Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Just in time for the spooky season, the wonderful Numero has put together another of their famously good compilations. This one, Haunted Presence (which comes on lovely 'ghost power' silver vinyl) is packed with Halloween treats from across the label's vast span. It takes in ghoulish garage rock like Slim Martin's 'Haunted After Midnight', skeleton-rattling soul like Bambi Fodera's 'The Moon Turned To Blood' and some proto-metal mutations like Medusa's 'Unknown Fear' as well as haunting 60s rock like Angela Alexander & JD. Saddler's 'Don't Make Me Kill You' across 20 tracks that will enliven any seasonal get-together.

Review: The second volume of Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music delves deeper into the country rock genre that countered the rise of polished, suburban-friendly country rock like The Eagles. Featuring 20 tracks on two LPs, this collection captures the raw, independent spirit of Cosmic American Music, often overlooked in favor of more commercial successes. As country rock grew into a dominant force in the 1970s, many bands followed the Eagles' lead, softening the genre's edges. Yet, on the periphery, artists like F.J. McMahon, Mistress Mary, and Plain Jane quietly crafted their own versions of this roots-inspired music, blending gospel, country, and Southern soul. These lesser-known acts embraced Cosmic American Music's signature sounds, including pedal steel guitars and banjos, in their recordings. Big labels attempted to shape the genre's success, but Wayfaring Strangers focuses on the private press labels and forgotten gems that retained the original spirit Parsons envisioned. This compilation reconstructs the genre's history from its fringes, celebrating the raw, twangy essence of its early innovators.

Review: Resurfacing from obscurity after 58 years in the Louis Wayne Moody Pictures vault, this unearthed soundtrack unveils a treasure trove of melancholic melodies, mournful guitars, and eerie echoes. It is another of the seemingly endless gems to come from the great folks at Number Uno and is laden with themes of abandonment, shattered dreams, and existential ponderings. The album, titled They Move in the Night, weaves a narrative of moral ambiguity and tearful farewells, set against the backdrop of lukewarm diner coffee and the relentless pursuit of society's shadows. Fascinating stuff.