Back catalogue:

Review: .5 Borough Breaks are back with another essential slice of 90s hip-hop nostalgia. Their latest 7" revives a 1995 Hot 97 favourite-a gritty, golden-era banger that once ruled the NYC airwaves. Handily pressed for both DJs and collectors, Blahzay Blahzay's 'Danger' captures the raw energy of East Coast rap at its peak. As always with this label, the flip side features the original sample source: a soulful gem 'Rockin Chair' from recently departed legend Gwen McCrae whose legacy shaped generations of soul fans and hip-hop heads. As such, this 7" combines deep digging with authentic hip-hop flair and pays tribute to both the beatmakers and the soul pioneers who inspired them. Essential wax.

Review: Following the likes of 'A Journey Into Abstract HipHop' and 'Snap Your Neck Back', the Gasoline collective continued their early legacy with 'Fuck You I'm 21' which arrived digitally in 2023, 21 years after the debut EP. It comes now as a 7" with all the original cuts included. The opener is an old-school blend of raw beats, scratching and smart samples, 'Human Sucks' then pairs moody spoke words with eerie late-night boom-bap and 'Zattar' is a short beat interlude that oozes atmosphere. 'Dark In The 46th District' is the final short but pithy beat sketch which is a great example of experimental hip-hop and beat culture from the turn of the millennium.

Review: Few tracks capture the icy allure of early 80s electronic experimentation quite like this underground classic. Originally released in 1981, this Swiss post-punk/coldwave classic has transcended its era, becoming a cult favorite across underground scenes and DJ sets of various genres. Now reissued on limited blue vinyl, its influence remains undeniable. 'Eisbaer' is a track that bridges stark, minimalist electronics with the raw energy of post-punk. The hypnotic bassline and cold, robotic drum programming lay a foundation for jagged guitar stabs and eerie synth flourishes, creating an urgent, mechanical pulse. The disaffected, almost mantra-like vocalsideclaring "Ich mochte ein Eisbar sein" ("I want to be a polar bear")iheighten its existential detachment. Echoes of Throbbing Gristle's industrial edge and Cabaret Voltaire's abstract electronics blend seamlessly with the emerging synth-pop movement, helping to push new wave into more danceable, electronic territory. Side B's 'Film 2' takes a more abrasive approach, a pounding, near-industrial instrumental that pulses with motorik intensity. 'Ich Lieb Sie' is more restrained but equally unsettling, its sparse arrangement and ghostly atmosphere reinforcing Grauzone's unique ability to evoke emotion through minimalism. Timeless and still chillingly modern, this reissue ensures that Eisbar and its B-sides continue to inspire. A crucial document of coldwave's evolution, reaffirming why this track remains a DJ favourite decades later.

Review: A rare gem from the golden age of early reggae, this 1970 cut by Justin Hinds was originally released on a Duke Reid 7". It gets a welcome reissue here but still has plenty of lo-fi aesthetics, vinyl crackle and dusty sound that keeps it authentic rather than overly polished. Hinds' soulful vocal delivery and signature rhythm style shine as they capture the spirit of the era with subtle flair. On the flip side, a slinky, instrumental organ version by Gus McIntyre adds serious depth and makes this an irresistible double-sider or cracking up nice and loud through some towering speaker stacks.

Review: Serving as the follow up to 2022's critically acclaimed and super cheesy by design stadium-goth opus Impera, Swedish rock occultists Ghost make their grand return with sixth full-length Skeleta. The vision of Tobias Forge, renowned for his charismatic vocal cadence and immense range, but more so for his undertaking of different characters and monikers for each album cycle, the Papa Emeritus IV delving into empirical fallacies on their previous outing has been usurped by Papa V Perpetua, who promises to deliver his band of Nameless Ghouls' "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas", touching on "demonic possessions" and the allure of succumbing to "dark forces". In other words, expect mammoth riffs, epic refrains, large doses of overt theatricality verging on camp, and on-the-nose song titles such as 'Satanized'.

Review: Skeleta marks the sixth full-length from Swedish theatrical goth rock entity Ghost, following on from 2022's retro stadium-goth swing for the fences Impera. Known for their high-concept aesthetic solely credited to mastermind Tobias Forge, who undertakes differing mantles and characters pertaining to each era and project, Papa Emeritus IV who fronted their preceding work has now been replaced by Papa V Perpetua, and while his predecessor was said to have been driven by ruminations on empirical reigns, the latest leader of the band of "Nameless Ghouls" is more concerned with "demonic possessions" and succumbing to "dark forces", with the album promised to be their "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas". With big riffs, soaring hooks and a lead single as brazenly titled as 'Satanized', it's time for yet another era of overtly gothic and purposefully cheesy occult-rock.

Review: The first hard rock album to land at Number One on the Billboard 200 in four years, Swedish rock occultists Ghost make their grand return with sixth full-length Skeleta, serving as the highly anticipated follow up to 2022's acclaimed and super camp-by-design stadium-goth rock opus Impera. Still the singular vision of Tobias Forge, renowned for his charismatic vocals and immense versatility, but primarily for his adorning of different guises, characters and monikers for each album cycle, the Papa Emeritus IV who pontificated on empirical fallacies throughout their previous outing has since been usurped by Papa V Perpetua, who along with his band of Nameless Ghouls deliver their "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas", touching on "demonic possessions" and the allure of succumbing to "dark forces". In other words, expect a gloomy gauntlet of anthemic riffage, epic refrains, gargantuan levels of cheesy theatricality, and Satanic Panic bell-ringing on-the-nose song-titled such as 'Satanized'.

Review: Ghostface Killah, legendary Wu-Tang Clan member, invites us to relive the cinematic brilliance of 36 Seasons, his tenth studio album and a conceptual death blow. The record chronicles the journey of Tony Starks (not an uncoincidental Iron Man reference), whose return to Staten Island after nine years, after a lengthy stint in the slammer, finds him only a further embroilment in the seedy underworlds and ganglands of New York. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the album is reissued here in special editions and with exclusive bonuses, including an original graphic novel booklet and poster, diving deeper into a gripping saga of personal redemption and street resilience.

Review: Celebrating its tenth anniversary, 36 Seasons remains a unique album, combining gritty storytelling with soul-driven production. With a compelling narrative written by Matthew Rosenberg, the album immerses listeners in the life of Tony Starks, a streetwise figure navigating betrayal, revenge and redemption. The collaboration with The Revelations brings a fresh, live-band sound that elevates the classic Ghostface energy, blending sharp lyricism with rich, retro-soul instrumentation. Guest performances feature Kool G Rap, AZ and Pharoahe Monch further enhance the storytelling, adding layers of character development, while tracks like 'The Dogs of War' and 'Homicide' showcase sharp lyricism and dramatic tension, while the album's emotional depth, especially on 'Love Don't Live Here', offers a more intimate side of Starks. This reissue brings out the full range of the album's soulful grooves and cinematic narrative. Whether revisiting 36 Seasons for its narrative or its production, this anniversary edition invites both new listeners and longtime fans to experience it in a fresh, vivid light.

Review: Reconnecting through their shared musical heritages, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson present What Did the Blackbird Say To The Crow, a mesmerising collection of fiddle and banjo tunes tied to North Carolina's many oral and digital traditions. After their late mentor Joe Thompson bequeathed them a trove of recordings to work with, the already esteemed, torch-bearing duo breathe new life into 18 handpicked rethinks and honorific originals, some sung, others purely instrumental. Recorded outdoors at sites meaningful to Thompson and Baker, their sessions were joined by the rare, overlapping calls of two cicada broods, unheard together since 1803. Giddens calls it "music made for your community's enjoyment and for dancing."

Review: Future Rootz has collaborated with Canal Sounds and EGREM for a gem of a reissue here that goes all the way back to 1977 when producer and bassist Jorge Soler stepped out as Grupo Yoyi for Yoyi, an album that marked his only known solo project. The record now sits up there as one of the rarest and most desirable albums from the Cuban musical canon as it is such a sublime fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz, funk and disco. The musicianship throughout is exceptional with mesmeric synths and evocative horn solos all tethered to the sort of grooves that will either chill you out or heat you up depending on the setting.

Review: Mille Plateaux and Raster hero Andreas Tilliander meets Fire! Orchestra's Goran Kajfes somewhere deep - and we mean DEEP - in the jazz cosmos. The farthest reaches of a universe far, far away, but one that still seems to understand how joyful vast can sound when pierced by the haunting yet strangely alluring sound of brass. But simply defining this as jazz misses a point, then throws us well beyond the pale. In Cmin would be nothing without the electronic tricks and gadgetry that first made us feel as though we'd space-walked off the edge of the known galaxy, out past the Milky Way's stardust. Echoes, tape delays, things that add mood and timbre without necessarily shouting their presence. There's magic at work here. And, contrary to the 21st Century's obsession with under-the-hood, not knowing the how is the reason why you want this.