Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Ian Hunter's You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic returns with a vibrant green vinyl reissue, celebrating its 1979 release. Marking Hunter's comeback after a two-year hiatus, this album features the dynamic guitar work of Mick Ronson and the backing of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, fresh off their work on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell. This record stands as a pinnacle of Hunter's career, blending high-octane rockers like 'Cleveland Rocks' and 'Life After Death' with poignant ballads such as 'Ships.' Each track flows seamlessly from the opening beat of 'Just Another Night' to the final notes of 'The Outsider,' demonstrating Hunter's masterful range. Now, released on green vinyl, the album's enduring appeal is a great sign to its quality and the evolution of its fan base over the years.

Review: Hurray for the Riff Raff's The Navigator reissue showcases Alynda Segarra's boldest work yet. The album is a concept-driven journey following Navita, a young Puerto Rican girl navigating a dystopian cityscape, as she searches for identity and connection to her roots. Segarra, who spent years traveling across America before landing in the music scene, brings her personal history into the heart of this record, blending political and personal storytelling. Musically, The Navigator breaks new ground, incorporating Latin rhythms, rock, folk and even doo-wop. The sound is lush, from the strings and percussion on 'Nothing's Gonna Change That Girl' to the powerful 'Pa'lante', featuring a spoken-word sample from Nuyorican poet Pedro Pietri. The political undertones are fierce, especially on tracks like 'Rican Beach'. which critiques gentrification and systemic oppression with biting lyrics. Produced by Paul Butler, known for his work with Michael Kiwanuka, the album's arrangements are cinematic and expansive. Segarra's voice shines across the record, especially in autobiographical moments like 'Fourteen Floors' and 'Living in the City', where her heritage takes center stage. The Navigator is more than just a rock album-it's a reclamation of identity, a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, and a powerful statement on the survival of marginalised voices.

Review: Originally recorded in 1966 during his remarkable comeback - he'd been playing since the 20s but was rediscovered by various musicologists and found a new audience at Newport and Philadelphia's folk festivals in 1963 - this album demonstrates why he became a beloved mainstay of the folk revival. Unlike traditional bluesmen, Hurt's style is rooted in melody and intricate fingerpicking, making him a profound influence on the folk musicians of the 60s. His dexterous guitar work, often feeling as if multiple players are involved, pairs seamlessly with his soothing, almost meditative voice. Tracks like 'Pay Day', 'Louis Collins', 'Spike Driver's Blues', and 'Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor' showcase his ability to transform folk and blues traditions into something uniquely personal. He even delivers a rare but successful slide guitar performance on 'Talking Casey'. A particularly stunning moment comes in 'Beulah Land', where his intricate cross-rhythms add new emotional depth to a traditional song. Every track exudes a gentle, comforting presence, as if Hurt himself is sitting beside the listener, easing their troubles. His voice, often described as a balm for the soul, remains as rich and warm as ever, untouched by time. A beautiful, healing and profoundly moving experience that continues to impress more than half a century later.

Review: Featuring the vibraphonist in peak form while interpreting seven jazz standards with remarkable interplay, this newly reissued vinyl celebrates the album's 40th anniversary, bringing fresh attention to an overlooked gem. Hutcherson's quartetifeaturing pianist George Cables, bassist Herbie Lewis and legendary drummer Philly Joe Jonesidelivers a session filled with warmth and dynamic expression. The set kicks off with Thelonious Monk's 'I Mean You', immediately showing the group's cohesion. Hutcherson's phrasing on 'All Of You' is adventurous and his delicate touch on 'Spring Is Here' highlights his lyrical sensitivity. The brisk tempo of 'Star Eyes' adds energy, while 'If I Were A Bell' features an engaging solo introduction from Hutcherson. Cables shines on 'Summertime' and the album closes with an exhilarating take on 'Autumn Leaves'. Hutcherson's vibes function much like a lead horn, evoking the spirit of classic jazz quartets. Cables' piano work is exceptional and an intricate yet fluid accompaniment. Jones, whose drumming, delivers an impeccable performanceihis crisp, swinging touch is a masterclass. Overall, a very underrated a jazz album being reissued to a new generation is always a reason to celebrate.

Review: Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson's 1965 debut, Dialogue, showcases his adventurous spirit. Already a versatile sideman on albums like Idle Moments and Out To Lunch, Hutcherson steps into the spotlight with a sextet featuring jazz luminaries Freddie Hubbard, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Richard Davis, and Joe Chambers. Dialogue captures Hutcherson's more adventurous leanings, pushing the boundaries of his instrument and the genre. This Tone Poet Vinyl Edition, meticulously mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue tapes, offers a pristine listening experience. Pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket, this reissue is a must-have for any serious jazz aficionado. It's a chance to hear a master musician at his most innovative and expressive.

Review: Bobby Hutcherson's 1965 debut, Dialogue, marked his emergence as a leading vibraphonist, following his versatile work on albums like Idle Moments and Out to Lunch. The album reflects Hutcherson's more adventurous side and features a dynamic sextet with Freddie Hubbard, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Richard Davis, and Joe Chambers. This Tone Poet Vinyl Edition, produced by Joe Harley, was mastered by Kevin Gray from original analogue tapes so sounds superb, and has been pressed up to 180g vinyl at RTI. It comes in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket and offers audiophiles a premium experience that truly does Hutcherson's groundbreaking work justice.

Review: Trumpeter Chris Ryan Williams and cellist Lester St. Louis form HxH (H by H) are a boundary-pushing electroacoustic duo who work with acoustic instruments and electronics in real-time. Their debut album, released on KMRU's label OFNOT captures their expansive, sculptural sound, and it is one rooted in jazz, noise, classical and Black experimental traditions. Drawing comparisons to Sun Ra or Laurel Halo, their music is fluid, unpredictable and emotionally resonant. Tracks like 'Pyrex Vision' and 'BEACH' showcase a dynamic interplay between form and freedom and are influenced by visual artists like Torkwase Dyson. HxH's sonic world is both daring and intimate and is an ever-shifting architecture of sound.

Review: Brazilian artist Hyldon's 1981 album 'Sabor De Amor' is a Latin classic that is well overdue this reissue by Jazzybelle Records. It was the fourth from the soul man, singer and instrumentalist who was, with equally celebrated peers Tim Maia and Cassiano, at the very heart of the Brazilian soul revolution of 70s. This may be his most consistent album with its more than accomplished backing by Azymuth musicians including Alexandre Malheiros on bass, drums from Ivan "Mamao" Conti and Hammond jams from Sergio Carvalho amongst others. The bass is funky, the arrangements are sophisticated and full of sun with noodling jazz melodies and Portuguese vocals all oozing summer magic. From mellow moments like the title cut to more dazzling and upbeat dancers like 'Amor Na Terra Do Berimbau' this isa joyous listen.

Review: 1969 was the year of release of this one and only album by Japanese jazz pianist Hideo Ichikawa, vibraphonist Hiroshi Matsumoto, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba and drummer Motohiko Hino, all in collaboration. A one-off coming-together, it centred on the valerian vibes of Matsumoto, whose star instrument, the vibraphone, was bound to take centre stage for its comparative novelty, not to mention the fact that Matsumoto himself had been practicing before the others. An honorary work, this urbane masterpiece hears tasteful vibraphonic panning in full stereo, as blue passing notes collide with expert steel brushings and untied chord playing, resulting in a unique but salubrious listen.

Review: As part of Amniote Editions' fifth birthday, the admirably experimental label has decided to release a full-length excursion from Mirror Zone founder Spekki Webu, AKA Heliobolus. The multi-disciplinary artist has decided to utilise both aliases on the album, a way of reinforcing the key conceptual idea behind it - that it is a "story of intertwined storylines" akin to "parallel universes that connect and diverge". Musically, it's an intriguing affair, with pulsating, full-throttle sci-fi techno workouts sitting side by side with darker, more intense cuts, sound design-heavy experimental techno soundscapes, and nods towards the horror end of the cinematic soundtrack spectrum. Throw in a few mutant, noise-laden post-IDM compositions and you have a genuinely impressive full-length excursion.

Review: Brazilian vocalist, musician and producer Hyldon De Souza Silva teams up with Adrian Younge on a brand new psychedelic Latin soul album, infused with the golden spirit of jazz, honouring both Hyldon's 60s and 70s opuses and Younge's trademark analog productions. With late drummer Ivan "Mamao" Conti on percussion, this is yet another tribute to the "Black Rio" movement in Brazil, an intoxicating infusion of Brazilian MPB and Black American rhythm & blues. The effect is major yet seductive, riffing on insporations from Marvin Gaye to Tim Maya to flatten the embossed edges of bossa nova and erotic funk, with remarkably paced and measured drumming and swirling vocal lines.

Review: Brazilian music legend Hyldon teams up with producer Adrian Younge for the 23rd edition of Jazz Is Dead. A psychedelic soul album reimagining the magic of Hyldon's 60s and 70s work through a modern lens, Hyldon's vivant vocals and poetic storytelling are paired with the rich analogue production that made Younge's name, honouring the past and yet still keeping things afresh. It also stands as one of the final recordings of the late Ivan "Mamao" Conti, the iconic Azymuth drummer and Hyldon's longtime collaborator. Fusing MPB, tropicalia, and Black American r&b, we're slack-jawed with awe at this spiritual, which elutes from the ethereal 'Olhos Castanhos' to the cosmo-funk of 'Viajante do Planeta Azul'.

Notes: Stand-alone high resolution blu-ray audio disc featuring the stunning 50th anniversary 5.1 surround sound & stereo mixes of 'Space Ritual'. This legendary live album was recorded on the Hawkwind's UK Tour of December 1972, which followed the release of the band's recent studio album 'Doremi Fasol Latido'.

Region code: ABC (universal)

Notes: A retrospective of Third Earth Visual Arts and the career of Abu Qadim Haqq who as many of you know created art for Transmat, Drexciya and Underground Resistance.

The book covers his early life in Detroit to his last project for Third Earth Visual Arts in 2023.

Over 100 pages of art.
Over 100 pages of photos.
258 pages

Notes: The birth and growth of the Jamaican recording industry...

Records have played an integral part in the history of Jamaican music and the importance of making records, as opposed to making music, can never be overstated.

These are the stories, told through first-hand accounts wherever possible, of the men and women... manufacturers, musicians, arrangers and record producers... who made the records and who made the sound of reggae available worldwide.

"An absolutely crucial survey of the origins of the Jamaican music industry replete with chapter and verse quotes from many of the pivotal movers and shakers. A wealth of new information, expertly marshalled: this is a book whose time has come."

Steve Barrow- Co-author of 'Reggae The Rough Guide'

"Noel Hawks' history of Jamaican studios and the characters involved provides an intriguing insight into the development of ska, rock steady and reggae. His lifelong love and deep knowledge of the music prove to be invaluable assets as he takes us on a journey from the primitive 'direct-to-disc' mento recordings of the Fifties through to the sophisticated roots and dub reggae of the Seventies. As both a music fan and a reggae business insider he has had access to the main players in the Jamaican music scene, and this book offers a genuine and unique insight into Kingston's studios and the producers and musicians who worked in them."

Chris Lane- Fashion Records

"Any music reference book should balance knowledge of an expert and enthusiasm of a fan in roughly equal measure. Noel Hawks' 'Jamaican Recordings' unquestionably succeeds in doing both. The wealth of facts and information that Noel has amassed in almost fifty years of researching and collecting reggae and its musical antecedents are presented here in a way that will show any reader that Noel still gets as much pleasure out of finding new classic music, not to mention acquiring new know how about it, as he and others among us did when we started our individual collector odysseys.

'Jamaican Recordings' is a fine read and a book that anybody with more than a passing interest in Jamaican recordings will need to add to their library right away."

Tony Rounce- Author & Music Historian

Format: 188 Page Hardback Book Illustrated throughout with period photos, artefacts & record labels