Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The music from Apocalypse Now is a compelling piece of the film's unique atmosphere, composed by Carmine Coppola and his son, Francis Ford Coppola. This remastered gatefold 2xLP presents a score that is anything but conventional. Featuring bold electronic experimentation, the music complements the film's depiction of chaos and inner turmoil. Tracks like 'The Delta' and 'The Dossier' create a meditative, eerie backdrop, while 'Orange Light' and 'Voyage' highlight the hallucinatory journey of its protagonist, with the latter infusing a touch of psychedelic guitar. While it's not a traditional, action-driven score, the pulsating synths of 'Nung River' and dissonance of 'Chef's Head' bring tension to the forefront. Its final moments with 'Finale' bring reflection to a movie that explores the boundaries of duty and sanity. Although challenging at times, the music's blend of synthetic and natural elements provides a fascinating listen, especially for those open to a bold 1970s electronic sound.

Review: A four-CD career retrospective of Motorhead's iconic guitarist, coupled with a 320-page book, is set for release via BMG. Authoured by veteran rock journalist Kris Needs, in collaboration with Clarke's widow Mariko Fujiwara, the book provides a detailed account of Clarke's life and career. The narrative begins with Clarke's formative years, from his early musical inspirations to his significant collaborations, including recording with Curtis Knight. The story delves into his pivotal years with Motorhead (1976-1982), the formation of Fastway, and his solo endeavours. Personal insights from Mariko and Clarke's close friends enrich the biography, offering a look into his life beyond the stage. The CDs include The Early Years, featuring tracks from Zeus, Continuous Performance, and the Muggers. Motorhead Era, highlighting hits like 'Ace Of Spades,' unreleased demos and Eddie's work with Girlschool, Fastway, which showcases the band's evolution with demos, remixes, and tracks from eight albums and the Solo Years, focusing on his solo albums and collaborations. Stories don't come much more comprehensive than this.

Review: Soul vocalist and covers extraordinaire Vanessa Fernandez - in other worlds known as Vandetta - throws a curveball with Remember Me, seguing through a fabulous mix of R&B classics, including 'That's the Way of the World' (Earth Wind & Fire), 'Lovely Day' (Bill Withers), 'You're the One I Love' (Barry White), 'Kiss' (Prince), not to mention a smattering of contemporary pop and soul numbers numbers such as Lenny Kravitz's 'I Belong To You', Tom Misch's 'It Runs Through Me', and Portishead's 'Roads'. Proving a wide-ranging knowledge of soul music that is difficult to match (the genre is often subject to staid interpretations, remaining too fixed to certain traditions or places), Fernandez takes on an all-embracing approach to her chosen sound and in doing so enlists a diverse cast of instrumentalists to help her along the way: Tim Pierce (guitars), Alex Al (bass), Victor Indrizzo (drums), Jeff Babko (keyboards), Felipe Menolio (acoustic guitars), and Luis Conte (percussion).

Review: Kuchu: The Best Of Fishmans was first released in 2005 as the indie-label (Pony Canyon) follow-up to Fishmans' first best of compilation; the blue to Universal Music's orange, this compilation was first issued on CD only, and charted at least 20 tracks' worth of both greatest hits and rarities, neither of which could possibly all fit on a single vinyl record at the time. That all changes with this retroactive vinyl reissue of the compilation, which cuts things down to just a dozen selections, hand-picked by drummer Kinichi Motegi, from the dreamy Shibuya, dub and experimental band's discography. Held in high regard for all too long, we're very happy this one's made a comeback.

Review: The Fishmans are a Japanese band who were very ahead of their time. Formed in 1987, they mixed reggae, dub and psychedelia into their live ensemble. If that wasn't groundbreaking enough, through the 90s they also added elements of ambient, synth pop and shoegaze. This double album, originally released in 2005, is now available on vinyl for the first time. Standouts include the live version of the shimmering 'A Piece of Future', the spacey lullaby 'Weather Report' and the rocksteady 'Magic Love'. The charm of the band is immediately understood after one listen to this album - one of our favourite Japanese vinyl transfers of the year so far.

Review: Ella Fitzgerald will forever be a legend in the jazz world thanks to her unparalleled vocal talents and ability to infuse jazz with deep emotion. Released in 1962 and reissued here, Take Love Easy pairs Fitzgerald with the exceptional pianist Bill Evans and together they make for a sophisticated and intimate atmosphere. Featuring a selection of lush ballads and smooth, understated jazz standards, this record highlights Fitzgerald's delicate phrasing and expressive delivery with songs like 'Don't Be That Way' and 'Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You'.

Review: Collected by his friends and colleagues - Erik K. Skodvin and Dave Kajganich - The Last Sunset of the Year is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful and breathtaking. A double album of posthumous work from experimental composer Marcus Fjellstrom, the music here was written and produced during the seminal artist's tenure as composer for the first season of ABC anthology series, The Terror. Many pieces have been made available for the first time on this collection, and as the sleeve notes explain, the idea was to present the tracks as a standalone album, rather than a companion piece as soundtracks usually are. It certainly works. While it's possible to determine these bits were written for a supernatural show, so many are capable of stopping you dead in your tracks on their own terms. Quietly powerful contemporary classical, ambient and drone.

Review: The Flaming Lips commemorate the 25th anniversary of their classic album The Soft Bulletin with a limited-edition 2LP. This special edition features eye-catching Zoetrope designs by Drew Tetz and Wayne Coyne, along with new sleeve artwork and an insert with text by Coyne. Originally released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin marked a pivotal moment in the band's career, transitioning from alt-rock obscurity to festival headliners. The album includes standout tracks such as 'Race for the Prize,' 'Waitin' for a Superman,' and 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate.' The new 25th Anniversary Vinyl is a visually and sonically enhanced experience, showcasing the Flaming Lips' evolution and enduring impact on the music scene.

Review: This album wonderfully celebrates Flatland Cavalry's ten-year journey while setting the stage for their future. It is an essential listen with more than 15 reimagined fan-favourites from their acclaimed releases including 'Come May', 'Humble Folks', 'Homeland Insecurity', 'Welcome to Countryland', 'Songs to Keep You Warm', and 'Wandering Star' alongside four brand-new tracks that showcase the band's signature style. Along the way, these tunes span everything from heartfelt ballads and energetic jams to timeless songwriting and always with masterful musicianship on show. Its mix of nostalgia and fresh energy means Flatland Forever captures the essence of the band's journey so far.

Review: Rhino Records delivers a vibrant reissue of Fleetwood Mac's daring double-album, Tusk (1979), now available exclusively on 180g Transparent Light Green 2LP vinyl. This genre-defying masterpiece exemplifies the band's willingness to explore new territories. Lindsey Buckingham's intricate arrangements and diverse influences infuse the album with elements of pop, rock, new wave, and disco. Stevie Nicks shines with powerful vocals on standout tracks like the emotive ballad 'Sara' and the anthemic title track. While initially compared to the monumental success of Rumours, Tusk has since garnered a dedicated following for its boldness and artistic depth. Achieving Platinum certification and topping the UK charts, this reissue celebrates the album's enduring legacy and cements its status as a cult classic.

Review: Florence Welch's globe-straddlingly successful epic-pop project has made its name largely through no-holds-barred emotion and rapturous melodrama, and although this third album has largely been trumpeted as a return to a more stripped-down and less over-the-top approach, long-term fans of the couture-clad siren needn't worry too much. 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful' remains true to her heart-on-sleeve approach and the cinematic splendour she's made her trademark. Crucially, even beneath the orchestral arrangements and the life-or-death vocal declamations, the songs on this record shone through as memorable and emotive enough to withstand the level of ornamentation around them, and fit to have Florence's fearsome pipes send them skyward.

Review: The Fish Factory Sessions is a captivating live studio recording from the dynamic pairing of Greg Foat and Gig Masin. It features two brand-new compositions and two reimagined versions of tracks from their previous album, Dolphin. It was recorded at the namesake Fish Factory Studios in London with Moses Boyd on drums and Tom Herbert on bass. The four pieces are lavish and expansive with free-flowing sax melodies and tingling keys that bring to mind sun reflecting off glistering Mediterranean waters. It's happy, sombre, and beautiful, often all at once.

Review: Alex Font is charged with serving up the MINIMALER Factory label's first release and an ambitious one it is too - Cross The Limits: Chapter 1 (we wonder how many chapters there might be?) is a minimal and tech house triple pack that offers a wealth of club-ready sounds. They are embellished with all manner of abstract details and creeping sound designs, from trippy pads to whispered vocals. Each one is intricately designed and carefully arranged to be in a constant state of flux that very much keeps you locked from start to finish. A trio of fine remixes from Dubtil, Franco Cinelli and Alexis Cabrera add further gravitas to this strong album.

Review: Foreigner's 1981 album 4 is a masterclass in soft rock excellence, and its reissue on vinyl reaffirms its status as a classic still. The album, known for its impeccable production and iconic tracks, catches Foreigner at the peak of their powers. From the high-octane opener 'Night Life' to the anthemic 'Juke Box Hero,' the band delivers a blend of powerful rock and emotional balladry that remains timeless. 'Waiting for a Girl Like You' stands out as one of the greatest power ballads ever, with its atmospheric sound and Lou Gramm's silky vocals. 'Urgent,' another highlight, exells with its tight interplay between Mick Jones' guitar and the unforgettable saxophone solo, while 'I'm Gonna Win' and 'Woman in Black' exemplify the band's ability to craft songs full of determination and soul. Each track on 4 feels meticulously crafted, with infectious melodies and hooks that have resonated with audiences for decades. The vinyl reissue brings a warmth and depth to the recording that enhances the listening experience, making still stand out as an iconic rock album that no yacht should be without.

Review: Arena rock heroes Foreigner crushed with their 1977 self-titled album debut, spawning some of the biggest FM hits of that year, including the anthemic 'Feels Like the First Time' and 'Cold as Ice,' both of which were anchored - like most of Foreigner's songs - by the muscular but traditional riffing of guitarist Mick Jones, the soaring vocals of Lou Gramm, and the state-of-the-art rock production values of the day. The architect behind Foreigner's extraordinary catalog, Jones has crafted some of rock music's most enduring songs. After starting his own rock band and opening for the Rolling Stones in pubs across South London, his first big break came in 1964 when he moved to Paris and was hired to play with French singer Sylvie Vartan. After a brief stint in England to reform the band Spooky Tooth, Jones moved to New York and formed Foreigner with Ian McDonald and Dennis Elliott and Americans Lou Gram, Alan Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi. Foreigner defined a generation of rock music to people across the globe; now on 180-gram 45 RPM double LP, you can hear Foreigner in all its phenomenal glory.

Review: Warner Records has put together this special reissue of The Rising Tied as a limited-edition apple-red double album which includes four bonus cuts that are making their vinyl debut. It first landed in 2005 from Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and marked his first foray into solo hip-hop production. The album went platinum and is packed with big-name collaborations with plenty of the scene's biggest names sun as Como as well as pop heroes like John Legend. Those bonus tracks are 'Be Somebody,' 'There They Go,' and 'The Hard Way' which were on CD back in 2005 and 'Welcome' which was a standalone single in 2015.

Review: Four Tet's Live at Alexandra Palace London 24th May 2023 captures the boundless energy of a live performance that effortlessly blends his signature electronic sound with the intimacy of a live setting. The opener 'School Green Romantics' builds slowly, layering intricate beats and subtle melodies, before escalating into a full-bodied rhythm that really commands attention. Tracks like 'Tides' take on a new life in this setting, with their intricate textures expanding and contracting, creating an immersive atmosphere that pulses with anticipation. Throughout, Four Tet's control over the crowd is palpable, using his deep knowledge of rhythm and melody to take listeners on a journey. A mesmerising live experience in every sense.

Review: Between The Sheets gets a special 30th Anniversary remaster here. The celebrated 1993 album by smooth jazz group Fourplay, featuring Bob James on piano, Lee Ritenour on guitar, Nathan East on bass and vocals, and Harvey Mason on drums) is a hallmark of smooth jazz greatness that earned gold certification and charted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums and No. 15 on Top R&B Albums. Known for tracks like the Isley Brothers' remake 'Between The Sheets' with Chaka Khan, and the lively 'Amoroso,' it also includes Bob James' elegant 'Chant.' This anniversary edition comes on 180g double vinyl, remastered from original tapes, with a gatefold sleeve and new liner notes by Charles Waring.

Review: After more than a decade, Phili star Freeway reunites with Seattle super-producer Jake One for their second full-length collaboration. Known for his timeless, versatile beats that always somehow resonate with both underground and mainstream audiences, Jake One's production provides the perfect backdrop for Freeway's gritty lyrics here. Next to those two, the record features an impressive lineup of guest appearances including Black Thought, Jadakiss, Conway the Machine, Sauce Walka, Peedi Crack, Scholito and Symba. Together, they deliver a powerful, cohesive project that highlights the enduring chemistry between Freeway and Jake One with hard-hitting beats and sharp, memorable rhymes.

Review: Ace Frehley's 1989 recording arrives at a curious crossroads in his career. It's bold, swaggering, and drenched in late-80s hard rock sheen, but there's a thread of defiance running through its polished surface. Frehley, who had long stood in the shadow of his former band KISS, approaches the project with the energy of someone eager to remind the world of his prowess. His trademark guitar flourishes are as electrifying as everisharp, crunchy and steeped in effortless cool. Guest spots from former Kiss drummer Peter Criss and Skid Row members inject bursts of collaborative dynamism, making this not just a solo venture but a communal flex of rock-and-roll camaraderie. Frehley sounds like a man with something to proveiand he delivers, guitar in hand, unapologetic and relentless.

Review: Amaro Freitas, hails from Recife, Brazil, and is propelled through life through by searching out different experiences. Venturing to Manaus in the Amazon basin in 2020 before starting work on this album, pianist Freitas immersed himself in a transformative journey that influenced his musical creation profoundly. Collaborating with the Satere Mawe indigenous community, his album Y'Y pays homage to nature and ancestral wisdom. Through tracks like 'Mapinguari (Encantado da Mata)' and 'Uiara (Encantada da Agua) - Life and Cure,' Freitas weaves tales of powerful spirits and mystical encounters. Incorporating elements from Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous cultures, the record is a significant exploration of connection, tradition, and the incandescent power of enchanted spirits.

Review: Fred Frith is simultaneously a singular musical figure and a collection of musical lifetimes. He's the composer who wrote fragile avant-garde music in the tradition of John Cage and Earle Brown, the innovator who created new concepts of underground rock with his colleagues in the band Henry Cow, and the improviser who developed his very own language on the guitar. The many facets of Frith's musical oeuvre shimmer in vibrant and unique colors, but stand as one rainbow monolith of musical creation, never disintegrating into esoteric eclecticism. Always musically curious and unbiased, he develops his ideas in the moment, demonstrating in real time how his creative process, while free of old hat conventions and tricks, creates an immediate yet unrandom and committed music. At the core is his unique guitar playing, which is on full display across these two records. His debut, Guitar Solos (1974), opened up a space beyond rock and improvised music and now, 50 years later comes Fift (2024), a new solo guitar album that sounds completely different and yet familiar, adding to his monolith of musical creation with another new vibrant color.

Review: Fans of this album originally from 1960 need this new reissue in their lives: it is part of the RCA Living Stereo classical LP series which those in the know recognise as the best in the game when it comes to top-quality orchestral performance and sound. It has been remastered from original master tapes and comes on hefty 200g vinyl for the ultimate listening experience. It finds Respighi, the Chicago Symphony and Fritz Reiner really setting a standard for classical music with thundering bass drum, crashing cymbals and gongs next to bellowing brass all jumping right out of the speakers.

Review: Styx and Foreigner and much-loved rock acts and they came together for an epic 'Renegades & Juke Box Heroes' tour recently. Nothing says summer like their feel-good anthems such as 'Come Sail Away,' 'Feels Like The First Time,' 'Renegade,' 'Juke Box Hero,' 'Mr. Roboto,' and 'I Want To Know What Love Is.' Foreigner's Mick Jones continues to drive the band with his signature songwriting and guitar hooks, while lead singer Kelly Hansen has rejuvenated the band for a new generation. Supporting members bring unmatched energy and help add to Foreigner's enduring appeal and Styx, with their extensive catalogue of hits and high-energy performances also impress. This is a great tribute to classic rock.