A very different record than usual for Arto Lindsay – definitely one that's at the more artistic side of his spectrum – as the music was done for a sonic installation at a gallery in Switzerland, and is very different than some of Lindsay's guitar work and vocals! In fact, Arto didn't play most of the sounds within himself – and instead, the package features percussion recorded at a temple in Brazil, used in slow-building ways to recreate the energy of a carnaval experience – but with a leaner level that's more suited to the artistic nature of the work. The original 27 channel presentation of the music was reworked into a style that is more suitable for vinyl playback. LP, Vinyl record album

We know we spend a lot of space on these pages propping up early 90s hip hop, but you have to admit it was the salad days of the east coast. Finesse's second LP's no exception, with tight lyrics and beats – keeping it real before it became a cliche – a DITC classic that we never grow tired of! Timeless production that lives up to the title by Showbiz, Diamond D and Finesse. Tracks include "Party Over Here", "Yes You May", "Return Of The Funky Man", "Fat For The 90s", "Stop Sweating The Next Man", "That's How Smooth I Am", "Praise The Lord", "I Like My Girls With A Boom", "Hey Look At Shorty", "Isn't He Something" and "Funky On The Fast Tip". CD

Damn soulful work from Tony Joe White – exactly the kind of set that shows why he was so great at skirting both the borders of rock and soul music at the end of the 60s! There's a really fresh, new groove going on here – a vibe that shows an artist who's spent a decade drawing in all the best elements of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, with a slight touch of Nashville country at times too (no surprise, given the Monuments Records release of the set) – but also a more biting singer/songwriter ethos that really pushes the whole thing out to a much bigger rockish vibe! Drums are amazing – played by Jerry Carrigan with an especially funky quality on side one – and the tunes are a mix of great originals by White – many of which would be covered by others in years to come – plus some well-chosen covers, too. Tracks include "Soul Francisco", "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", "Polk Salad Annie", "Aspen Colorado", "Who's Makin Love", and "Scratch My Back". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the greatest moment of genius ever from Black Sabbath – and a genre-changing record that influenced generations! The group are at their lean, raw best here – free from any cliches at all, and working in an incredibly heady brew of fuzzy guitar, romping bass, and dark drums – all topped by the instantly recognizable screech of the young Ozzy Osborne! Guitarist Tony Iommi virtually redefines rock use of the guitar with this record alone – and the Oz follows suit with some of the creepiest vocals set to record ever. Titles include the classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man", plus "War Pigs", "Planet Caravan", "Electric Funeral", "Hand Of Doom", and "Rat Salad". CD

Quite possibly the greatest moment of genius ever from Black Sabbath – and a genre-changing record that influenced generations! The group are at their lean, raw best here – free from any cliches at all, and working in an incredibly heady brew of fuzzy guitar, romping bass, and dark drums – all topped by the instantly recognizable screech of the young Ozzy Osborne! Guitarist Tony Iommi virtually redefines rock use of the guitar with this record alone – and the Oz follows suit with some of the creepiest vocals set to record ever. Titles include the classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man", plus "War Pigs", "Planet Caravan", "Electric Funeral", "Hand Of Doom", and "Rat Salad". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album from this hip Japanese jazz group – one that really sees them finding their own path forward, and working with really unusual material and stretching out on some longer tracks than before! The tunes here ere arranged by Masahiko Sato, Masao Yagi, Norio Maeda, and Kiyoshi Yamaya – most of whom wrote the material, along with Oliver Nelson – the latter of whom might be a good reference here, as the group are breaking down older large jazz group modes, and finding a way to soar with a new sense of spirit and soul – similar to Nelson's best recordings! Leader Hara blows some great tenor solos, and other players include Takao Naoi on guitar, Toshiko Ogawa on piano, and Hiroshi Suzuki on trombone – on titles that include "Flexibility", "Flute Salad", "Elegy For A Duck", "Dark Horse", "Little Giant", "Patterns", and "Orbit 8:11". LP, Vinyl record album

All of the straight edge seminal DC hardcore you could want, in one place! 26 tracks in all, including "Filler", "I Don't Wanna Hear It", "Seeing Red", "Straight Edge", "Small Man, Big Mouth", "Bottled Violence", "Minor threat", "Stand Up", "12XU", "In My Eyes", "Out Of Step (With The World)", "Guilty Of Being White", "Steppin' Stone", "Betray", 'It Follows", "Think Again", "Look Back & Laugh", "Little Friend", "Cashing In" and "Salad Days". CD

Quite possibly the greatest moment of genius ever from Black Sabbath – and a genre-changing record that influenced generations! The group are at their lean, raw best here – free from any cliches at all, and working in an incredibly heady brew of fuzzy guitar, romping bass, and dark drums – all topped by the instantly recognizable screech of the young Ozzy Osborne! Guitarist Tony Iommi virtually redefines rock use of the guitar with this record alone – and the Oz follows suit with some of the creepiest vocals set to record ever. Titles include the classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man", plus "War Pigs", "Planet Caravan", "Electric Funeral", "Hand Of Doom", and "Rat Salad". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from a group who are characterized as "improvised Gnawa Jazz Krautrock" – a term we might not normally coin ourselves, but which really seems to fit the spirit of the music! Global elements come into play with a cosmic consciousness, all informed by the structure of jazz – as keyboards, guitars, and drums come into play with offbeat vocalizations from singer Ziad Qoulaii – more sonic than lyrical, and flowing throughout the tunes to give them a very North African vibe! There's some use of guembri and oud on the record too, which furthers that spirit – and even the guitar phrasing has some Saharan touches that are mighty nice as well – especially when layered into the sonic complexity of the overall sound. Titles include "Mamadou", "Sahel", "Omri", "Sarab", "Rahma", "Merhaba", and "Abbes Saladi". LP, Vinyl record album

The amazing first album from Procol Harum – a group with a sound that's still unlike anyone else we can think of – even though they were a key part of the London scene of the 60s! The group are steeped in all of the blues, soul, and jazz elements that influenced so many other British acts of the period – but they have this way of presenting the music that brings a whole new sort of drama to the music – this flair that never overwhelms, and instead embellishes the music in this really special way – so that the tunes have this brilliance that's kept them fresh for many decades to follow! Lead singer Gary Brooker is a key part of the record's magic – a very distinctive singer – and a young Robin Trower contributes plenty on guitar, as does Matthew Fisher on Hammond. But there's also some arrangements that really set the whole thing in an unusual direction – and which make the record way more than just another bluesy rock set from the time. Hard to argue with the baroque brilliance of "She Wandered Through The Garden Fence", "A Christmas Camel", "Salad Days", "Repent Walpurgis", and "Conquistador" – not to mention the hit, "Whiter Shade Of Pale". CD

One of the most impressive albums ever from arranger Oliver Nelson – a set that really shows the full depth of his mighty talents! Side one features Nelson working with a larger orchestra – similar to the kind of ensemble he arranged for other artists in the 60s, but handled here with an open, searching sort of sound – really impressive modern jazz elements on the title track, then some sweeter, warmer soul sounds on a few shorter numbers too! Nelson plays soprano sax, and his use of the instrument is definitely Coltrane-informed at times – and a nice change from his more familiar alto. The flipside features just a quartet – Oliver again on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. With Kuhn on piano, bringing a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano. Titles include "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra", "Patterns", "Flute Salad", "The Lady From Girl Talk", and "Elegy For A Duck". CD

Massive 2 LP compilation of the most essential cuts from the Sabbath catalog! Includes "Killing Yourself To Live", "Paranoid", "Sleeping Village", "Rat Salad", "Electric Funeral", "Wheels Of Confusion", "Iron Man", "Planet Caravan", "Warpigs", "After Forever", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

A key album in the legendary early years of Gong – that mythical moment when the group was almost more like a cult or a commune than just another rock band on the scene! The set has the group very firmly ensconced in their French country home, where the record was recorded – with a mindblowing lineup that includes the great Daevid Allen on vocals and guitar, Didier Malherbe on tenor and soprano sax, Gilli Smyth on second vocal, Steve Hillage on guitar, and Pierre Moerlen on drums and percussion – plus lots of other surprises along the way. Titles include "Selene", "Other Side Of The Sky", "Castle In The Clouds", "Oily Way", "Flute Salad", and "I Never Glid Before". Deluxe edition includes four alternate mixes and previously unreleased live material recorded in Roanne, France. CD

The amazing first album from Procol Harum – a group with a sound that's still unlike anyone else we can think of – even though they were a key part of the London scene of the 60s! The group are steeped in all of the blues, soul, and jazz elements that influenced so many other British acts of the period – but they have this way of presenting the music that brings a whole new sort of drama to the music – this flair that never overwhelms, and instead embellishes the music in this really special way – so that the tunes have this brilliance that's kept them fresh for many decades to follow! Lead singer Gary Brooker is a key part of the record's magic – a very distinctive singer – and a young Robin Trower contributes plenty on guitar, as does Matthew Fisher on Hammond. But there's also some arrangements that really set the whole thing in an unusual direction – and which make the record way more than just another bluesy rock set from the time. Hard to argue with the baroque brilliance of "She Wandered Through The Garden Fence", "A Christmas Camel", "Salad Days", "Repent Walpurgis", and "Conquistador". This wonderful 2CD set features 27 additional bonus tracks – including singles "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", "Alpha", "Salad Days", "Understandably Blue", "Homburg", "Lime Street Blues", and "Good Captain Clack" – plus bonus alternate mixes, and two different BBC sessions from 1967! Also includes a bonus poster! CD

Guitarist Lucas De Mulder gets some great props on this album even before the needle dropped – as funky guitar legend Eddie Roberts stepped up to produce the whole thing, and even has his famous combo The New Mastersounds provide the instrumentation on the set – with some nice trumpet help from Gabe Mervine! The feel is a bit like some of Roberts' own records, but with more of the funky core that NMS can provide – perfect for Lucas, as he's got this sharply riffing style that's really amazing – a completely deft approach to funky guitar that we'll be likely to hear on many great records in years to come! But for now, this starter is more than enough – bubbling over with great instrumentals that include "Hot Ba Ri O", "Come Out At Night", "Several Times", "Redbone", "Warm Nights", "Fruit Salad", "Feel The Spirit", "Underground Dance", "Ginger Beat", and "Keep Walkin". CD

A key album in the legendary early years of Gong – that mythical moment when the group was almost more like a cult or a commune than just another rock band on the scene! The set has the group very firmly ensconced in their French country home, where the record was recorded – with a mindblowing lineup that includes the great Daevid Allen on vocals and guitar, Didier Malherbe on tenor and soprano sax, Gilli Smyth on second vocal, Steve Hillage on guitar, and Pierre Moerlen on drums and percussion – plus lots of other surprises along the way. Titles include "Selene", "Other Side Of The Sky", "Castle In The Clouds", "Oily Way", "Flute Salad", and "I Never Glid Before". CD

A key album in the legendary early years of Gong – that mythical moment when the group was almost more like a cult or a commune than just another rock band on the scene! The set has the group very firmly ensconced in their French country home, where the record was recorded – with a mindblowing lineup that includes the great Daevid Allen on vocals and guitar, Didier Malherbe on tenor and soprano sax, Gilli Smyth on second vocal, Steve Hillage on guitar, and Pierre Moerlen on drums and percussion – plus lots of other surprises along the way. Titles include "Selene", "Other Side Of The Sky", "Castle In The Clouds", "Oily Way", "Flute Salad", and "I Never Glid Before". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most impressive albums ever from arranger Oliver Nelson – a set that really shows the full depth of his mighty talents! Side one features Nelson working with a larger orchestra – similar to the kind of ensemble he arranged for other artists in the 60s, but handled here with an open, searching sort of sound – really impressive modern jazz elements on the title track, then some sweeter, warmer soul sounds on a few shorter numbers too! Nelson plays soprano sax, and his use of the instrument is definitely Coltrane-informed at times – and a nice change from his more familiar alto. The flipside features just a quartet – Oliver again on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. With Kuhn on piano, bringing a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano. Titles include "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra", "Patterns", "Flute Salad", "The Lady From Girl Talk", and "Elegy For A Duck". LP, Vinyl record album

The long lost Charizma tapes are unearthed and see the light of day! We're real suckers around here for the salad days of the early 90s, before "underground" became a tag line for savvy promoters and music industry folks, and just meant an emcee straight spitting creative rhymes over tight, spare beats, which is exactly what you'll find here. We're not entirely certain all these tracks were set to be released on the Hollywood Basic album that never saw the light of day, but we are certain they're all dope, and a lost, but very necessary, piece of the West Coast puzzle. Includes "Here's A Smirk", "Methods", "Jack The Mack", "Talk About A Girl", "Tell You Something", "Gatha Round", "Devotion", "My World Premiere", "Ice Cream Truck", "Fair Weathered Friend" and "Soon To Be Large". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost piece of the contemporary Chicago scene puzzle, from the midst of Eleventh Dream Day's salad days, Lived to Tell features incendiary songs that still find their way into Dream Day's live set like "Rose of Jericho" and "You Know What It Is". Before Doug McCombs went on to greater fame with Tortoise and Janet Bean with Freakwater, 11th DD was their main concern. Recorded before Baird Figi left the group, the Television-like twin guitar signature sound is in full stride on this lost gem that also features a cameo by producer-to-the stars Brad Wood. CD

A rare early chapter in the career of Kraftwerk – an obscure album issued only in the UK, and one that features the duo of Ralf and Florian augmented by three other players! The sound here is heavily instrumental, and very experimental – almost in the mode of some of the more adventurous German groups of the time, particularly those on Brain – with a blend of jazz-like improvisation and close-in, repetitive instrumental passages – the latter of which certainly bear resemblance to the earliest music of Kraftwerk! The lineup here includes organ – often heavily distorted – plus flute (both electric and acoustic), bass, and a wide range of percussion instruments played with unbridled freedom. Titles include "Tone Float", "Rhythm Salad", "Milk Rock", "Silver Forest", and "Noitasinagro". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy funk from Push – one of the first groups to emerge in the 90s deep funk movement – and one of the best too! Push first started laying down grooves for the Soulciety label back in the early 90s – and at the time, they were really the only new act to get the sound of classic funk right – from the instrumentation right down to the production. This recent set still has the combo going strong – working with a great array of complicated horn passages over heavy grooves – and laying down a funky style that's got a super-tight 70s groove. A few tracks feature some great soulful vocals, and if anything, the years have had the group expanding their sound even more – stretching out with equal parts soul and funk, especially on the vocal numbers. Jacko Peake lays down some great sax and flute work on the set – and titles include "Soul Talking", "Nu 1 2", "Stomp", "Drum Salad", "Salvation", "Mad World", "Mind The Gap", and "Breakfast Toast". Plus, this package also features a bonus 45 – with 3 more tracks that include "Benny's Blues", "North Side Shuffle", and "Herbalist". Vinyl only release! LP, Vinyl record album