came out of the Chi and other midwestern cities at the time! Green has both a sweetness and rawness that's in line with indie groups that made bigger waves nationally – and might be altogether better. Please don't take us for shameless home team flag wavers here, Green was the real thing, we can't think of a reason beyond bad luck that this record isn't mentioned in the same breath as other great records by groups such as The Replacements. And unlike some of our favorite albums from Chicago underground rock bands of the time, the lean, clear, but no frills production sounds just right to our ears. A total gem ripe for discovery! Titles include "Gotta Getta Record Out", "She's Not A Little Girl Anymore", "Technology", "Baby Why?", "If You Love Me", "For You", "Hurt You", "She, Probably", "Big In Japan" and more. This CD version includes 7 bonus tracks originally from the The Name Of The Band Is Green EP, which was never on CD before now, with EP versions of some album tunes plus "Something About You", "Autograph" and "Away From The Pulsebeat". CD

A heady set from mid 70s South Korea – the debut album from a mighty edgey little trio! The album's not nearly as psych as some of the other Korean efforts from the period – as the group's got a tight groove on most numbers, with a definite funk influence on the drums and bass – mixed nicely with heavy use of fuzz guitar, and Shin's weirdly soulful vocals! The set's not really a funk album, but it's not really funky rock either – kind of a unique hybrid, and a very original little set – especially when you throw the oddness of the Korean vocals into the mix. Titles include "Lady", "I Do Not Know", "Rising Sun", "I Love You", "Long Long Night", and "I Think There Was Someone Else". CD

The never-heard follow-up to Laurence Vanay's Evening Colours album – material recorded in 1977, and appearing here for the first time ever – as part of Lion Production's wonderful exposition of work by the artist who was actually Jacqueline Thibault! As with Evening Colours, the style here is one that begins with spare electronics and keyboards, but expands things out a bit more – not into territory that's actually proggish, but which does feature a slightly more jamming sensibility, and the addition of bass and drums to really move things forward! There's no vocals at all – save for occasional "vocalizations" that are more part of the music – and Thibault recorded most of the work by overdubbing on a Revox, then adding in the drums, guitar, and a bit of flute. For a project that was never released, the album's got a wonderful sense of cohesion – and the full story is told in the detailed notes included! Titles include "Majunga", "Oualidia", "Des Eclats De Lune", "Chant De Loire Et De Mer", "Quatre Nuages", "Les Soleils De La Vie", "Mor", "L'Ete En Cage", and "L'Etoile De L'Au Dela". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning little record from Wappasou – a French group who might be dubbed prog, but who work in much more organic territory overall! The tracks are long and stretched out, but never in a jamming way – and instead seem to flow magically from these core organ lines and acoustic elements on guitar, flute, and violin – used in long layers that build nicely, a bit like the work of Popol Vuh at their more acoustic, folksy side. There's vocals on a few numbers – often used more like an instrument than with a lyrical focus – but with a subtle French flavor that really gives the music its own unique sort of charm. Titles include "Chatiment", "Melopee", "Trip", and "Rien". CD features two bonus tracks – "Borgia" and "Femmes Fleeurs". CD

A really jazzy prog rock effort from early 70s German combo Brainstorm – a complex, hardgrooving mix of charged instrumental interplay! The group really brings more of a jazzy depth to the material, but it's all a lot of fun – heavy drums that are totally killer, with organ, flute and sax the leading instruements in the mix – and they all have a wavering, kind of buzzing dissonance that's something else! Titles include "Das Schwein Trugt", "Zwick Zwick", the multipart suites "Bosco Biati Weib Salles" and "Smile A While", Snakeskin Tango", "You Are What's Gonna Make It Last" and "Don't Forget" – plus 3 bonus tracks recorded for SWF radio in 1971. CD

The one-and-only early 70s album by Thunder Bay, Ontario psych heavies Jarvis Street Revue – rumbling rhythms and searing guitars – plus horns, wild vocals and trippy effects! The group have songs that seek rugged, natural living and environmental justice – but the music is tripped out and adventurous. The 12-minute title track is amazing, warning us about bad men and oil slicks in lyrics, yet it's nicely psychedelic in the musician ship. The vocals that remind us a bit of what Roger Daltery would sound like a few years later in the gnarlier, rougher realms of their sound, but there's some nice melody and groovier elements, too. Includes "Mr. Business Man", the epic title-track, "20 Years", "Sally's Hymn", "400 South" and "Heidi Ho". This great Lion CD edition has 9 bonus tracks – vital additions, too! Really fleshes things out and gives us more to love! Bonus tracks include "Sweet Susan", "Angela", "Mr Rock", "Uncle Benny", "I Believe In Freedom", "Sweet Eyed Satin Lady", "Better Things To Do" and "Tabourine". CD

Mad music from the Nihilist Spasm Band – a group who really live up to their name from the very first moments of the record! The set begins with "Destroy The Nations" – a track that's meaner, nastier, and more mindbending than anything you'll ever hear from any of the wildest other acts of the late 60s – and the rest of the record really follows suit – with energy that's more late 70s noise than any of the hippie dippy politics of the time – much more of a precursor to Pere Ubu, and maybe the entire No Wave scene in New York! Guitar, drums, bass, theremin, and a surprising amount of kazoo collide with unbridled improvisatory energy – and titles include "Destroy The Nations", "Oh Brian Dibb", "Dog Face Man", "When In London Sleep At The York Hotel", and "Destroy The Nations Again". CD

One of the first European recordings from Sahib Shihab – a classic set that's the start of an amazing 60s run on the continent! Shihab here is quite different than his American dates of the 50s – bolder, and blowing with a really open, fluid sort of groove that marks a great development in his sound – using baritone sax, soprano, and flute – a range of instruments that really creates a wide range of feeling in the set! The performance is a live one, and the group is great too – with Allen Botschinsky on flugelhorn, Ole Molin on guitar, Niles Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and both Alex Riel and Bjarne Rostvold on drums. Rhythms are a key part of the set – really free and open, setting the scene for Sahib's modal genius to come – and titles include "47th Blues", "Billy Boy", and the 3-part track "Conversations". CD features 3 bonus tracks – "Charade", "Not Yet" and "Someday My Prince Will Come". CD

Heaven might be a blast, but The Wilson McKinley are having a plenty good time on earth, too – really honing their craft for this obscure album of spirit-filled rock from the Seattle scene! The album's got the same gentle message of faith as the group's previous records, but also has the group picking up a bit more bite on their guitars, too – solos that are maybe a bit more prominent in the mix, and played with surprising intensity for a combo who also dedicated some of their time to street level ministry in the city. Vocals often have a nice sense of harmony – almost Grateful Dead-like at times – and titles include "Never Cry No More", "A Warm Summer Day", "Standin At The Crossroads", "I'm Only Smilin", and "Words To Tell You". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly strong collection of reggae recorded in Boston during the 80s – or maybe not that surprising at all, given that the city had a growing Caribbean population, and a very strong college audience for the music! Still, the package is a huge discovery – strong quality work from a city that most folks would associate with just about any other style of music – with a key emphasis on the sorts of message-oriented cuts that helped reggae find a huge global audience in the generation of Bob Marley – carried forth here by a host of local acts working in very faithful, well-produced modes. The set's got a great booklet of notes – more than enough detail and explanation for this unique musical moment – and titles include "Take Us Home" and "Our Father's Land" by Danny Tucker, "Country Girl" and "Two Minute Warning"by Lambsbread, "Errol's Love" and "Oh What A Saturday Night" by Errol Strength, "Without Your Love" and "Nations Unite" by Healing Of The Nations, "Burning Fire" and "Condemnation Lion" by Zion Initiation, and "Love Is A Pleasure" by I Tones. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever by pianist Kenny Drew – a record that's as noteworthy for the contributions of the sidemen as it is for the efforts of the leader! Drew's a player who often worked mostly in trio formats – but here, he's hitting hard with a righteous Blue Note power – thanks to the presence of Hank Mobley on tenor and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, both of whom really give the record an edge! Drew's lyrical sensibilities are shifted to darker, more modern moments at times – and the rest of the group features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. An essential addition to the Blue Note legacy of Mobley and Hubbard – and the set's filled with original tunes by Kenny, including "The Pot's On", "Undercurrent", "Funk-Cosity", and "Lion's Den". CD

5 killer albums from the great Jackie McLean – all packaged together in cool LP-styled jackets! First up is Capuchin Swing – a tremendous set from Jackie McLean – perfectly poised between his hardbop and modern years, with a set of compositions that are as great as the performances! The lineup on this one's a bit unusual – with Walter Bishop on piano, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – but that mix of players makes for a really unusual sound – as the rhythm section's often straight ahead, Blue Mitchell's notes are bold and sparkling, and Jackie's own solos are reaching for the darker corners of the spectrum! There's a great sense of tension here that heralds the genius of later McLean sides of the 60s – and original titles include "Francisco", "Condition Blue", "On The Lion", and "Capuchin Swing". Bluesnik is a crackling date from Jackie McLean – a set that's much more hardbop than some of his other Blue Note work – filled with fire, far from the 50s – and really pointing the way towards his new directions to come! There's a hint of modernism in the mix, mostly on the tone from McLean's alto sax – but most numbers are forward-thinking, and played with a sense of perfection that's pure Blue Note all the way through. Group members include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Kenny Drew on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and titles include "Cool Green", "Torchin", "Bluesnik", "Drew's Blues", and "Blues Function". Let Freedom Ring features a young Jackie McLean at the height of his powers – really stretching out here, but never going too far out – a perfect balance between his modern bop of previous records, and his groundbreaking "new thing" jazz to come! The group is a relatively straight ahead one – with Walter Davis on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – but the tracks are all quite long, and have this really arch sensibility on Jackie's horn – this edge, this cry he didn't have a few years before – easily one of the freshest voices in alto sax at the time, yearning here to break free with new ideas and new modes of expression. The vibe is perfectly balanced – like McLean's classic A Fickle Sonance – and titles include the classic "Melody For Melonae", plus "Rene", "I'll Keep Loving You", and "Omega". Demon's Dance is a pivotal session from the late 60s – one that has Jackie pulling things back a bit from his "new thing" period, and turning towards the spiritual soulful groove that would characterize his early 70s work! The album bristles with excitement – still very much informed by a knowledge of the space explored during Jackie's avant years, but never quite willing to go to that space – especially if it means sacrificing the soulful swing of the set! The group's filled with young soulful modernists – including Woody Shaw, Lamont Johnson, Scott Holt, and Jack DeJohnette – and Jackie himself seems to be working out a whole new phase of his career with each new track – showing that even when he was at his "new thing" best, he was still ready to move on! Tremendous stuff, and one of our favorite Blue Notes from the time – and one of the most soulful too! Titles include "Floogeh", "Message From Trane", "Toyland", and "Boo Ann's Grind". Jacknife is a heck of an album from Jackie McLean – extremely soulful work from the mid 60s, recorded right at the height of his "new thing" period! That quality may be one reason why the session was never issued at the time (it only made a brief appearance on vinyl in the late 70s, and is finally coming out on CD) – but to our ears, it's one of Jackie's strongest from the decade, a really wonderful record that looks forward at the soulful explorations of the 70s Strata East scene. Players include Lee Morgan, Charles Tolliver, Larry Willis, Larry Ridley, and Jack DeJohnette – and titles include "Soft Blue", "Climax", "On The Nile", and "Blue Fable". CD

A tremendous set from Jackie McLean – perfectly poised between his hardbop and modern years, with a set of compositions that are as great as the performances! The lineup on this one's a bit unusual – with Walter Bishop on piano, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – but that mix of players makes for a really unusual sound – as the rhythm section's often straight ahead, Blue Mitchell's notes are bold and sparkling, and Jackie's own solos are reaching for the darker corners of the spectrum! There's a great sense of tension here that heralds the genius of later McLean sides of the 60s – and original titles include "Francisco", "Condition Blue", "On The Lion", and "Capuchin Swing". LP, Vinyl record album

Blue-eyed funky soul from Miles Mosley – an artist who's working here with the West Coast Get Down group that features Cameron Graves on piano and Kamasai Washington on tenor sax! The vocals are definitely in the lead, though – as Miles draws on classic soul and jazz that really push his vocal range – on material that's nicely open and expressive, maybe more so than other singers of this nature. There's some larger arrangements at times – but most of the energy seems to come from the core combo, of which Miles is definitely in the lead – on tracks that include "LA Won't Bring You Down", "Heartbreaking Efforts Of Others", "Your Only Cover", "More Than This", "Reap A Soul", and "Young Lion". LP, Vinyl record album

One of greatest of all British punk era records – released in '77 and one that transcends mid-to-late 70s punk cultural baggage better than just about any other – a real benchmark! Wire kept it short and sweet on Pink Flag – with 21 tracks in about 35 minutes – and it's as artful as it is succinct. They'd prove to be as creatively ambitious as any of their peers and the brevity Pink Flag would soon make way for experimental flourishes that are ultimately just as important and influential, but this still might be their best. Includes "Reuters", "Field Day For The Sundays", "Three Girl Rumba", "Ex Lion Tamer", "The Commercial", "Strange", "Different To Me", "12 X U", "Start To Move", "Lowdown", "Surgeon's Girl", "Pink Flag" and more. Amazing 2CD edition – comes in a 7" book-style cover, with pages and pages of notes – and comes with a full bonus album of 18 more rare tracks – including demos of "Pink Flag", "Mr Suit", "Fragile", "Ex Lion Tamer", "Start To Move", "Champs", "Different To Me", "Field Day For The Sundays", and "The Commercial" – plus rare mixes that include "Three Girl Rhumba (alt mix)", "12 X U (mono mix)", "It's So Obvious (alt mix)", and "Ex Lion Tamer (alt mix)". CD

Music from Roundhead, Mad Lion featuring Keeva, Spragga Benz, Shinehead, King Kong, Yankee B, Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man, Burru Banton, Anthony B & more. CD

The Numero Group turn their radio to yet another spot on the dial – this time around posing as a 70s AOR station, but working with their usual flair for rare and unreleased tunes! Given that the musical style is one that you're used to associating with big hits, it's great to hear music like this coming from deeper in the American underground – served up by artists who weren't trying to stand apart from the pack – just try to create their own top-shelf music in a relatively overlooked environment. Titles include "What A Way To Go" by Nanette, "Quick N Slick" by Orphans Of Love, "Wrap Myself Up In Your Arms" by Marshall Titus, "No Other Life Without You" by Greenflow, "Child Of December" by Larry Sanders, "You've Got A Woman" by Lion, "Take This To Heart" by Kettner & Shawe, "Waste Of Time" by Gary Hyde, and "You & Me Me & You" by Phillips. LP, Vinyl record album