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The first we're hearing from Steven Bamidele, but we're guessing it won't be the last – as this debut has a wonderfully well-crafted vibe from the start, which comes from both Steven's great ear for production, and his snakily sensual vocals! There's a laidback quality to his singing that's offset by a nice crackle in the rhythms – never too fast or in any sort of clubby territory, but with lots of midtempo breaks that are augmented by warmly jazzy work on keyboards, tenor, and piano! The approach is great – intimate and personal, but with a cosmic sensibility as well – on titles that include "Pathways", "Head Down", "Kaleidoscope", "Misunderstood", "Sitting In The Dark", and "Dark Sense Of Humor". LP, Vinyl record album

Exercising truth in album titles with Benji Boko on Tru Thoughts! DJ and producer Boko delivers a compelling mix of beats, keys and atmoshere here – hypnotically crafted grooves with a roster of guests that includes Maxi Jazz, Ricky Rankin, Deuce Eclipse and Mr Lewis. Head nodding electronic instros, leftfield clubby hip hop and more. Titles include "Glider", "Where My Heart Is" with Maxi Jazz, "Screw That", "No 1 Sound" feat Ricky Rankin, "Take A Stand", "Slow Junkie", "Supernova", "Lights", "Touch The Ceiling With Your Toes" and more. CD

Soulful sounds from Catpack – a trio that features Amber Navran, who you might know from Moonchild – working here in a very similar west coast blend of jazzy currents and soul-based expression! There's a warm, sunny glaze on most of the record – that kicked-back, Cali approach to contemporary R&B – handled here with great help from other trio members Jacob Mann and Phil Beaudreau, both of whom have had as much experience on the scene as Amber. If you dig the vibe of Moonchild, you'll find plenty to love here – although tuned towards a more straightforwardly soul sort of style – on cuts that include "Walk Away", "Runnin", "The Top", "Yep", "Midnight", "Next To Me", and "What I've Found". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweetly glowing grooves from Ebi Soda – a set that features some really fantastic keyboards on most tracks, making their way along electric rhythms that have a beautifully laidback vibe! The approach is almost a 21st Century reworking of classic jazz funk – more sophisticated, and less tied to familiar forms – and unafraid to use the right production elements from time to time to expand the color palette of the performance! Louis Jenkins handles the great keys on the record – and the core group features guitar, bass, trombone, and drums – augmented by guest tenor, alto, and trumpet. J Harli sings on "Summer One", and Chloe Bodur provides vocals to "Run For President" – and all other tunes are instrumental, and include "Spooki", "Zip Your Boots Up Lad", "Ecchi", "Meow Meow", "Playstation", and "Something To Do In The Future". CD features bonus Ash Walker dubs of "Playstation", "Ecchi", and "Spooki". LP, Vinyl record album

UK grime. CD

Excellent work from a singer who should be huge – London-based soul vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto, an artist who's really expanded her vibe since her debut set from a few years back! In the space since that great release, it feels like Bryony's picked up even more jazz in her phrasing – which she uses in really great ways around the keyboard work and leadership of Benedic Lamdin – but in a way that's not really jazz at all, maybe more in the sort of jazz-inspired territory that a singer like Joni Mitchell hit in her mid 70s music. Yet as you'll hear, Jarman-Pinto's nothing like Joni either – very much her own artist, stepping out with confidence on titles that include "Feel Those Things", "Leap", "Riverside", "Bathe In Me", "Frida Rae", "Water Come", "Deep", and "Moving Forward". LP, Vinyl record album

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Tara Lily looks a bit goth on the cover of the album, but she's got a warmly soulful style that really fits her contemporary place in the London scene – a mix of underground soul, global currents, and just the right kick in some of the rhythms – so that the album does a great job of delivering a few more upbeat numbers next to some of its best moody moments! Cosmic elements sit nicely next to more down to earth aspects of the record – all unified strongly by the subtle majesty of Tara's vocals – on titles that include "Naima", "South Bombay", "Breath Now", "Like The Ocean", "Drone Speaks In The Dark", "Double Time", and "6 Feet Down" – the last of which features guest work from Theo Croker! LP, Vinyl record album

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Maybe the coolest record we've ever heard from Moonchild – a set that's an all-acoustic outing, and one that offers up fresh takes on some of their older tunes – in ways that are maybe even more soulful and stunning than before! The instrumentation often includes some great work on reeds, especially flute – and the vocals of Amber Navran have this way of folding together with the grooves, which are also more seductive, through the live interplay of bass, drums, and percussion. The only electric element at times is a bit of Fender Rhodes – which we can hardly argue with – and the performances are all live, on titles that include "Back To Me", "The List", "Cure", "Run Away", "Money", and "The Truth". CD

The continuing evolution of one of our favorite bands in years – and another amazing record from the Nostalgia 77 Octet! Although these guys started out in the funk/sample mode of some of their contemporaries at Tru Thoughts, they've evolved tremendously into a live jazz outfit – working here in styles that range from the spiritual soul jazz of the early 70s to some tighter, more funk-based modes – all delivered with incredible instrumentation and a boldly confident sound! There's a level of writing and arrangements here that matches Impulse Records at their best post-Coltrane brilliance – complicated horn passages folding into one another, then opening up for searing solos and some more groove-based rhythms. And production is great too – clear, clean, and never attempting to interfere with the power of the performance – a rarity these days, and even further proof that the Tru Thoughts label is plenty willing to take some great chances with its music! Titles include "One For Nan", "Question", "Layer Lines", "The Cat", "Tad More", "Lotus Tree", and "Chorale". CD

A tremendous new project from Quantic – a set that has him moving into spiritual jazz territory, with all the depth and care he brought to previous funk and Latin projects! The music here is a mix of electric and acoustic modes – played by Will Holland on guitar with a group that also includes tenor, flute, trumpet, keyboards, moog, and some mighty nice percussion – all used in these warmly flowing ways that are totally wonderful – like some lost, underground 70s set on a tiny label by a local combo – performed with an understated brilliance that really holds us rapt! For a guy who could come on strong at times, Quantic seems to do even more by laying back a bit – and really letting the group energy flow on songs that include "Jumble Sale", "New Constellation", "Bicycle Ride", "The Orchard", "Mirzan", and "Latitude". CD features bonus track – "Latitude (to the point version)". CD

A really great step forward for singer Alice Russell – an artist you might know best from heavier funk sets, but who comes across here in lean deep soul style that's even better for her incredible voice! In face, although we fell in love with Alice from her very first record many years ago, we'd kinda forgot how great she is – an error that's corrected strongly by this well-crafted album, which is also a set that may well catapult Russell into the world of superstardom! Titles include "Agreement", "Gravity", "Square", "I Am", "Things", "Sinner", "Light", "I See You", and "Rain". CD

A really great step forward for singer Alice Russell – an artist you might know best from heavier funk sets, but who comes across here in lean deep soul style that's even better for her incredible voice! In face, although we fell in love with Alice from her very first record many years ago, we'd kinda forgot how great she is – an error that's corrected strongly by this well-crafted album, which is also a set that may well catapult Russell into the world of superstardom! Titles include "Agreement", "Gravity", "Square", "I Am", "Things", "Sinner", "Light", "I See You", and "Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great step forward for singer Alice Russell – an artist you might know best from heavier funk sets, but who comes across here in lean deep soul style that's even better for her incredible voice! In face, although we fell in love with Alice from her very first record many years ago, we'd kinda forgot how great she is – an error that's corrected strongly by this well-crafted album, which is also a set that may well catapult Russell into the world of superstardom! Titles include "Agreement", "Gravity", "Square", "I Am", "Things", "Sinner", "Light", "I See You", and "Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

The most sophisticated album to date from this wonderful musician – a set that has Sly5thAve working with a large ensemble of players who shift along from track to track – delivering a very righteous reading of his core musical ideas, at a level that feels even more powerful than anything else he's ever given us! Many know Sly as a soulful production talent – but here, he's showcasing himself more as a composer/arranger – mixing jazz with larger instrumentation, yet all still set to funky beats and rhythms that tie the whole project to his roots. The whole thing is a huuuuge step forward for the artist – as Sly5thAve plays saxes, flute, bass clarinet, and keyboards – with a huge lineup of players on trumpet, tenor, keyboards, trombone, bass, flute, and other instrumentation too. Two tracks have vocals – sung by MacKenzie on one cut, and Kyle Rapps on another – and titles include "Water Suite", "Liberation", "No No No", "Exodus", "Monoxide", "Proverbs", and "Actin Whyte". LP, Vinyl record album

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Trumpeter Sefi Zisling has a background in funk, but also really showcases his jazz chops here – in a set that's maybe his deepest, most personal record to date – a set that really takes its time and space to find its voice, not just from the leader, but from the other musicians as well! Other players in the core quintet include Omri Shanti on bass, Tom Bollig on drums, Yair Slutzki on trombone, and Nomok on piano and Fender Rhodes – the last of whom really balances with the trombone to provide the right sort of pacing for the trumpet on the tunes! A number of the tracks feature added percussion, cello, and violin – which makes for a really great sound – and there's two guest saxophones on the album's remake of the Mal Waldron tune "All Alone", next to other original tracks that include "The Librarian", "Song For Eyad", "Fortune Song", and "Brothers". LP, Vinyl record album

The second proper solo album from Kinny – whose warm vocals on a number of Tru Thoughts releases mpressed us leading up to her solid solo set – and this one is a straight up knockout! Her voice brings a depth of soul to every recording we've heard of her – be it spacey club grooves or jazzy modern electronics-flavored soul. Since the preceding Idle Forest Of Chit Chat album, she's dojng her thing with a much more personal approach, and this one fully delivers on the increasing promise over the past few years. Modern soul with spacey touches and one of the best albums on Tru Thoughts in quite a while! You Can't Kill A Dame With Soul Includes "Floating Zzzzzzz!", "Big Fat Liar", "Tick Can Tock" feat Son Of Light, "Up Side Down", "Suffocate", "Lost Baggage", a great little electro soul cover of The Cure's "The Love Cats", "You From This Sting", "One Fan Talking", "Shrinking Violet" and "Mmm Of My Hums". CD

The first-ever collection of work from a label we know mostly for its great funky 45s – London's Wah Wah records, home to some great modern tracks with an older funk flavor! Unlike Daptone or other current funk labels, Wah Wah isn't after a straight retro funk sound – and often features tracks that mix together samples, beats, and acoustic instrumentation – very much in the style of some of the best funk on the Tru Thoughts label. A few Tru Thoughts artists make appearances here, and the set bring together 15 import singles in one package – some previously unreleased, and some on CD for the first time! Titles include "Don't You Worry" by Unforscene with Alice Russell, "Alive" and "Like Rain" by Allison Crockett, "Ay Calor" by Max Cole, "Magnetica" by Espen Horne, "Wonderlust" by Aaron Jerome, "Grasshopper (Nostalgia 77 rmx)" by Easylifenatural with Erik Sumo, "Make It So" by Jamie Finlay, "Burning Orange" by Rosie Brown, "Take It Back" by 12th Floor, and "Bird Mess" by Belleruche. CD

Essential work from The Gladiators – exactly the kind of group that did so well in the early Studio One approach! The group are in a familiar mode – a Jamaican soul trio with a strong lead, and warm harmony backup – but there's also maybe a bit more of an edge going on here – partly from the deep, dark rhythms on the tunes – which often have a bottom end that really offsets the vocals – but also maybe just because of the overall badass vibe of the group, as you'd guess from their image on the cover! The Gladiators are to Jamaican music what the grittier New Jersey soul acts were to the mainstream soul market in the US at the same time – as you'll hear on titles that include "Hello Carol", "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Love And Meditation", "On The Other Side", "Jah Go Before Us", "Roots Natty Roots", "Peace Truce", "My Thoughts", and "Downtown Rebel". Reissue features bonus tracks – "Serious Thing", "Jah Jah (version)", "Serious (version)", "Culture", "Rearrange", "Peace Truce", and "Roots Natty/Natty Chalawa (disco mix)". CD

Sublime work from trumpeter Art Farmer – and a key document of the way that he continued to develop his sound in the 70s! Farmer's at the height of his powers here – working in a soulful quartet with Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins – just setting up these beautiful little solos that seem to float out effortlessly from his golden horn. The gentle emotion and light swing of the album give it the surprisingly emotional pull of a sad San Francisco afternoon – as the sun shines brightly, but a strange chill interrupts any easy dreaming that might take place. Includes sublime versions of "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", "How Insensitive", "Firm Roots", and Benny Golson's "Yesterday's Thoughts". CD

The only album ever issued by this trippy trio from the start of the 70s, but one who come across with a surprisingly soulful vibe at times – thanks to production on the album from Leon Ware, Clarence Paul, and Mickey Stevenson! At the core, Truth have sound that maybe echoes some of the Marin County modes of the time – away from the city, where they can relax and let their hair down a bit more – then surprisingly given some groovier touches in the rhythms, which makes for a style that's not exactly funky, but which uses the basslines in all these great ways – making for a great backdrop for the mix of female and male vocals from the group! Titles include "Thoughts", "Lizzie", "Talk", "New York", "Have You Forgotten", "Being Farmed", and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". CD

The only album ever issued by this trippy trio from the start of the 70s, but one who come across with a surprisingly soulful vibe at times – thanks to production on the album from Leon Ware, Clarence Paul, and Mickey Stevenson! At the core, Truth have sound that maybe echoes some of the Marin County modes of the time – away from the city, where they can relax and let their hair down a bit more – then surprisingly given some groovier touches in the rhythms, which makes for a style that's not exactly funky, but which uses the basslines in all these great ways – making for a great backdrop for the mix of female and male vocals from the group! Titles include "Thoughts", "Lizzie", "Talk", "New York", "Have You Forgotten", "Being Farmed", and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime work from trumpeter Art Farmer – and a key document of the way that he continued to develop his sound in the 70s! Farmer's at the height of his powers here – working in a soulful quartet with Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins – just setting up these beautiful little solos that seem to float out effortlessly from his golden horn. The gentle emotion and light swing of the album give it the surprisingly emotional pull of a sad San Francisco afternoon – as the sun shines brightly, but a strange chill interrupts any easy dreaming that might take place. Includes sublime versions of "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", "How Insensitive", "Firm Roots", and Benny Golson's "Yesterday's Thoughts". CD

Essential stuff! This 2 CD set includes the entirety of Albert Ayler's Live In Greenwich Village album – plus a huge amount of previously unreleased live material, played by the Ayler group in New York, during 1966 and 1967. Ayler's brother Don is on trumpet, and other players include Joel Freedman, George Steele, Bill Fowell, Beaver Harris, Sunny Murray, Alan Silva, and Henry Grimes. The tracks have the same intensity of Ayler's ESP work – and many tunes are quite long, very free and open. Titles include "Light In Darkness", "Divine Peacemaker", "Angels", "Omega Is The Alpha", "Universal Thoughts", "Change Has Come", "Infinite Spirit", and "Spiritual Rebirth". 14 tracks in all – and one of the most important slices of Ayler's career! CD

A boldly strutting debut from Crow – a group who are maybe a bit forgotten in terms of the pop music history books, but who were really up-and-comers on the American hard rock scene at the end of the 60s! The lead off cut on the album is their great "Evil Woman" – a bassy, fuzzy track that's got some very catchy lead vocals – of the sort that would have sounded great coming out of an AM radio through that tiny speaker that graced the dashboards of most cars in 1970. And the rest of the record is equally nice – with cuts that include "Gonna Leave A Mark", "Busy Day", "Rollin", "White Eyes", "Thoughts", "Da Da Song", and "Sleepy Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic new music from Detroit reedman Wendell Harrison – working here with a renewed version of the Tribe Records scene, at a level that makes the album one of his best in many years! Wendell blows tenor and bass clarinet, and his group here is mostly younger, lesser-known players – but who soar with Harrison in a mix of spiritual jazz modes and a few more rhythmic currents – all with the kind of powerful, progressive vibe that made the Tribe Records material of Harrison and his contemporaries so important in the 70s! Other musicians include Vincent Chandler on trombone, Steve Woods on flute, Luis Resto on piano, Walter White on trumpet, and Jacob Schwantz on guitar – although players shift often from track to track – and frequent Harrison partner Pamela Wise also provides a bit of keyboards, and the set features both sung vocals on two tracks from Pathe Jassi, and a recitation from Mbiyu Chui on another. Titles include "Revoltuion", "Siera", "Wandering Thoughts", "Samoulen Khale Yi", "What's Up", and "Saga Of A Carrot". CD

A great little set of soulful fusion – played by one of the artists who helped invent the genre! Ronnie's mixing soul and jazz easily here – hitting a sweet groove that's a bit more electric than ever, but which still has all the warmth and depth of his 70s work. A few tracks feature Ronnie singing lead vocals – but most of the numbers are instrumentals that focus on his extremely catchy work on saxophone – in that rhythmically soloing mode that first broke big on the earlier hit "Always There". Backing vocals on the set are by Eloise Laws and Miki Howard – and titles include "Young Child", "Tomorrow", "Every Generation", "As One", "Love's Victory", and the sublime mellow cut "Thoughts & Memories". CD

Low Budget Hi Fi Music from Madlib – the eleventh entry in his epic Madlib's Medicine Show series – 28 tracks of hip hop unofficially dubbed the Dirty Demos! The set feature sample enriched instrumentals by Madlib as Loop Digga and collaborations with Strong Arm Steady, J Rocc, Madlib & Oh No as The Professionals, Guity Simpson, AG & Frank Nitt. It's great stuff, natch – finding Madlib in a straighter hip hop mode production wise – but straighter Madlib production has unexpected twists and turns! Loads of funky samples, some recognizable others otherworldly – and beats that range from dusty funk to dramatically soulful. Includes "The Sound Of Champions" (inst), "Charlie Hustle" by Strong Arm Steady, "Sam", "Snakes 101" by MED, "Girls" by J Rocc, "Love/Hate" (inst), "The Adventurs Of Soul Bra And Docta Dick'em Pts 1 & 2", "Hold Up" by The Professionals, "Thoughts Of An Old Flame" by Guilty Simpson and others. CD

Lost work from Sun Ra – pulled from two different tapes recorded in the Bay Area in 1971! Disc one features an obscure performance – even by Ra standards – done at the Warehouse in San Francisco, with a group of unlisted players, all of whom really hit some of the farthest-reaching Arkestra modes of the time. The sound is often quite free, and relatively out – but a few sparer tracks feature great instrumental pairings that include percussion and trombone, and percussion with moog from Ra! Titles include "Discipline", "Enlightenment", "Satellites Are Spinning", and 3 more unidentified tracks. Disc two is quite different, but equally compelling – as it features Sun Ra speaking before a class at UC Berkeley, spinning out his thoughts in a relatively freewheeling manner! The lecture covers a number of themes similar to his writings of the time – quite political at moments, and always pretty compelling. CD

A jagged, jarring, surprisingly melodic and all together exhilarating modern effort from Krautrock royalty Faust – a hypnotizing and worthy effort from one of the longest standing avant rock groups ever! Faust founding members Jean-Herve Peron and Zappi Diermaier keep it going staggeringly well with former Gallon Drunk swaggerer and multi-instrumentalist James Johnston and multimedia artist Geraldine Swayne and piano, synth and more. Tracks include "Tell The Bitch To Go Home", "Whet", "Thoughts Of The Dead", "Je Boeffe", "Invisible Mending", "Pythagoras", "Dampfausless" (1 & 2) and more. CD

Three British jazz legends meet up with an ultra-hip Italian group – all in a soaring, joyously progressive style that makes the album one of the best from the Ogun label in many years! Canto Geral is a large ensemble who mix together horns and voices with a full, rich sound that almost reminds us a bit of some of the best large group work on Strata East from the 70s – a mode that's not really big band jazz, but more a unified, visionary approach to the music – one that draws a tremendous amount of power from each participating member, but never swallows up their own identity. The addition of Keith Tippett's piano, Jullie Tippetts' vocals, and Louis Moholo's drums somehow give them even more tremendous energy on this date – especially working under the focused leadership of Tippett, who directs them on a set of his own compositions. There's a slight feeling of South African jazz in the mix here – a style that's almost a bit like Chris MacGregor's classic Brotherhood Of Breath group back in the 70s – and the vocals are usually just "voice", sliding along with instrumental properties next to the rest of the members in the group. Titles include "Septober Energy", "Mra", "Thoughts To Geoff", "Dedicated To Mingus", "Mongezi Feza", "Four Whispers For Archie's Chair", "South African National Anthem", and "You Ain't Gonna Know Me Cos You Think You Know Me". CD

A very groovy little soundtrack for this original film version of Lolita – directed by Stanley Kubrick with a screenplay by Nabokov himself. The album sports the famous "Lolita Theme", with a weird vocal part that goes "nya nya", and which became something of a minor instrumental hit at the time. About a third of the album is variations on that theme, and the rest of the album features darker tunes that get at the inherent sadness of the movie – standing in stark contrast next to the sillier theme numbers. This CD version includes a number of previously unreleased selections and versions. Tracks include "Love Theme From Lolita", "Two Beat Society", "Thoughts Of Lolita", "School Dance", "Quilty's Theme", and "Lolita Ya Ya", "Music To Eat By", "Diary Entry", "The Strange Call", "Twenty Five Paces" and many more. 23 tracks in all! CD

A true treasure from this righteous Philly collective – a group who only issued one album in the 70s, and who finally double their catalog with the release of this rare performance from 1973! Sounds Of Liberation have this all-star lineup of musicians who did great work in Philadelphia and elsewhere – with Khan Jamal on vibes, Monette Sudler on guitar, and Omar Hill and Rashid Salim on percussion – working alongside some great work on flute and alto from Byard Lancaster, heavy bass from Billy Mills, and just the right touch of drums from Dwight James! The style here is maybe tighter, and occasionally more funky than on their one self-titled album – but the group also stretch out strongly too – hitting all the right spots in this forward-thinking blend of spiritual jazz modes, of the sort that would have made them a huge 70s ensemble, had they held on and found the right venue. Titles include the extended "New Horizon", plus "Badi", "Sweet Evil Mist", "Thoughts", and "Keno". CD

A wild little record – one that was issued under the name of Flying Dutchman label headman Bob Thiele – but which actually features work from some of the grooviest artists on the label at the time – including Tom Scott, Ornette Coleman, Jon Appleton, John Carter, Horace Tapscott, and Bobby Bradford! The package has a very different feel on each of the album's four sides – and side one is a tremendous showcase for the young reedman Tom Scott – working here in a cool mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation that's similar to his other records of the time – including organ, vibes, and some nice funky touches as well. Side two features an exploration of the history of jazz – but one that progresses quickly from early modes to hipper ones – showcasing the talents of John Carter on tenor, Bobby Bradford on trumpet, and Horace Tapscott on piano! Side three is a mighty dedication to the late John Coltrane – played at first by a trio with Joe Farrell on flute, Wilbur Ware on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – then moving into a mix of Farrell's flute and narration by Rosko – then a performance by the Ornette Coleman quartet. And side four is especially mindblowing, as it's comprised of lone long piece by Jon Appleton's Syntonic Menagerie – a mix of sound samples, tape tricks, and jazz – as a commentary on The American Indian, JFK, and Martin Luther King. The whole thing's a great illustration of the Flying Dutchman label at its most revolutionary – and titles include "Head Start", "Freaky Zeke", "Lanoola Goes Limp", "Swing Era", "In The Vineyard/Avant Garde", "Love Supreme", "Lament For John Coltrane", and "A Few Thoughts For The Day". CD also features a rare bonus track – "The Flying Dutchman". CD

A really wonderful album by Sonny Fortune – recorded for a major label, sure, but with the soulful depth of some of his earlier work for the indies! Sonny's on alto, flute, and soprano sax – and also plays a bit of percussion and some slight mini moog – not too much, as the session only has slight electric touches, but mixed with additional Fender Rhodes from Michael Cochrane, which gives the record a shimmering finish that helps take Fortune's reed solos up to the heavens! Other players include Charles Sullivan on trumpet, Buster Williams on bass, and Chip Lyle on drums – and tracks include "In Waves Of Dreams", "A Space In Time", "Thoughts", "Revelation", and "Seeing Beyond The Obvious". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few straight rock records ever issued on the mostly-folk Monitor Records label – a great 60s outing from Freeborne, a group with a sound that's as tripped-out as you might expect from the cover! Instrumentation is heavy on organ and guitars, both acoustic and electric, but there's also some cool percussion too – and interesting use of recorders, in a way that comes across with an ocarina-like charm! Vocals are somewhat soft, but have a dark undercurrent – and there's a really great folk-into-psyche sort of feel to the whole thing. Titles include "Images", "Land Of Diana", "But I Must Return To Frenzy", "Inside People", "Yellow Sky", "Peak Impressions & Thoughts", and "Visions Of My Own". CD

A great little set of soulful fusion – played by one of the artists who helped invent the genre! Ronnie's mixing soul and jazz easily here – hitting a sweet groove that's a bit more electric than ever, but which still has all the warmth and depth of his 70s work. A few tracks feature Ronnie singing lead vocals – but most of the numbers are instrumentals that focus on his extremely catchy work on saxophone – in that rhythmically soloing mode that first broke big on the earlier hit "Always There". Backing vocals on the set are by Eloise Laws and Miki Howard – and titles include "Young Child", "Tomorrow", "Every Generation", "As One", "Love's Victory", and the sublime mellow cut "Thoughts & Memories". LP, Vinyl record album

If Rare Earth are great in the studio, they're even better in concert – as the open space of performance lets you hear how great they are as an instrumental combo! Here, the tracks are long and very open – with longer jams than before, and all sorts of great solos in the middle – a raw groove that's totally wonderful, and which definitely warrants the double-length space that Motown gave the group for the record! Highlights include a 23 minute take on "Get Ready" – which takes up all of side two, supposedly edited down from a one hour performance of the tune – plus "I Just Want To Celebrate", "I Know I'm Losing You", "Hey Big Brother", and "Thoughts" – all in nice long live versions. CD