Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Until he quit the music industry in the mid-1990s, Shep Pettibone was the most in-demand remixer on the planet - a position he'd held since the late 1970s. This four-disc compilation does a great job of showcasing some of his greatest remixes, all of which are presented in full-length form. There's naturally plenty of versions of big pop singles of the '80s - see the epic 'Mastermix' of Pet Shop Boys' 'West End Girls', as well as rubs of Duran Duran, New Order, Whitney Houston and Belinda Carlisle - as well as a sprint through his celebrated disco and boogie reworks (see disc four). In addition, you'll find versions of some lesser-celebrated gems from the freestyle-era, including heavyweight revisions of Sinammon, Alisha, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and The Flirts.

Review: Arthur Baker is the perfect host for this new series from Demon Music which focuses on the famous extended remixes of the 80s. Each series will be a multi-disc, various artist collection that is united by one remixer, and there can be few better to kick it off than the legend that is Shep Pettibone. He was a hugely in demand studio hand who reworked multiple genres and everyone from Pet Shop Boys to Duran Duran, New Order to Level 42, George Michael to Erasure. This ambitious, widescreen collection takes in all manner of golden remixes from the world of soul, pop, synth and more.

Review: After launching the Dance Masters series with a much-needed trawl through the remixography of the great Shep Pettibone, Arthur Baker has now turned his attention to his own sprawling catalogue of productions and remixes. Stretched over four discs in order to present full-length, DJ-friendly mixes, the collection does a great job in showcasing Baker's immense achievements in the 1980s and 90s. Naturally, his most celebrated productions and remixes are present - see his versions of Fleetwood Mac's 'Big Love', which became Balearic anthems, Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Force's genuinely game-changing 'Planet Rock', Freez's 'I.O.U', Rockers Revenge's 'Walking on Sunshine' and New Order's 'Confusion' - alongside a swathe of forgotten, overlooked and harder to find revisions.

Review: Few people are aware that Daft Punk's fame can at least, in part, be chalked up to the wealth of opportunity inherited by one half of the electronic music pair, Thomas Bangalter, by virtue of his dad being the late great Daniel Vangarde. It's no wonder Vangarde came to be known as 'the secret father' of French disco. A titan of the genre's cosmic and funky strands in France, Vangarde's numerous instrumental recordings saw him eventually rub shoulders with many other great contemporaries such as Petula Clark, Sheila and Joe Dassin. Zagora Records was his home turf; a short-lived record label that housed his only ever album in 1975. This compilation by Because Music hears a depths-plunging of the Zagora Records vaults, unearthing a slew of never-heard-before recordings to the public, and shedding light on his various production credits and monikers.

Review: "Besides selling 40 million albums and winning 9 Grammys in less than
10 years, over the years Norah Jones has collaborated with dozens and
dozens of artists from across the spectrum of music. This album collects
Norah's favorite collaborations from 2001-2010 into one amazing
collection: legends like Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and Herbie Hancock,
rock artists ranging from Foo Fighters to Ryan Adams to Belle and
Sebastian, hip hop luminaries OutKast, Q-Tip and Talib Kweli. No
matter the genre however, Norah's enchanting voice is the common
denominator and while the partners are varied, she ends up owning
every song and this album is a wonderful collection that holds together
brilliantly. The album is a testament to Norah's status as one of the most
in-demand and tasteful musical connectors in music. This album will
be an amazing gift item for any Norah fan and will be hard to miss this
holiday season and then again for Valentine's Day.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Love Me - The Little Willies
2. Virginia Moon - The Foo Fighters featuring Norah Jones
3. Turn Them - Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones
4. Baby It's Cold Outside - Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones
5. Bull Rider - Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson
6. Ruler Of My Heart - Dirty Dozen Brass Band featuring Norah Jones
7. The Best Part - El Madmo
8. Take Off Your Cool - OutKast featuring Norah Jones
9. Life Is Better - Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones
10. Soon The New Day - Talib Kweli featuring Norah Jones
11. Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John - Belle & Sebastian featuring Norah Jones
12. Here We Go Again - Ray Charles featuring Norah Jones
13. Loretta - Norah Jones featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
14. Dear John - Ryan Adams featuring Norah Jones
15. Creepin' In - Norah Jones featuring Dolly Parton
16. Court & Spark - Herbie Hancock featuring Norah Jones
17. More Than This - Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones
18. Blue Bayou - Norah Jones featuring M. Ward"

Review: The original Bridgit Mendler soundtrack to the citrine teen drama movie of the same name sees a full version on vinyl LP this spring. Notable not only for its inclusion in the contemporary musical film, but also for its chart-topping success, the ten songs that make up the many acts of this high-school drama were destined to charm the pubescent masses, coinciding with the film's overarching theme of the school's students transcending use of after-school detention to musical effect, in order to overcome their personal struggles. Imagine Glee meets The Breakfast Club; a cabal of songwriters including Ali Dee, Maria Christensen, Bryan Todd and Jeannie Lurie lay down an array of sure-to-be hits for Mendler to perform on behalf of the cast here.

Review: Ace Records continue their series of compilations from Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, tapping into unique niches of British music culture under titles like English Weather and The Tears Of Technology to arrive at this latest joint, Fell From The Sun. This is a specific trip into the downtempo, after hours sounds prevalent in 1990-1991, as the acid house wave broke and Balearic selector ethics seeped into studio practice. The selections are absolutely on point, from The Orb's majestic remix of Primal Scream's 'Higher Than The Sun' to Saint Etienne's own moody roller, 'Speedwell'. It's bouncy and boundlessly optimistic as well as being supremely chill, absolutely of its time but still ringing with an eternal charm that feels ready for a revival. Let this compilation be your guide.

Review: In 2019, a conversation between Norman Gervais and Mario Gharios (Pocket Of Light) sparked the idea of using compilations to impress a feeling, rather than focusing on a specific decade, genre, or style. And ho, on a warm July day on the Riviera, so began a for-the-ages discussion as to how music could paint vivid pictures, from kitschy seaside resorts to tranquil sailboats in Caribbean coves. Gervais' taste guided the process; he would decalre tracks "100% Blue Wave," referring to Balearic and new wave fusions, perfect for blasting from the baleinaire. Despite personal setbacks, such as the Beirut Port Explosion and COVID, they continued the collab together with Charles Bals, and a few years later, the result is Transcoastal, a trusty, storm-weathering voyager of a comp, replete with invincible sails. These are Balearic favourites for the bluest of skies, our favourites on which have to be Richard Bowen's 'Sorcery', Neil Davis' 'Jealous Sea' and Ricardo Bomba's 'So Sentindo O Momento'. We hear a predilection for guitar, varied plucks suggesting multi-pelagic moods.

Review: Having explored the rich heritage of Nigeria and Ghana with well researched vigour, Soundway turn to Kenya for their next adventure... A rare insight: while Lagos was churning out seminal Afrobeat compositions, Kenya took to western influences in a much subtler fashion. With heavy emphasis on the Kenyan benga and Afro-Cuban rumba there's a much deeper, local folk presentation and format throughout most of the selection. Complete with detailed notes and beautiful presentation (like all Soundway compendiums) this won't look out of place in any collection.

Review: Jazz and cosy winter nights by the fire seem to go hand in hand. This bumper collection across four sides of vinyl taps into that association with a splendid compilation, that's sure to become a favourite around your house during this year's festivities, with all the classics such as 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby, the Home Alone classics 'Winter Wonderland' by Connie Francis and 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' from Brenda Lee, plus many more. Lovely stuff.

Review: This collection focuses in an era of Japanese music in which fashion, glamour and kitsch collided to create an addictive sound that morphed Westernized shapes into something kaleidoscopic and unique; the GS (or Group Sounds) phenomenon had seen Japanese artists attempting their own take on the high-energy onslaught of the Beatles and the British invasion, but elsewhere the female artists of the era were crafting a sound that tipped its hat to bossa nova, psych-pop and French ye-ye whilst maintaining a distinctly Japanese approach. Vibrant, eclectic and shot through with an insouciance and style rich even for this era, this is a compilation that sounds as exotic today as it did in the '60s.

Review: The latest cinematic, self-aware brand-milking is the new Barbie film, directed by Greta Gerwig and which stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Of course, it wouldn't be as ironically plastic as it could be without contributions from the most eminent artists in modern pop music on the soundtrack - from the likes of Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX, KAROL G, The Kid LAROI, Khalid, PinkPantheress, GAYLE, Ava Max and FIFTY FIFTY. It didn't quite lean as much as it could have done into hyperpop, but the soundtrack is no less fun, being as glitzy and squeaky-clean as you could possibly get.

Review: You don't need to have seen the summer blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine to know exactly what it's like. Alarm bells began ringing years ago at Marvel over the decline of interest around a universe which, in cinematic terms at least, seems to have no limits or qualms about churning out product, no matter the quality. Things have got worse since, albeit with a few exceptions - like the Deadpool franchise. The wisecracking anti-hero's flicks go for a more adult jugular than many comic book adaptations, and therefore the character makes an ideal partner for the X-Men's blade-fingered menace, Wolverine. Together, they make an odd couple that were never going to be in a straight-up superhero talkie. Instead, it's tangible tongue-in-cheek at times, lighting paced, and delightfully self-aware stuff that needs a soundtrack running between over-cooked chart emo to classic croonerville, 1980s pop rock to rousing r&b. Here you go then.

Review: Reissued for the first time via Atlantic Records comes the official soundtrack to Twilight: New Moon, the second instalment in the Twilight film franchise, which is in turn based on the novel of the same name. With the OST component of the score again handled by Alexandre Desplat, and its curated remainder selected by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, New Moon is a compelling fusion of classical filmic orchestral music and brooding emo indie rock: the perfect combo to nail the affective headspace of both Edward and Jacob campers.

Review: The High School Musical 2 soundtrack elevates the teen pop genre with its slick production aimed squarely at radio appeal. Transitioning from the more organic feel of its predecessor, this album embraces a polished sound that grows on you with repeated listens. Zac Efron takes the vocal reins as Troy, bringing a distinctively different but commendable sound compared to the first film. Standout tracks include the fun and catchy group numbers 'What Time Is It?' and 'All for One,' alongside the infectious Chad/Ryan duet 'I Don't Dance,' which blends hip-hop with jazzy swing. Another highlight is 'Bet on It,' a glossy boy band-style anthem that perfectly captures Troy's turmoil. The ballads, especially 'You Are the Music in Me,' offer sweet harmonies without being overly sappy, providing a nice contrast to the upbeat numbers. Overall, this soundtrack is a vibrant collection that will delight fans and get them singing along, presented beautifully on blue vinyl for collectors.

Review: In 2008, the Thanksgiving release of Twilight, based on Stephanie Meyer's bestselling novels, captivated audiences with its action-packed love story. Bella, an ordinary teenager, moves to a small town and finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Edward, sparking a perilous clash between vampire clans. The film features every song from its soundtrack, including the exclusive Paramore track 'Decode' alongside music from Muse, Perry Farrell, Linkin Park, Collective Soul, Iron & Wine, and others, enhancing the cinematic experience with a blend of emotion and intensity.