Not just a book on Motown – despite the image of The Supremes on the cover – but a story of Detroit itself – told as a series of intersecting paths that include the famous soul music label, as well as all the manufacturers, cultures, communities, and political forces that were shaping the city in the early 60s. The decline of Detroit has been a story for decades now – but David Maraniss looks at the city in the years before the fall – focusing on 1963, where he shows that tensions were already strong in some sectors, and the ground upon which so much was being built could easily shift and allow the whole thing to topple. The book is one of the most fascinating city portraits we've ever read – with lessons that are still completely essential to the 21st Century urban environment – and the whole thing is 441 pages, hardcover, with some black and white images. Book

A rare early chapter in the long legacy of Human League and Heaven 17 – a group of musicians who'd partly go on to form the latter, recently departed from the former – yet still working strongly in the dark, electronic style of the earliest releases from the Sheffield scene! There's plenty of moody analogue sounds going on here – and as a cassette only release back in the day, the whole thing is a key slice of that cold wave underground of the early 80s, even though its members reached later fame – definitely working in territory that's more avant and electronic at times, but with more rhythmic instrumentals as well! Titles include "Music To Kill Your Parents By", "Decline Of The West", "Honeymoon In New York", "A Baby Called Billy", "Wipe The Board Clean", "Uptown Apocalypse", and "The Optimum Chant". CD

Pianist Ethan Iverson seems to be using his time at the Blue Note label to open up whole new pathways in his sound – recasting his trio performance in ways that have an inherently rhythmic quality, while also really letting loose with some lyrical flights on the keys – a balance that's a bit hard to describe in words, but which really comes through in the music! The set features two different trios – one with Thomas Morgan on bass and Kush Abadey on drums, the other with Simon Wilson on bass, and Vinnie Sperrazza on the kit – and on one track, Rob Schwimmer adds in a bit of theremin. Titles include "Victory Is Assured", "Who Are You Really", "The Chicago Style", "It's Fine To Decline", "Killing Me Softly", and "The Feeling Is Mutual" – plus the "Piano Sonata" suite. CD

Pianist Ethan Iverson seems to be using his time at the Blue Note label to open up whole new pathways in his sound – recasting his trio performance in ways that have an inherently rhythmic quality, while also really letting loose with some lyrical flights on the keys – a balance that's a bit hard to describe in words, but which really comes through in the music! The set features two different trios – one with Thomas Morgan on bass and Kush Abadey on drums, the other with Simon Wilson on bass, and Vinnie Sperrazza on the kit – and on one track, Rob Schwimmer adds in a bit of theremin. Titles include "Victory Is Assured", "Who Are You Really", "The Chicago Style", "It's Fine To Decline", "Killing Me Softly", and "The Feeling Is Mutual" – plus the "Piano Sonata" suite. CD

A rare early chapter in the long legacy of Human League and Heaven 17 – a group of musicians who'd partly go on to form the latter, recently departed from the former – yet still working strongly in the dark, electronic style of the earliest releases from the Sheffield scene! There's plenty of moody analogue sounds going on here – and as a cassette only release back in the day, the whole thing is a key slice of that cold wave underground of the early 80s, even though its members reached later fame – definitely working in territory that's more avant and electronic at times, but with more rhythmic instrumentals as well! Titles include "Music To Kill Your Parents By", "Decline Of The West", "Honeymoon In New York", "A Baby Called Billy", "Wipe The Board Clean", "Uptown Apocalypse", and "The Optimum Chant". LP, Vinyl record album