Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Spiritmuse Records presents Journey to Nabta Playa, the dialogic result of Angel Bat Dawid and multidisciplinary artist Naima Nefertari, as they team up to honour the ancient Nubian astrological site of the same name. An ancient Neolithic site in Egypt's Nubian Desert predating Stonehenge, Nabta Playa incorporates a stone circle whose lithic configuration aligns with celestial events. Fittingly, then, this clash-of-titans record astrologises celestial electronics and divines ancestral predestinations, sewing a starry sonic tapestry - in Bat Dawid's terms "this is not just an album, it's a constellation". Picking up where Don and David Ornette Cherry left off with 'Bishmillah', and carrying out such further original, summative sonic burial and resurrection rites such as 'Black Stones Of Sirius' and 'Procession Of The Equinox', we hear a dance of featuring flute, clarinet, and vibraphone, and enraptured voice.

Review: Even many years after his sad death, the global audience for Nujabes' music continues to grow. To honour the tenth anniversary of his passing, Hydeout Productions asked Haruka Nakamura to create a tribute album and encouraged him to move forward while preserving Nujabes' timeless essence. The project began with the release of the music video and 7" vinyl of 'Reflection Eternal' and now the full album Nujabes PRAY Reflections arrived featuring Nakamura's reinterpretation of Nujabes' melodies through piano and guitar. This is not a traditional cover album, but new music inspired by Nujabes with artwork by Cheryl D. McClure that blends both artists' creative worlds.

Review: Randy Newman's evocative score for the 1998 film Pleasantville is set to make its debut on vinyl, and it's an edition that soundtrack enthusiasts won't want to miss. Released by Varese Sarabande and Craft Recordings, this 2XLP Deluxe Edition comes in a stunning 'colourblast' red white & blue swirl. The collection spans 34 tracks, expanding the original score to an impressive 66 minutes. Included are previously unreleased tracks and extended cues, making this a truly comprehensive offering. The film Pleasantville, starring Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, is a poignant blend of fantasy and comedy that delves into themes of identity and change. Randy Newman's score perfectly complements this narrative, blending nostalgic Americana with deeply emotional compositions. His ability to infuse humour and warmth into the music shines throughout, particularly in pieces like 'The Pleasantville Theme' and 'Bud's A Hero' and visually, this album looks as good as the music within.

Review: Yikes, it's the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s iconic album Ready to Die already. To mark the occasion it gets a special double gatefold and coloured vinyl repress and what hip-hop album is more deserving? Its initial release marked a pivotal moment in hip-hop history and introduced the world to Biggie's gritty storytelling, unique flow, and larger-than-life persona. Tracks like 'Juicy' and 'Big Poppa' became timeless classics that influenced generations of artists. The anniversary is not just a celebration of the album's success, but a tribute to Biggie's enduring legacy and listening back now to him, capturing the raw essence of struggle, fame, and survival in urban America is still as fantastic as ever.

Review: Embarking on a reissues campaign of lo-fi hip-hop pioneer Nujabes' earliest material, Hydeout Productions share a new edition of the storied producer's second record, Modal Soul. In contrast to his debut Metaphorical Music, Modal Soul is the full-length that really took the world by quiet storm. Laid down after both the solo debut and the release of two Samurai Champloo soundtracks, Modal Soul marked a return to source, and is another testament to what Nujabes did best. Most hip-hop fans will preconsciously, instantly recognise the central, flourishing piano movement of the opener 'Feather', which sticks to the four-bar formula whilst inviting fellow rappers Cise Starr and Akin to wax freely, the central theme being lightness of being: "drifting away like a feather in air / Letting my words take me away from the hurt and despair". The maudlin mood is kept throughout, with cumulative standouts such as 'Reflection Eternal' having also inscribed themselves in collective memory, and more swung experiments like 'Sea Of Cloud' showcasing Nujabes' slowly but surely disclosing a skilful abstraction of breakbeat roots.