This was the golden age of Adam & The Ants - for one or two of the more serious-minded post-punk fans from the early 80s at the very least. A BBC Sessions album that is a tribute to the great DJ himself, John Peel who, had it not been for him, many may never had been introduced to the band. Featuring many different versions of tracks that were included on the debut Dirk Wears White Sox (released later in 1979), these tracks seem even more adrenalin-fuelled that the versions we eventually heard on the fantastic debut that for many has never been matched by anyone since. The opening two tracks, however, come from the early 1978 session that were not part of the debut and opening track 'Lou' doesn't even feature Adam Ant on lead vocals. This track was performed by the band's then manager and punk icon Jordan and sits well with the rest of this impressive collection of recordings that could be classed as Adam & The Ants part one (of three different versions). These sessions link the first two versions of the band very well and are a world apart from the commercial and more successful songs that eventually made them a household - and playground - name for the next decade and more.

A formative moment in the Wailers' illustrious career and, as the title of the album would suggest, a pivotal record in reggae history, marking the Wailers' evolution into a socially conscious powerhouse. Originally released in 1970 under the production genius of Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the album features the Wailers' transition from ska roots to the deeply introspective and groove-laden sound that would define their legacy. Now reissued on striking blue smoky vinyl, this release offers fans a beautifully remastered glimpse into the early brilliance of Marley, Tosh, and Livingstone. From the hypnotic title track 'Soul Rebel' to the r&b-infused 'Try Me', the album ability to blend heartfelt lyrics with understated yet compelling instrumentation. Tracks like 'My Cup' and 'Souls Almighty' exude a raw charm, with Perry's minimalist production accentuating the trio's vocal harmonies and the dominant, pulsating basslines. Tosh's contributions, including the reflective 'No Sympathy' and the urgent '400 Years', add depth and edge to the record, balancing Marley's easygoing delivery with a sense of defiant purpose. Despite its stripped-down approach, Soul Rebels brims with atmosphere, offering an entrancing listening experience.

Frits Wentink and Wolf Music join forces once again for the fourth edition in their collaborative series. This EP delivers four floor-filling heaters, each track crafted with Wentink's signature blend of deep house grooves and infectious melodies. 'Rhythm & Blaze', a track made exclusively for the Wolf Music 15th Birthday celebration, sets the tone with its pulsating energy and soulful vibe. 'Lost In The Moment' and 'Turbo Passion' keep the energy high with their infectious rhythms and captivating melodies, while 'Nocturnal' takes a slightly darker turn, exploring deeper, more hypnotic soundscapes. With its impeccable production and undeniable dancefloor appeal, this EP is a must-have for any house music enthusiast.

The world can always do with more love and J Diggins delivers that on the A-side if this new jam on Digger's Delight with a refreshing remake. Blending the iconic Skull Snaps drumbeat with a melodic summer vibe, this track revisits a Bush Babee's classic from 1996 featuring Mos Def. At 93 BPM, it's a perfectly paced treat for classic hip-hop lovers. On the B-side, J reimagines the '96 Coolio remix with an "Atomic Dawg" vibe. Infused with classic samples and dancehall twists, it pays homage to "one nation under a groove" while delivering hard-hitting beats for the streets.

Under-the-radar hip-hop issuers Modern Classics snaffle up Kendrick Lamar's bodying 2024 diss track to Drake, 'Not Like Us', pressing it to bootleg record only six months after its release. In one of the most compelling yet travestied hip-hop beefs of the 2020s - where it seems only the most high-profile heirs apparent to the crown of "greatest of all time" may indulge beefs at all, and in which the format's verbal blows have grown increasingly low -'Not Like Us' premiered only less than 20 hours after Lamar dropped 'Meet The Grahams', which had already taken aim at Drake's family history. With stringy hyphy flavours, portentous lyrical KOs, and an opening Sixth Sense reference (ahem, "I see dead people"), Lamar temporarily goes from crown-bearer to pallbearer here; it is said that Drake may never come back from this one, amid the many serious allegations levelled at him in the song.

The veteran Reading jungle label Basement Records oversees two new mixes of Top Buzz's 1993 bass-fuelled darkside thumper, all the more poignant after TB aka Jason Kaye's passing in 1993. The Swankout Legacy is the more junglist of the pair, first twisting the original's four to the floor stomp into a churning Amen inferno, adding timestretched vocals and apocalyptic horns, before finally incorporating the bullying 4/4 punch just when you'd forgotten it ever existed. The Swankout Legacy vocal mix, on the other hand, adds a serious portion of reggae to the devastating dancefloor hardcorisms, with results that are so pure warfare you suspect the United Nations might have to get involved. A fitting, firing tribute.

Drum & bass bastion Future Retro consign two next-gen producers, FFF and Tim Reaper, to a full ten minutes of raggatonic shell-shockage. Both try their hand at the now-rare 'VIP' treatment (the acronym stands for Variation In Production, but how this differs to the term "remix" is truly up in the air, save for the fact that VIP often means "self-remix" or "remix by original artist"). Following 2024's 'Meeting Of The Minds' VIP release, which followed the same format, Reaper notes the two tracks' creation in April 2020, made from parts of the other artists' original tunes. 'World Championships' by the pair of them is the variable tune of choice here, with Reaper's version providing a glimmery ambience, while FFF's is much stodgier, rougher, less padded.