Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.

Review: Get yourself geared up for festival season with some fierce party starters certified with the Glitterbox stamp. Melvo Baptiste leads the charge with 'Sweat', a sizzling disco house stomper with Dames Brown giving the biggest diva energy on her show-stopping vocal. Lovebirds bring unbridled joy on the Philly string swoon and slinky b-line funk of 'Burn It Down', while Art Of Tones & Inaya Day keep it peak time on the sassy strutter 'Give My Love'. Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur complete the set with 'Smooth Sweet Talker', another bright and bold vocal cut par excellence.

Review: Tokyo's Inokasira Rangers have been crafting lo-fi reggae since the 1990s, yet remained a rather hidden gem outside Japan. Their release 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' finally changed that when it dropped initially back in 2023 and sold out in quick time so now gets reissued. The A-side reimagines Frankie Valli's classic with a laid-back reggae twist while the B-side takes on Crystal Waters' '90s dance anthem with surprising charm. Infused with a subtle Shibuya-kei flair, both covers feel fresh yet timeless. The Waters rendition, in particular, sounds like a forgotten folk tune-so natural it's hard to believe it wasn't always this way. A breezy, nostalgic delight from a band overdue for global recognition.

Review: Japanese singer/songwriter/producer Tatsuro Yamashita's latest marks a bold step forward in his ongoing evolution as a musical force, most specifically as a pioneer of the 'city pop' sound. Far from his earlier, more polished pop sensibilities, this release delves into the subtle interplay between soul, jazz and funk, wrapped in lush, sophisticated production. Tracks like 'High Pressure Girl' and 'Merry-Go-Round' reveal a deeper emotional core, where complex arrangements meet timeless melodies. Yamashita's expert use of space and texture pulls you into a world that feels both intimate and expansive, drawing on influences that span from the silky smoothness of 70s soul to the warm grooves of early 80s pop. The work pulses with a sense of nostalgia, yet feels forward-thinking, a bridge between past and present. What stands out here is the transparency of Yamashita's approach to songwritingieach note feels carefully considered and every shift in rhythm deliberate. Tracks like 'Christmas Eve' and 'In the City' carry an understated elegance, as if time itself has slowed down to match the pace of the music. The compositions shift between bright, shimmering highs and deep, reflective lows, creating a dynamic yet cohesive listening experience. The idea is clear: it offers a glimpse into Yamashita's artistry while inviting us to engage with his creative process, blending analog warmth with intricate production techniques that resonate with emotional depth and maintain striking sonic clarity.

Review: 'Sayonara Ha Syuppatsu No Kotoba' roughly translates as "Goodbye is the Word for Departure" and is a striking blend of Japanese indie and folk music. The album combines rich acoustic melodies with introspective lyrics to make for often poignant and nostalgic atmospheres with Yasuda's emotive voice at the heart of the sounds. The band's intricate instrumentation reveals more with each listen and the record explores themes of departure, self-reflection and the bittersweet nature of transitions. They might sound heavy but the delicate soundscapes also capture both moods of vulnerability and resilience which adds to the tender, affecting nature of the record.

Review: Three years after Ticket to Shangri-La, Young Gun Silver Fox return with a polished showcase of contemporary AOR and blue-eyed soul that could be a long-lost gem, but it isn't, it's all new. The duo of Andy Platts of Mama's Gun and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee really deliver here with achingly lush melodies, breezy harmonies and effortlessly smooth vocals that embody their signature mellow sound and tap into all the classics of this genre. From start to finish, Pleasure is steeped in warmth and nostalgia yet feels refreshingly modern and it's a must-have if you like soulful, feel-good pop and yacht rock. With a major European tour ahead, this duo continue to prove they're at the heart of today's AOR revival.

Review: Adrian Younge's Something About April II, originally from 2016, is a stunning evolution of his cinematic soul vision. Younge, who has long been devoted to blaxploitation-era sounds, expanded his palette here with richer songwriting and tighter arrangements. While rooted in the late 60s to early 70s soul aesthetic, the album always felt fresh and purposeful and still does almost a decade on for this reissue. Standouts like 'Sandrine' and duets with Laetitia Sadier and Bilal showcase his growth in composition and emotional depth and come with lush instrumentation from Fender Rhodes, vibraphone, and his custom Selene keyboard. Younge moved beyond homage with this work and into a world where he creates timeless originals and fully realised modern soul gems.

Review: Adrian Younge's latest in the Something About April series is a stunning analogue opus that blends a 30-piece orchestra with breakbeats, synth work and Brazilian psychedelia. It has reportedly been years in the making and is the culmination of Younge's sonic vision as well as being his most expansive and experimental work to date. Brazilian vocalists, fuzzed-out drums and lush orchestration evoke MPB greats like Verocai and Os Mutantes and hip-hop kings Wu-Tang in equal measure. Tracks like 'Nunca Estranhos' and 'Nossas Sombras' are richly cinematic and deeply soulful standouts. More than a closing chapter, this record cements Younge's legacy as a visionary composer.