Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Aussie soul man Jordan Rake has a voice as smooth as silky. He first made waves with deeply emotive and romantic r&b laced slow jams on labels like Rhythm Section and has since put out several albums that grow ever more accomplished and adventurous. 'Flowers' however is a new standout 7" single on Decca with a signed insert that marks his own new deal with the legendary label. It finds the Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and songwriter offer up more of his inner most emotions all wrapped in his signature production.

Review: Prolific Aussie soul-singer, producer, writer, multi-instrumentalist and live talent Jordan Rakei turns out the albums at a fair old rate of knots these days but this might be his best yet. It is one that finds the sweet, sweet crooner continues to explore subtle new sound and sub-genres in absorbing new ways. This fifth full length is his first for Verve Forecast and Decca UK which he recently signed for and, we're told, "coincides with several profound changes in his personal life, including becoming a father for the first time." It was self-produced by the man himself at RAK Studios and comes on limited green vinyl.

Review: Max Richter's album, In A Landscape, is his ninth studio effort, and has been recorded at his Studio Richter Mahr in Oxfordshireia space designed with his wife, artist Yulia Mahr. This album marks a significant chapter in Richter's illustrious career. Described by Richter as a exploration of "reconciling polarities," weaves together electronic textures with acoustic instrumentation, bridging the human with the natural world and addressing life's profound questions alongside its simple pleasures. Richter elaborates that the album continues the thematic exploration begun with his 2004 work, The Blue Notebooks, but viewed through the lens of contemporary life. The lead track, 'Movement, Before All Flowers,' exemplifies this blend of depth and delicacy, offering a look into Richter's contemplation on existence and the passage of time. In A Landscape is not just a musical journey but a reflective self-portrait. It shows a composer ever in dialogue with the world around him.

Review: Max Richter's ninth solo album, In A Landscape, is his first recorded at his tranquil new studio in rural Oxfordshire, Studio Richter Mahr, which is a minimalist, eco-conscious retreat he shares with his wife. The album explores "reconciling polarities" and blends electronic and acoustic elements with the human experience and elements from the natural world. Comprising 19 exquisitely well-crafted and coherent tracks, this record serves as a reflective counterweight to the urgency of previous projects and focuses on Richter's immediate surroundings and a range of influences from Bach to Keats. In capturing moments of introspection using a simple palette of string quintet, piano, organ, and analogue synths, Richter impresses once again here.

Review: Decca Records reissue the first Rolling Stones LP, simply titled the Rolling Stones, which first hit in April 1964, taking Decca by surprise as it reached number one in the UK charts on only the second week of release. The irony is that the Stones' chart staying power went against their Sisyphean name: instead of rolling down the charts as Sisyphus' boulder usually immediately did, the fearsome four led by Jagger proved an impressive ability to remain kings of the hill, their Stones balancing up there for an inordinate period of time; in fact it took a good 25 weeks for the Rolling Stones to exit just the third place. The result was that Decca had to struggle to fulfil demand, as its chart performance really did curtail expectations. Now reissued in 2024, hot on the heels of the Stones' Hackney Diamonds LP released this same year, we've no worries about demand fulfilment this time. Enjoy the original Stones record as intended from the go, from the version of standard 'Route 66' and Chuck Berry cover 'Carol' to the closing rendition of Rufus Thomas' 'Walking The Dog' - but expect this audiophile's stereo version to pleasingly contrast with the original mono.

Review: Punctuation aside, The Rolling Stones set a precedent with Get Yer Ya Ya's Out. At the time, concert albums were still something of a novel ideal, but when the iconic British rock 'n' rollers unleashed this it proved to the industry just how much people wanted on-stage magic captured for posterity. The first live record to hit number one in the UK charts, it was recorded at shows in New York City and Baltimore in 1969, just ahead of the landmark Let It Bleed LP arriving. It also proves the power of a bootleg, with an unofficial record, Live'r Then You'll Ever Be, reportedly persuading the band's then-label, Decca, to cash in on the clear demand for the group's exceptional live show, on vinyl. Captured on their first tour with Mick Taylor, Brian Jones having left, it presents the outfit as they sounded at the very top of their game - energetic, rule breaking, and packed with the soul of blues six stringers.