An easygoing city pop classic from Momoko Kikuchi – catchy but laidback at the same time – and nicely produced, but with a different vibe than some of the clunkier American work of the time! The record's a great illustration of the way that a singer like Momoko could find just the right balance with the backings – working with a set of arrangements from Tetsuji Hayashi, who also wrote the songs – carrying forward some of the pop and soundtrack styles of the time, and wrapping things up in a well-crafted record for Kikuchi. Titles include "Boy Friend", "Southern Cross Dreaming", "Ai No Surf Break", "Dear Children", and "Calendar Ni Initial". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Really amazing sounds from Japanese drummer Takeo Moriyama – a record that's sometimes spiritual and organic, sometimes very unusually put-together – and which makes as much use of inventive percussion as it does the leaders drums! The group's got this very cool twin-sax approach – both tenor and soprano, each played by Toshihiko Inoue and Shuichi Enomoto – alternating between the instruments, and creating these textures that are sometimes sharp-edged, but always very striking – especially when the album's percussion from Yoji Sadanari really takes off! The whole thing almost feels a bit out of time, especially for its early 80s recording date – almost like one of those unusual Japanese spiritual sessions from a decade before, which also might not be what you're expecting from the 80s cover image too. Titles include "To O Ku", "Fields", "Ka Ze", "Ta Ke", and "East Plants". CD

Really amazing sounds from Japanese drummer Takeo Moriyama – a record that's sometimes spiritual and organic, sometimes very unusually put-together – and which makes as much use of inventive percussion as it does the leaders drums! The group's got this very cool twin-sax approach – both tenor and soprano, each played by Toshihiko Inoue and Shuichi Enomoto – alternating between the instruments, and creating these textures that are sometimes sharp-edged, but always very striking – especially when the album's percussion from Yoji Sadanari really takes off! The whole thing almost feels a bit out of time, especially for its early 80s recording date – almost like one of those unusual Japanese spiritual sessions from a decade before, which also might not be what you're expecting from the 80s cover image too. Titles include "To O Ku", "Fields", "Ka Ze", "Ta Ke", and "East Plants". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful album from this ever-changing Brazilian group – a combo who started out in more standard Afro Funk modes years ago, but who've really shifted their music in all sorts of great ways over recent albums! There's still some strong use of horns and heavy percussion throughout – but they also work in keyboards and electronics in these really great ways – almost echoing some Brazilian musical experiments from that Trama Records generation at the start of the century, while also holding true to the more acoustic elements at their roots! Titles include "Baile Flutante", "Mar Virado", "Loa Lua", "Marginal Elevado Radial", and "Na Quarta Feira". CD

A really wonderful album from this ever-changing Brazilian group – a combo who started out in more standard Afro Funk modes years ago, but who've really shifted their music in all sorts of great ways over recent albums! There's still some strong use of horns and heavy percussion throughout – but they also work in keyboards and electronics in these really great ways – almost echoing some Brazilian musical experiments from that Trama Records generation at the start of the century, while also holding true to the more acoustic elements at their roots! Titles include "Baile Flutante", "Mar Virado", "Loa Lua", "Marginal Elevado Radial", and "Na Quarta Feira". LP, Vinyl record album

Remixes by Tony Humphries, Satoshi Tomie and Pal Joey. CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... Cassette

"Vapors" is, of course, the mellow Biz classic off his first full-length LP, and probably the best use of the "Papa Don't Take No Mess" sample. "Biz Is Goin Off (dub)" is a nice echoey 6:30 minute reworking of the song with added beatboxing and scratching that aren't on the original. "The Do Do" is a track not on any LP, with a freestyle-type rhyme and shoutouts from the Biz. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Beautiful live set from 1971, featuring a very stripped down set of stuff. Gal comes in at first accompanying herself on guitar, then the band slowly joins in, but never really gets in the way of her voice. The sound is spare, and the production rough, and this one has a dark moody feel to it that you don't always get with her LPs. Tracks include "Falsa Baiana", "Coracao Vagabundo", "Como 2 e 2", and "Hotel Das Estrelas". LP, Vinyl record album

Isham plays synths, various horns, piano, Steiner EVI, and electronic percussion – accompaned by Peter Van Hooke on snare drum and electronic percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

All American In Jazz is a lesser-known Ellington set from the 60s – tracks from the lesser-remembered musical, with alto from Johnny Hodges, trumpet from Ray Nance, and tenor from Paul Gonsalves! Titles include "Our Children", "Nightlife", "I've Just Seen Her", "Back To School", and "If I Were You". Midnight In Paris includes the tracks "Under Paris Skies", "I Wish You Love", "Mademoiselle De Paris", "Comme Ci Comme Ca", "Speak To Me Of Love", "A Midnight In Paris", "My Heart Sings", "Guitar Amour", "The Petite Waltz", "Paris Blues", "Javapachacha", "No Regrets", and "The River Seine". CD

A really sprightly piano set from Kirk Lightsey – one that's maybe got even more kick than some of his classic work from years back! The pianist works here with Steve Watts on bass and Dave Wickins on drums and percussion – and the tunes are all nice and long, and really stretch out with plenty of space that lets Kirk show off that special side of his style – his way of being both warmly lyrical and more soulfully introspective at the same time, with a sense of color and phrasing that really leaves us breathless throughout! The set features some guest work from Lee Goodall on soprano and flute – and titles include "Golden Legacy", "Punjab", "Estate", "Escapade", "Fresh Air", and "Vappallia". LP, Vinyl record album

Maupin plays bass clarinet, tenor and soprano saxes, alto flute, and piano, and is accompanied by Darek Oleszkiewica on bass, Michael Stephans on drums and percussionist Daryl Munyungo Jackson. 14 numbers in all, including "Neophilia 2006", "Walter Bishop Jr", "Level Three", "Blinkers", "Penumbra", "Mirror Image", "Message To Prez", "Tapping Things", "Vapors", "One For Eric Dolphy", "See The Positive", 'Trope On A Rope", "The 12th Day" and "Equal Justice". CD

Kermit Ruffins on trumpet and vocals with Shannon Powell on drums, Steve Pistorius on piano, Richard Moten on bass, Don Vappie on banjo, Lucien Barbarin on trombone, Tom Fischer on clarinet, and Mykia Jovan on vocals. CD

Includes "The Vapors" with Vince Staples, "Bed Peace" with Childish Gambino, "Stay Ready (What A Life)" with Kendrick Lamar, and "WTH" with Ab-Soul. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A key early moment for Keith Jarrett – his first-ever solo album, recorded in the early 70s for ECM – and the start of a huge legacy of later work! Before this set, Jarrett had recorded some compelling trio material for Atlantic – and he was also exploring more spiritually soulful tones over at Impulse Records too. But this record is something else entirely – a new showcase for his sensitive expressions – the kind of angular, yet poetic lines that sparkled strongly in the trio recordings, yet stand out even more on their own! Tunes are beautifully penned – and titles include "In Front", "Ritooria", "Lalene", "Starbright", "Vapallia", and "Semblence". LP, Vinyl record album

A dark and extremely avant garde soundtrack from the great Ennio Morricone – one that's done in collaboration with his own Gruppo Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza – an ensemble with roots in film scoring, but expressions that are more in the mode of 20th century avant! The music is a blend of free improvisation and more straight ahead jazz – with electric guitar, trumpet, violin, and percussion mixed with lots of weird effects and electronics – much more experimental than some of Morricone's more famous soundtracks of the time, and given a nice sense of direction from conductor Bruno Nicolai. The whole thing's incredibly spooky – one of the most turgid scores we've ever heard from the pen of Morricone – and the titles include "Sequita", "Evaporazione", "Dal Sogno E Ritorno", "Folle Folle", and "Notte E Misteri". LP, Vinyl record album

A dark and extremely avant garde soundtrack from the great Ennio Morricone – one that's done in collaboration with his own Gruppo Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza – an ensemble with roots in film scoring, but expressions that are more in the mode of 20th century avant! The music is a blend of free improvisation and more straight ahead jazz – with electric guitar, trumpet, violin, and percussion mixed with lots of weird effects and electronics – much more experimental than some of Morricone's more famous soundtracks of the time, and given a nice sense of direction from conductor Bruno Nicolai. The whole thing's incredibly spooky – one of the most turgid scores we've ever heard from the pen of Morricone – and the titles include "Sequita", "Evaporazione", "Dal Sogno E Ritorno", "Folle Folle", and "Notte E Misteri". Expanded version – with 21 tracks in all! CD

... CD

A well-titled set, given that the album is Soulive's first away from the Blue Note label – a surprisingly tight outing done for the mostly-mellow Concord imprint, and a real back-to-basics outing that we totally love! The group's in fine fine form for the record – working with that core classic intensity that we first loved way back in their indie years – an approach that's gotten a bit too overly jamming or muddled up on other records, and which is presented here in a nicely stripped-down approach that only adds in a bit of extra guest work from time to time. Reggie Watts, Chaka Khan, and Ivan Neville all make appearances on the record – but honestly, what we still love best is the record's core grooving from the trio of Evans, Krasno, and Evans. Hate the cover, though – but whaddayagonnado? Titles include some great short "Interlude" tracks, plus "Got Soul", "Reverb", "Break Out", "She's Hooked", "Freedom", "What Can You Do", "Vapor", and "Take It Easy". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

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