The only track ever recorded by the obscure East Bay funk group Monsta – a combo whose output was so lean, the one-sided single was only pressed in a run of 100 copies at the time! That doesn't stop the tune from being a treasure, though – as it bursts right out of the gate with a tight ensemble funk approach that rivals some of the bigger groups of the time – not disco, but instead fast funky soul – with sweet keyboard lines in the mix, and lots of vocal trading back and forth with a nicely witty vibe that really keeps things charming throughout! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Seven unreleased tracks from the Monsta Island Czars collective – material that's got a really strong sense of urgency, and which adds plenty to their too-small catalog! The MCs vary from track to track, which further deepens the sound – and some of the best moments are the cuts where two vocalists are going back to back. Titles include "Bip Bap" with King Cesar, "Mad World" with Kamackeris, "It's About Time" with Megalon and Trife, "You Never Know" with Spiga, "My Motive" with Megalon, "Hungry" with Kamackeris and Kong, and "Written In Blood" with Kong and Spiga. LP, Vinyl record album

PJ Harvey is one of those artists who you'd really like to be a fly on the wall and bear witness to the makings of her best work, and if any her albums would be among the more vital on a more skeletal lavel – any mid 90s era modern classic in general, really – it'd be her To Bring You My Love and it does not disappoint! Widely and justifiably remembered as one of the great alt rock breakout efforts of the 90s, To Bring You My Love had a big sound, thanks mostly to PJ Harvey taking her art to the next level, but you gotta give credit to producer Flood, too. The almost bluesy vibe of Down By The Water and the title track were never obscured by the bigness of the finished product, but it's really cool to hear it in demo form – which is still fuller sounding than you'd expect. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Working For The Man", "Teclo", "Long Snake Moan", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "I Think I'm A Lover" and "The Dancer". LP, Vinyl record album

The one that catapulted PJ Harvey from a critical favorite to something of a popular favorite on both the US and UK – and her most remarkable creative stride to date! At the time, it felt like this was the one where Polly Harvey made a conscious choice to go "big" with sound, working with producer Flood after that famously stripped down Rid Of Me with Steve Albini engineering, but in hindsight it's amazing how the bigger sound, unafraid of electronics and all around grander atmosphere never even comes close to hiding the by turns intimate and mysterious lyricism – and it might be the best showcase for Polly's voice on record – projecting varying, unpredictable mood from track to track. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "The Dancer" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

An almost-overlooked session on Savoy – but a great one, and a record that really carries that raw blowing session energy of the best work on Prestige at the time! Side one features a killer lineup that includes Sahib Shihab on baritone, Clifford Jordan on tenor, and John Jenkins on alto – all blowing in the front line with rhythm from the trio of Hank Jones on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Danny Richmond on drums. Side two features a lighter group – with Herbie Mann, Phil Woods, Eddie Costa, and Joe Puma – playing with the unusual rhythm accompaniment of Wilbur Ware on bass and Jerry Segal on drums. Tracks are all long, and nicely jamming – and titles include "SMTWTFSS Blues", "Rockaway", "Green Stamp Monsta", and "World Wide Boots". CD

Brooklyn hip hop heavies Buckshot, 5ft and DJ Evil Dee rise together for the first proper Black Moon album in 15 years – produced by the Da Beatminerz and featuring just a handful of guest spots, from Method Man, General Steele, Smif N Wessun, Rockness Monsta and Tek – doing their legacy proud by showing up with a sound that's a lot more relevant and resilient than it is nostalgic! Tight, straight forward independent hip hop from an influential crew. Includes the title track, "Creep Wit Me", "Da Don Flow", the headnodding funky standout "A Haaaa", "Ease Back" with Method Man & General Steel", "Impossible" with Smif N Wessun, "Glory", "General Fever", "At Night", "Pay Back", "Roll Wit Me" feat Tek, "Look At Them" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

PJ Harvey is one of those artists who you'd really like to be a fly on the wall and bear witness to the makings of her best work, and if any her albums would be among the more vital on a more skeletal lavel – any mid 90s era modern classic in general, really – it'd be her To Bring You My Love and it does not disappoint! Widely and justifiably remembered as one of the great alt rock breakout efforts of the 90s, To Bring You My Love had a big sound, thanks mostly to PJ Harvey taking her art to the next level, but you gotta give credit to producer Flood, too. The almost bluesy vibe of Down By The Water and the title track were never obscured by the bigness of the finished product, but it's really cool to hear it in demo form – which is still fuller sounding than you'd expect. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Working For The Man", "Teclo", "Long Snake Moan", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "I Think I'm A Lover" and "The Dancer". CD

13th and purportedly the vinyl Baker's Dozen set from Fat Beats – with beats by Madlib, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Statik Selektah, Tokimonsta and many more. LP, Vinyl record album