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Anne has a passion for writing in alternative open tunings and her eclectic musical influences span blues, jazz, folk and country. Her new album Cigarettes and Smokescreens showcases her talent for storytelling. When not playing sold- out stages across the UK, you can find Anne in a field in the middle of nowhere with her two retired horses. This special album is now available as a vinyl LP pressed at Seabass Vinyl in Scotland, following an initial CD only release.

Anne Gair has toured extensively across the UK. She has played iconic venues including The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, King Tuts Wah Wah, The 100 Club and The Voodoo Rooms. She has played festivals including Belladrum and Celtic Connections. "Anne has got the most stunning voice, It's very Joni Mitchell- esque. (Her music) is beautiful storytelling and gorgeous melodies." -- Anna Foster - BBC Radio "A voice that just soothes your soul" - Rambling Folk "(Anne's) voice is beautiful, just gorgeous" - Nerina Pallot

Soul Music legend Candi Staton returns to her down-home Alabama roots on her 32nd album, Back to My Roots. The twelve-track Americana set features an array of Staton-penned originals and some well-chosen covers.

"These songs represent my roots," Staton adds as she reflects on her many trials and triumphs. "Even the new songs on some level represent something I've experienced and that's what real soul music is about." Back to My Roots was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks. “Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”

Staton received the Americana Music Association UK’s highest honour, the International Lifetime Achievement Award, at the UK Americana Music Awards ceremony at Hackney Church in London last year for her southern soul work that stretches from her 1969 Muscle Shoals hits to her more recent collaborations with the likes of Americana kings Jason Isbell and John Paul White.
The album opens with a mid-tempo Bonnie Raitt-styled contemporary blues “I Missed the Target Again” that finds Harry Connick Jr.’s longtime guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr. (aka the Prophesying Guitarist) showing off his skills that set the tone for the song and the album.

Staton’s older sister, Maggie Staton Peebles (who alongside Staton was a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s), joins her for two duets. The first, “It’s Gonna Rain,” features just a drum, steel guitar and vocals. “My mother used to sing that song to us all the time when I was a child,” Staton recalls. “It’s a really soulful kind of song I wanted to revisit.” They then take turns leading Thomas Dorsey 1939 gem “There Will Be Peace in the Valley” that Elvis Presley popularized in the 1950s.

“Hang on in There” is a new, mid-tempo song that has an old school gospel flavour and features vocals from veteran bluesman, Larry McCray.
While in Europe in 2023 for her farewell concert tour that took her to the Glastonbury Festival and Love Supreme, Staton and her British band, PUSH, went into a London studio to record a new version of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 gem, “Shine A Light.” “I love the way that came out,” Staton says. “We put a big choir on it and put our own twist on it.”
From there, Staton revives another Thomas Dorsey classic, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow,” with a bluesy vibe. When Al Green started recording gospel in the early 1980s, he re-introduced this song into the culture.

“God’s Gonna Use Me Anyway” is a new mid-tempo blues with subtle Caribbean influences.

The mood takes a turn on “1963.” It’s a poignant, spoken-word reflection on September 15, 1963, when four black girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. “I was in the city that day and I remember the chaos and horror after the bombing,” Staton recalls. “Just thinking of how racism and hatred caused those men to kill those girls was so emotional for me that I could only do it in one take.”

It's a perfect segue into "Reach Down and Touch Heaven," a haunting, plea for divine intervention into the affairs of mankind. "That's straight Baptist," she says. "I used to be a church pianist back in the 1960s. I've never played piano on one of my records before so that's a unique song for me because I’m finally playing on one of my records. The message of that song is about the homeless. It came to me when a homeless person on the street asked me for $5. When God touches your heart to help somebody else that’s heaven to God’s hears. So, when we reach into our purse or wallet to help someone, we’re touching heaven."

Staton offers love as an antidote to hate on the bouncy, Motown-styled, “Love Breakthrough.”

Her publicist brought Aaron Frazer & the Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY’s 2017 cut “My God Has a Telephone” to Staton’s attention. She shifts the track from a retro 1960s groove to more of a 1980s Malaco Records arrangement, a subtle but distinct variation. Staton brought in her longtime friend and STAX Records legend, William Bell (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Trying to Love Two”), to add raspy seasoning to the track.

The album closes with the wistful, “In God’s Hands We Rest Untroubled,” that was originally written and recorded by the late country star, Lari White, who died in 2017 at the age of 52. “Lari sent me that song to consider at least ten years ago and I always loved it,” Staton says. “The record label didn’t want it on the album or something, so I just held it.”
Staton says, “I grew up hearing a lot of these old songs when they were new songs. I toured with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and we got to know people like Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and others who sang these types of songs. So, I’m sort of paying tribute to them and the influence they had on me by refreshing these songs and making new songs in the old style.”’

2026 Repress

SHDW's label Mutual Rytm rounds out another year with 'Symbiosis' - an excellent split EP from Greek artists ANNE & Sera J, featuring six fresh cuts and four digital bonuses.

The release title comes from the Greek word 'Symbiosis', which means living closely together for a significant period and can be used to speak of a mutually beneficial interaction between individuals. And that is precisely what can be said of ANNE and Sera J, who have grown through life as partners and, more recently, as musical peers. This split EP is their first release alongside one another, and one that presents the story of their innermost feelings, with their full label debut following fine contributions to the label's 'Federation Of Rytm II' compilation back in March.

ANNE has had a busy few years making her mark with potent techno on labels such as Soma, Hardgroove, and Life In Patterns, while Sera J is just as revered for his tunes on the likes of Out Of Place, DifferentSound and more.

ANNE takes the A-side, firstly with the fiery diva vocals and thumping techno drums of 'Heal My Soul' and then the more physical and banging drum programming of 'Turn Back Time'. It's a big, metallic cut with rumbling bass and sleek synths peeling off the groove, while her final track 'Zephyrus' has plenty of infectious bounce and eerie pads to keep dancers on their toes.

On the flip, Sera J kicks off with the electrifying synth stabs and cantering techno power of 'Blue Dancers' and then offers up 'Common People' as twisted leads and slamming drums all run through with alien sound effects and bright stabs. To close, 'Delusion' is a psychedelic cut with roaming leads that bring plenty of cosmic energy to the unrelenting kicks.

In addition, each artist serves up a pair of digital bonuses: ANNE with the hurried funk of 'Serene' and loopy intensity of 'Victor', and Sera J with the liquid, dubby dynamics of the hard-hitting 'Intensity' and monstrous energy of 'Bodies Don't Lie.'

Channeling his trademark style of driving techno and robotic rhythms, Phase Fatale makes his Dekmantel UFO series debut, upping the ante with his forward cutting production methods. His first solo release in 2 years, the Berlin-based DJ, Producer and Label owner hotwires his signature wall of sound with precise, hypnotic magnetism and dystopian textures.

A key protagonist in Techno’s lexicon as a regular in the booth at ∄ in Kyiv and with residencies at queer collective Merge in New York, alongside institutions Berghain and Khidi. The New York native’s unflinching mutualism of past and present comes forward in his introspective production style of textural waves and melancholic narrative, welded together by true techno formation. A deep referential lens cutting through layers of whirling cybernetics form his sonic coil, surrendering the listener into dissociative euphoria.

Underpinned by a focus on bass heavy techno, the 4-track EP circulates an ebb and flow of surrealist, atmospherics and whirring futuristic frequencies. Hypnosis inducing polyrhythmic analog sequences, flesh-out the EP’s core whilst the track progression traverses over a terrain of experimental cuts, driving beats, and oscillating sonic shrapnel. A culmination of influences spanning techno born out of Birmingham and Detroit alike form an architecture of stripped back electronics alongside soulful melodies, as well as references to acid house, post-punk and shoegaze. The title track ‘Off Desire’ a nod to longtime friend and collaborator the late Silent Servant, evokes a dream like crescendo between David Lynch and the sci-fi body tech of David Cronenberg, electric stabbing beats are offset by wistful guitar riffs and the digital rain of ethereal distorted vocals as if echoes from the void.

Following the solid showing of global love and support for the collective Point Winona Sound Library Vol 1, LA’s Elbow Grease label runs it back with a sultry summer scene LP entry from one of the compilation’s most promising new talents.
Nashville-born/LA-bred Michael Griffin aka Gryph’s aptly-titled debut album Nash Angeles is a rare and refreshing example of true musical worlds colliding, that never loses focus of keeping the big fun in funky. The Tennessee-raised rock and blues guitarist/singer-songwriter’s newfound passion for dance music roots and devotion to the sonic feels of his current Cali home base are on full display here. Along with the studio-ace touches of co-producer Dave Aju and a cast of brilliant feature vocalists and live session musicians, the LP offers up only the most adventurous twists on contemporary genre fusion - from disco to dub, modern soul to post-punk, italo to r&b, and jazz-funk to classic house music, all while firing loved-up arrows straight through the hearts of any dance floors or fellow party animals, just in time for open-air bbq season
Already in heavy support rotation by legends such as: Glenn Underground, Francois K, Bill Brewster, Daniele Baldelli, Pete Herbert, Louise Chen, Graeme Park, Felix Joy, DJ Rocca, Massimiliano Pagliara, and many more..

Van Morrisons neues Album 'Remembering Now' markiert seine Rückkehr zu Original Music mit einer reichen Mischung aus Soul, Jazz, Blues, Folk und Country und enthält die lang erwartete Single 'Down To Joy'.

Van Morrison, blue-eyed Soul-Shouter und wild-eyed Dichter-Magier zugleich, ist einer der wahren Erneuerer der populären Musik. Er ist ein rastlos Suchender, dessen beschwörender Gesang und alchimistische Verschmelzung von R&B, Jazz, Blues und keltischem Folk das vielleicht spirituellste Werk im Rock'n'Roll-Kanon hervorgebracht hat. Seine Aufnahmen, die nur den Launen seiner eigenen Muse unterworfen sind, decken ein außergewöhnliches stilistisches Terrain ab und bewahren doch eine Geschlossenheit und Reinheit, die unter seinen Zeitgenossen nahezu unerreicht ist. Was sie verbindet, ist die mythische Kraft seiner einzigartigen musikalischen Vision und seines feurigen Gesangs: spiralförmige Wiederholungen von Klagen und Flüstern, die die Grenzen der Sprache umgehen, um emotionale Wahrheiten zu artikulieren, die weit über den Rahmen der wörtlichen Bedeutung hinausgehen.

Early Days (2016-2019) is a new collection of previously unreleased songs from Mauri Tapia a.k.a Los Retros. From a young age, Tapia has been a prolific songwriter, spending his teenage years writing and recording song after song. Influenced by soft rock and left-field South American pop, Early Days (2016-2019) captures the sound of this formative era Streaming everywhere today, Early Days consisting of 15 tracks, recorded from Mauri's parents' living room using nothing more than an old four-track recorder, that only existed in low quality online, now mastered, sequenced, and physically released for the first time. It was during these sessions that Los Retros created the song "Someone to Spend Time With", now certified Gold. Early Days comes with a companion visual for "Without You", edited by close friend and collaborator Ross Harris from found footage of early Los Retros tour stops. Check out Los Retros proper debut "Odisea" released simultaneously too. FFO soul, bedroom pop, indie, modern jazz, downtempo, soft rock, Mac DeMarco, Thee Sacred Souls, Skinshape, Men I Trust, Too Slow To Disco

Legendary hard-bop pianist and composer Horace Silver (1928 - 2014) was influenced by a wide range of musical styles, notably gospel, African, Latin, and Soul Jazz. He recorded primarily for Blue Note between 1952 and 1980, resulting in 25+ album releases. Presented here is Horace Silver's fourth LP Silver's Blue taped for the Epic label during two sessions in 1956, which followed three earlier sessions he had already recorded for Blue Note. The Epic session was to be the last LP he cut for the label, following which he returned to Blue Note where he remained until 1980 with the album 'Silver'n Strings Play the Music of Spheres'. The longevity of Silver's tenure with Blue Note was down to a deep friendship with the label's boss Alfred Lion, who allowed him greater input on aspects of album production than was usual at the time. Silver's Blue includes Blue Note stable mates Donald Byrd and Hank Mobley.

Almost 400 multi-track tape reels, totalling 150 hours of music, were recorded during the Waterboys' famous Fisherman's Blues sessions of 1986-88. Among these were 80 tapes with no song titles, just rough notes like "jam" or "unknown." In 2024 band leader Mike Scott went through most of these, listening to them for the first time since they were recorded, and discovering in the process dozens of tracks the band had forgotten about; lost recordings, some improvised on the spot, others painstakingly worked on, that in many cases equal the quality of those on the original classic 1988 album.

Scott has compiled these into a triple CD and vinyl collection titled THE LOST FISHERMAN'S BLUES RECORDINGS. This fascinating release will gain much attention and will come with a book containing 15,000 words of Scott's own sleeve notes plus lyrics and unseen photos.

Erweiterte Vinyl-Edition mit Gatefold-Hülle und 20-seitigem Booklet mit seltenen Fotos, Songtexten und neuen Liner Notes von Danielle Maggio, die Betty interviewt hat. LP gepresst auf Pearl Flip / Horizon Color Vinyl. Das 1974 erschienene zweite Album ,They Say I'm Different" der Punk-Funk-Provokateurin Betty Davis besticht durch ein futuristisches Cover, das es wert ist, eingerahmt zu werden, und das David Bowies Science-Fiction-Funk mit echtem rockigem Soul-Feuer herausfordert. Den Auftakt bilden die wild-sexuellen ,Shoo-B-Doop" und ,Cop Him" (später von Ice Cube gesampelt), dazu gesellen sich Klassiker wie ,Don't Call Her No Tramp" und der urkomische, harte, tiefe Funk von ,He Was A Big Freak".

Following a huge wave of global support since its digital debut, ‘Edge Of Desire’ from Jonas Blue & Malive finally lands on 12" vinyl. A fitting format for one of the most talked-about house records of the past twelve months.

Since its release in July 2025, ‘Edge Of Desire’ has become a genuine streaming and club phenomenon. The sun-drenched house cut built on shimmering guitar riffs, bubbling synths and an irresistible vocal hook quickly took on a life of its own, topping Beatport Overall Chart and spending weeks in the Top 10 while racking up 100 million streams worldwide and over 100,000 global radio plays. From major playlists to festival stages, the track’s uplifting energy has made it a staple for selectors and listeners alike, with early DJ support from tastemakers including Adriatique, Adam Ten and Carlita.

Now, ahead of summer 2026, the record arrives on a special 12" vinyl edition bringing together the original alongside standout reinterpretations from some of house music’s most respected names. Dutch favourite Franky Rizardo delivers a groove-heavy club workout, Florida legends Jazz-N-Groove add their unmistakable soulful house touch, while Grigoré & Serve Cold transform the track into a deep, rolling dancefloor weapon.

With the original continuing to dominate playlists and dancefloors around the world, the vinyl release of ‘Edge Of Desire’ feels perfectly timed. Ready to soundtrack open-air sets, beach parties and late-night club moments throughout the season. For DJs, collectors and house music fans alike, this pressing captures the record at the peak of its momentum: a modern Defected anthem finally given the wax treatment it deserves.

Whether you’re cheering for Montreal or Boston, Hollanov always comes out on top. Relive every beat of Shane and Ilya’s yearslong rivalry--turned--romance with the official Heated Rivalry soundtrack on vinyl, featuring a curated selection of needle--d-rops from the series by Wolf Parade, Feist, t.A.T.u, Harrison and more, alongside selections from Peter Peter’s pulse-pounding, heart-m-elting original score, from the Vegas penthouse all the way to the cottage.

Pressed on two striking block-c-olored discs (Montreal Metros Blue/Red and Boston Raiders Black/Yellow), the deluxe gatefold edition includes printed sleeves, two trading cards, a fold-out poster, and liner notes by show creator Jacob Tierney.

Ornaments continues its long-standing journey with Carlos Nilmmns, presenting a new mini-LP that effortlessly fuses sophisticated late-night club grooves with raw emotional depth. Across six expertly crafted tracks, Nilmmns delivers a rich sonic spectrum: from smoke-filled jazzy cuts and deep, hypnotic vibes to uplifting, funky piano house designed for the dancefloor. The emotional centerpiece of the record belongs to two breathtakingly deep, vocal-led songs featuring the beautiful, timeless voices of Genoveva, Keter Darker, and the legendary Karl The Voice — a poignant, soulful tribute that grounds the entire release

Repress.

Danish quintet David Miilmann Group return with You Belong, their third album and a vibrant, uplifting statement built around guitarist David Miilmann"s distinctive slide guitar voice. Rooted in soul and blues but shaped within a genre-defying jazz context, the band brings a life-affirming energy to music that moves between groove, melody, and open improvisation with ease. Set for release on April Records on June 12th, 2026, You Belong centres on Miilmann"s approach to the guitar, drawing on the phrasing of singers like Curtis Mayfield, Freddie King and Aretha Franklin. His slide playing - developed as a way of emulating the human voice - sits at the core of the group"s sound, cutting through a warm, rhythmically grounded backdrop that blends jazz, rock, and Brazilian influences. At its core, the album captures a working band in motion. The five musicians move fluidly between composed material and looser, more exploratory sections, guided by close listening and a shared sense of direction. That chemistry comes into focus on "It"s Happening Again," a groove-led track steeped in a warm, 1970s-inspired production style. Built on a relaxed but propulsive feel, it captures the simple joy of time spent with close friends - familiar, unforced, and full of possibility. "The Day After" offers a more spacious counterpoint. Written as a reflection on those rare, quiet mornings following a meaningful moment - a concert, a celebration - it unfolds with a sense of ease and openness, led by Miilmann"s melodic slide guitar and supported by a restrained, attentive rhythm section. The band"s take on "My Favorite Things" reshapes the well-known material through their own ensemble sound, acknowledging the influence of John Coltrane while carving out a more textural, guitar-led approach. The album"s title, You Belong, points to the group"s broader outlook: an inclusive, community-driven approach to making music. That idea runs through both the compositions and the band"s dynamic - less about spotlighting individuals, more about building a collective sound. Since their debut Waiting for Myself (2021), David Miilmann Group have carved out a space with their emotionally direct, genre-fluid approach - earning two DMA Blues nominations, reaching the finals of the Jazz Competition, and receiving regular airplay on P8 Jazz. With You Belong, they refine that approach into something more defined: a warm, groove-driven sound shaped by song, feel, and the unmistakable voice of Miilmann"s slide guitar.

Whilst scrolling through the dusty corners of the internet, the legendary producer, DJ and musical bon viveur Chris Bangs stumbled across some demo recordings of an obscure organist ‘Mose Dillon’ - intrigued but also thoroughly charmed by their obvious lack of audio fidelity, and after finding they were previously unreleased, hatched a plan to bring them to the attention of jazz, blues and soulful sound aficionados.. Recruiting Simon Ward, as a fellow multi-talented musical mind known as and for his work as Dr Rubberfunk (Jalapeno Records) / Mr Güder they combined their renowned skills to add a new sheen to the original music.

The end result is the pairing of these two newly re-invigorated jazzy Hammond B-3 tunes - a version of Rejoice In Righteousness - Bukky Leo’s spiritual tinged, jazz dance anthem of the late 80’s, and with the flip - Mighty Righteous - it’s clear whilst his story remains unknown, Mose Dillon had a thoroughly righteous mind set when he recorded that Reuben Wilson inspired groove.

Wherever Mose went - or is - we are confident he approves!”

Strut Records proudly presents the first definitive expanded reissue of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Sun Ra’s 1977 session recorded at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana, presented across three Vinyl LPs or as a two CD set.

The Arkestra were at the peak of their powers in 1977, releasing revered albums like The Soul Vibration Of Man and My Favorite Things with Arkestra regulars Marshall Allen, Danny Ray Thompson, Michael Ray and Luqman Ali among the core musicians. Ra also continued his touring in Europe with historic gigs in Italy. During this period, Arkestra live performances were often loosely structured into thematic blocks that moved from reflections on jazz history to cosmic “space narrative” sections featuring collective chants, extended Africa/Egypt-inspired grooves and selections from the Great American Songbook. This recording brings in all of these features with re-imagined versions of standards like ‘Take The “A” Train’, ‘St. Louis Blues’ and title track ‘Over The Rainbow’ alongside rarely recorded Ra compositions like ‘Make Another Mistake’ and ‘Amen Meni Many Amens’. Ra conducted improvisations to guide the listener seamlessly from one musical scene to the next. As Sun Ra himself described it: “It’s like a party—we enjoy ourselves and everybody’s invited to enjoy it with us.”

The original version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow assembled a handful of clearly delineated tracks drawn from the flow of two complete concert recordings, re-arranged out of sequence. Strut’s new edition restores previously excised material and preserves more of the natural transitions between pieces, offering a fuller glimpse into the distinctive aesthetic of Sun Ra and his Arkestra.

This definitive reissue is pressed across two CDs, or three vinyl LPs housed in a triple gatefold sleeve, newly remastered by Technology Works from the original source tapes and features extensive new liner notes by Chris Cutler alongside video stills from the original concert.

Die Vintage Sounds Vinyl Collection präsentiert eine sorgfältig kuratierte Ausgabe ganz im Zeichen der House Music. Der Sampler vereint zeitlose, hochgradig tanzbare Tracks von prägenden Szenegrößen wie Masters At Work, Bob Sinclar, Kings Of Tomorrow, St Germain, DJ Gregory, Joe Smooth und vielen mehr. Funkige Basslines, soulige Vocals und klassische Grooves treffen auf französischen House-Esprit und internationale Club-Anthems. Ein unverzichtbarer Vinyl-Sampler für DJs, Sammler und alle, die House als Lebensgefühl verstehen.

Mit diesem außergewöhnlichen Doppel-Vinyl lässt sich die Musik aus den ikonischsten Filmen von Clint Eastwood neu entdecken. Als Schauspieler, Regisseur und Produzent zählt Eastwood zu den prägenden Figuren der internationalen Filmgeschichte - und hat über Jahrzehnte hinweg ein ebenso markantes musikalisches Universum geschaffen. Diese sorgfältig kuratierte Sammlung vereint Originalaufnahmen aus seinen Filmen und spiegelt die enorme stilistische Bandbreite wider: von Jazz-Legenden wie Charlie Parker und Duke Ellington über Soul- und Pop-Klassiker bis hin zu Orchesterwerken und traditionellen Stücken. Die Auswahl zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie entscheidend Musik für die Atmosphäre von Eastwoods Filmen ist - mal subtil, mal prägend, immer charakteristisch. Gepresst als hochwertige Doppel-LP auf farbigem Vinyl, ist diese Edition zugleich Sammlerstück und klangstarke Hommage an eine einzigartige Film- und Musiktradition.

SCOTTISH TRUMPETER MALCOLM STRACHAN RETURNS WITH HIS MOST UPLIFTING AND GROOVE-DRIVEN ALBUM YET – “LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE” On Look On The Bright Side, Malcolm Strachan sounds more open than ever. His third solo album moves effortlessly between soul-jazz, Latin grooves and Afrobeat touches, anchored by the warm, cinematic feel of 1970s jazz but driven by a clear sense of forward motion. Released on 22 May 2026 via Haggis Records, the album sees Strachan stepping further into his role as a composer and bandleader, drawing together the threads of a career spanning more than two decades at the heart of the UK’s jazz, funk and soul scene. Where his debut About Time (2020) channelled the spirit of classic Blue Note recordings and Point Of No Return (2023) leaned into the groove-heavy CTI era, Look On The Bright Side feels broader in scope – still rooted in groove, but more open to outside influences and a more consciously uplifting tone. “I wanted the music to feel upbeat and positive,” says Strachan. “I start at the piano, working through chord ideas until I find something that feels right. Once the harmony is there, the melodies tend to come naturally.” That approach gives the album its fluidity, with tracks evolving from feel as much as structure and arrangements that leave room for interplay and movement.

Robert Johnson , the legendary blues guitarist, sold his soul at the crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, for musical greatness. Ryan Coogler's latest film, Sinners , resonates with that story, exploring ambition and sacrifice. His 'King of the Delta Blues Singers' LP epitomises that story

[a] Cross Road Blues [aka Crossroads]

‘Falling Backwards’ is the debut album from Him & Earl via Wah Wah 45s, serving up a mystic brew of desert blues, English folk, Americana and stirring southern soul, with tentacles stretching out into psychedelia and prog, across 11 hot and hazy tracks.

Singer-songwriter Olly Him and DJ, producer and composer Wyndham Earl both have deeply-dug roots in the south coast of England, with the former making his name as a solo artist before exploring his soulful folk/prog sound with a number of live acts, and the latter collaborating on albums and sharing stages with Bonobo, Khruangbin, Alice Russell and TM Juke, having remixes released by Tru Thoughts and Mr Bongo Records and releasing his solo projects on his Time Spun imprint.

The pair first met in 2015 when Wyndham produced some songs for now defunct hypnotic Afro-folk outfit Creatures Of The Deep, of which Olly was a founder member. They instantly clicked, but after the group broke up it was a few years before serendipity brought them back together; a chance encounter at a gig saw them begin hatching plans to make a full album under the name Him & Earl with Olly writing the songs and Wyndham arranging and producing the project.

After so long floating in the creative ether, the connective power of these songs has been strikingly immediate. The debut Him & Earl live show in early 2026, before any tracks had even come out, blew Olly and Wyndham’s expectations out of the water as their five-piece band found themselves toe-to-toe with a sellout crowd – a sweaty room full of happy music fans, on an otherwise bleak January night, throwing shapes to live percussion showdowns, losing themselves in psychedelic guitar and bass wig-outs, and singing along to choruses they’d never heard a note of before.

Since then, the first two singles “Bottled Up” and “Away” have had high profile airplay from the likes of BBC 6 Music’s Huw Stephens and Cerys Matthews, and Radio X’s John Kennedy, adding to widespread tastemaker and specialist support around the world, as excitement builds for the album.The LP’s introspective and philosophical lyrics are brought to life by a sonorous yet strangely uplifting sound palette that morphs by stealth into a darkly propulsive, psychedelic and bluesy trip.

Opening song “Away” taps straight into a key theme of the record – journeying, in both a physical and mental sense, and the quest to move on and embrace the unknown – and its sunny guitars, trumpet and violin barely even hint at the tumultuous sonic adventure that’s set to unfold. A stronger indication comes in the title track,“Falling Backwards”, as its elegant web of staccato finger-picked hook, fluid piano melodies and strings unfurls into a six-minute exploration of what Olly describes as “going through every day normality while feeling close to chaos and like things could fall apart at any moment… when there is a myriad of different things holding everything together and if one thing goes wrong everything can fall apart around it.”



“Better Days” swiftly restores a sense of upbeat calm, with lively Kora and Afrobeat-inspired guitar licks, atmospheric trumpet and a harmony-clad mantra of hope on the horizon; the folky “Bottled Up” continues that blissful notion with undulating finger-picked guitar, earthy clarinet counter-melodies and celestial murmurations of delicately plucked strings. The magnetic pull toward more mysterious horizons comes via the dusty twang of Wild West-esque guitars on “Open Road”, a nomadic journey of self-discovery through spacious sonic plains embellished with eerie flickers of flute and clarinet. This leftward turn gathers pace in the trancelike

psych-prog depths of “Preside”, an instrumental cut at the album’s pivotal halfway point. Hypnotic, guttural desert blues-infused riffs on “Inside” channel the feeling of a psychedelic or spiritual trip where, in Olly’s words, “something clicks and you understand things on a different level – it makes you see inside yourself and see things in a different way.” “Shadow overhead” brings a lighter touch to a darker subject – the feeling of paranoia and being locked away from the world – drawn from Olly’s own experience and also his years of working in and around mental health.

Exuberant horns lend hope to loosely looping suspense on “Blindside” (about being caught out by the unexpected, and searching for something to see or hear to pick you up again) and then mesh with urgent strings, low-slung guitars and subterranean bass on “Around Again”, which explores the modern fight to stay afloat amid the endless churn of information and distractions. Still plumbing the bassy, bluesy depths of this journey into the psyche, “You Can Only Know” is a dreamlike revelation about finding someone or something that helps to make sense of the world. Luminescent synths duck and weave, while a rock-solid bass riff is tracked by a soul-soothing four-part “hey hey” harmony, reassuring as a glowing lamp in the window at the end of a life-changing trip.

Bang! Records now brings Powerglide by The Hydromatics back to vinyl, giving this powerful and long-overdue album the format it deserves. A necessary reissue of a genuine cult favorite: wild, electric, and made by people who truly knew what this music was all about. In the early 2000s, The Hydromatics brought together three scenes, three cities, and one shared devotion to rock'n'roll: the fiery tradition of Detroit, the raw punch of Amsterdam, and the high-energy attitude of Scandinavia. Fronted by none other than Scott Morgan (Sonic's Rendezvous Band), one of the great voices of Detroit rock, and backed by Tony Slug (LOVESLUG) and a band built out of genuine love for the legacy of Sonic's Rendezvous Band, the result was Powerglide-a record that is tough, streetwise, soulful, elegant, and raw all at once. Originally released in 2001, Powerglide captures The Hydromatics in full flight. Original songs sit alongside explosive takes on material connected to the Sonic's Rendezvous universe, all delivered with nerve, conviction, and the kind of authority that simply cannot be faked. The guitars bite, the rhythm section drives relentlessly, and above all there is Scott Morgan's voice-capable of sounding fierce, wounded, and defiant within the very same line. Far from being a mere exercise in homage, Powerglide stands tall as a living, breathing record with a personality all its own: high-octane rock'n'roll fueled by rhythm & blues soul and steeped in the unmistakable spirit of Detroit. This is an album for those who understand that proto-punk, garage soul, and real rock'n'roll were never separated by any meaningful border in the first place.

WRWTFWW Records unleashes the first ever release of legendary post-disco, funk, soul and electronic UK trio Imagination's cult album Night Dubbing in (well deserved) double LP format. The limited edition full-length comes with pristine audiophile treatment and luxurious packaging : a 45rpm and Half Speed Mastered DLP housed in heavyweight silver cardboard sleeve.
Imagination's singular 1983 album Night Dubbing is a refined deconstruction of black British soul and club pop, filtered through the deep studio and mixing techniques of dub music. Elegant, restrained, and, in its very own subtle way, radical, the record reshapes choice selections from the group's stellar catalogue into an immersive and out-of-this-world listening experience.

The special mixes on Night Dubbing are built on time and space. Basslines elongate and dissolve. Vocals appear, vanish, and reappear like ghosts. Drums fall away into vast silences, while echoes, tape edits, and precise engineering manoeuvres smoothly slide across the stereo field, revealing themselves like magic over repeated listens. Far from simple extensions or 12" versions, Night Dubbing treats the studio itself as an instrument, opening new dimensions of sound.

Often cited as a foundational record in the genesis of the house genre, the album also features the historic Larry Levan remix of "Changes", a Paradise Garage anthem that helped shape the direction of club music for decades to come.

More than 40 years on, Night Dubbing remains a seminal work. Its influence continues to echo through contemporary dance music, offering a blueprint for how pop could be transformed into something darker, stranger, more physical - a timeless sound that drifts effortlessly from the dancefloor into space.

Important note : it sounds amazing played on 33rpm too !

Fenomenon are a trio hailing from Stavanger, on the west coast of Norway. Throughout their career they have released four full-length records, effortlessly moving between future jazz, downtempo, soul, and broken beat.

Their lush debut 12" Pacific Memories on Nuphonic made considerate waves and made the ears of many DJs perk up. As a result, the tracks "Pacific Memories" and "Solara" were featured on many big-name compilations and mix CDs such as Tom Middleton's The Sound Of The Cosmos, Hed Kandi, and MTV Summer Lounge. The latter was also featured in Michael Bay's sci-fi thriller The Island, featuring Scarlett Johansson. The follow-up single visjon.nord was only released as a white label promo due to the unfortunate demise of Nuphonic in 2002.

Pacific Memories: The Early Tapes collects tunes from both these EPs complemented by songs recorded around the same time. Originally released on CD only in 2006 by the Norwegian label Beatservice, it's now available on vinyl for the first time for its 20th anniversary. If you're a fan of Jazzanova, The Cinematic Orchestra, Kinobe, and Blue States, you can't miss this.

Pacific Memories: The Early Tapes is available as a 20th anniversary edition of 250 copies on turquoise and yellow vinyl.

Magnolia Blue Records have an amazing soulful debut album from Acantha Lang who has been building a loyal fanbase over the past few years. Acantha, having just toured with Roachford will be playing London, Paris & European festivals this summer.

Random Color ReVINYL Edition. Never has a Songs: Ohia album's process been so integral to its overall feel as is the case with DIDN'T IT RAIN, the band's sixth proper full-length. The album, like the working class South Philadelphia neighborhood in which it was birthed, has a real used goods kinda feel to it. Engineer Edan Cohen employed what some may consider "old-fashioned" recording techniques -- the entire album was recorded live with no overdubs, the full band playing in one room with the players always within arms' reach of one another; singers Jason Molina, Jennie Benford and Jim Krewson (the latter two of Jim & Jennie And The Pinetops) sharing microphones singing live together, sometimes sitting in chairs, sometimes standing. The result is a sound which resembles the warmth and personality of the classic Muscle Shoals Sound recordings of the early- to mid-70s: Willie Nelson's PHASES & STAGES, the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses", and others by Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Wilson Pickett.Inspired by the Mahalia Jackson song of the same name, the title track is a beautiful song about the shifting tides of life and the old cycle of "a lot of shit going down before shit clears up". It's a damn fine place to start an album that seems in no hurry whatsoever to make a universal statement, instead perfectly content to walk its own path toward resolution. And damn if Songs: Ohia principal songwriter Jason Molina hasn't gone and created a record that is even more intensely personal and healing than any of his previous works. Neil Young had his AFTER THE GOLDRUSH, this is Molina's DIDN'T IT RAIN. Indeed, this is the album with which Molina really leaves his mark as a serious songwriter and artist. On 1999's genre-bending Ghost Tropic full-length, Songs: Ohia made it clear that it could make a cohesive album that took its listener on a journey from front to back. Its dislocated feel set a haunting tone, and its largely instrumental and drone-like quality was the process of the Ohia eluding itself and its own tendencies, searching for the underside of its roots freshly yanked. With DIDN'T IT RAIN, Molina & Co. return to the beauty of the song form and offer up a startlingly soulful and introspective song cycle in which Molina -- accepting a comfortable degree of anonymity amongst the other players -- meditates on what it means to feel rooted again (in the city of Chicago, where he's called home for the past three years), sounding more sturdy at his core than ever.

Aqua Blue Vinyl, limited to 300 copies. As undeniably powerful, durable, and straight-shooting as Motorhead's Lemmy Kilminster, Spirit Caravan's inveterate founder and leader, Scott "Wino" Weinrich, is an absolute rock lifer. Following on the heels of the band's debut, Jug Fulla Sun, Dreamwheel is a Spartan-sounding five-song EP, the perfect compliment to the dense, doom-laden psychedelia of the full-length. In fact, Dreamwheel's greatest strength is the breathing space between notes, provided by the rock solid rhythm section of drummer Gary Isom and bassist Dave Sherman. Such rhythmic austerity -- the kind championed by the effort of bands like Free, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, and Grand Funk Railroad -- allows Wino's compelling, soulful baritone voice and sizzling Hawkwind-esque leads to truly sing out. As the voice behind St. Vitus and the Obsessed, Wino helped formulate and configure the shape of modern stoner rock and doom metal. Spirit Caravan, as evidenced by this brilliant, relaxed gem of an EP, is perhaps his most able vessel. Each song burns with analog warmth, intensity, and brightness. Though it took nearly a decade for Wino to receive his overdue appreciation as an artist, the late '90s and early part of the new millennium have seen his stock soar, even if not financially. - All music

Soul, jazz-rock, candombe and funk blend in the cocktail of La Banda's first and sole album. Often regarded as Argentina's first supergroup, the ensemble built a reputation on their explosive live performances during a time of political repression. Short-lived but unforgettable, the six-piece brought together top-tier jazz musicians—five Argentinians alongside Uruguayan icon Rubén Rada—to deliver a deep, hard-hitting sound that resonates far beyond its era.

Rada arrived in Buenos Aires bruised — a romantic disaster and a string of empty concert halls back in Montevideo had pushed him to start over at 35. Behind him lay a remarkable journey: from inventing candombe beat with El Kinto, to leading the Latin rock powerhouse Tótem, to recording cosmic jazz with Opa alongside the Fattoruso brothers. Trumpeter Benny Izaguirre, the band's architect, gathered around him a cast of heavyweights: pianist Jorge Navarro, an essential figure in the Buenos Aires jazz scene since the 1950s; saxophonist Bernardo Baraj, forged in Alma y Vida, Argentina's jazz-rock champions; and the irresistible rhythm section of bassist Ricardo Sanz and drummer Luis Ceravolo, both veterans of Astor Piazzolla's quintet. All three — Baraj, Sanz and Ceravolo — were simultaneously part of Banda Spinetta, the jazz-oriented project of Argentine legend Luis Alberto Spinetta.

The sessions also drew in two guests who needed no introduction: guitarist David Lebón — veteran of Pappo's Blues, Pescado Rabioso, Color Humano and Serú Girán, one of Argentine rock's true giants — and guitarist and producer Daniel Homer, a quietly indispensable figure across Buenos Aires' jazz and rock scenes.

Recorded in 1979 and gone almost as soon as it arrived — La Banda's brief existence and this sole album are what Buenos Aires sounded like when it was allowed to breathe. Between raids, between disappearances, in the stolen hours when music was louder than fear.

Fenomenon are a trio hailing from Stavanger, on the west coast of Norway. Throughout their career they have released four full-length records, effortlessly moving between future jazz, downtempo, soul, and broken beat.

Their lush debut 12" Pacific Memories on Nuphonic made considerate waves and made the ears of many DJs perk up. As a result, the tracks "Pacific Memories" and "Solara" were featured on many big-name compilations and mix CDs such as Tom Middleton's The Sound Of The Cosmos, Hed Kandi, and MTV Summer Lounge. The latter was also featured in Michael Bay's sci-fi thriller The Island, featuring Scarlett Johansson. The follow-up single visjon.nord was only released as a white label promo due to the unfortunate demise of Nuphonic in 2002.

Pacific Memories: The Early Tapes collects tunes from both these EPs complemented by songs recorded around the same time. Originally released on CD only in 2006 by the Norwegian label Beatservice, it's now available on vinyl for the first time for its 20th anniversary. If you're a fan of Jazzanova, The Cinematic Orchestra, Kinobe, and Blue States, you can't miss this.

Pacific Memories: The Early Tapes is available as a 20th anniversary edition on black vinyl.

Sam Cooke, inventor and true King of Soul, recorded Mr. Soul in 1963, the same year as Night Beat, and seems to be its more adult counterpart, with soulful ballads taking up most of the album. A laidback tempo and rich arrangements lay the foundation for Sam's somewhat melancholy voice floats, creating an uplifting spirit that can mend anyone's broken heart.

With standards such as "Willow Weep For Me", "I Wish You Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons", Cooke shows a quiet emotive side of himself without losing his keen sense of melody, using the strength of his voice without overpowering the listener. Had Sam Cooke lived longer, we might have had more music of this rare quality. As it stands, we must make do with the treasures he left behind.

Mr. Soul is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on orange vinyl.

So soulful hat man Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wohl noch nie gehört!
Mit dem Solo-Piano-Album “Black Mozart“ setzt der mehrfache Grammy- und Oscar-Preisträger Jon
Batiste seine “Batiste Piano Series“ fort. Der Vorgänger “Beethoven Blues“ stieg 2024 auf #1 der Billboard Classical Charts und begeisterte Jazz- und Klassik-Fans, sowie Kritiker zugleich.
Mit “Black Mozart (Batiste Piano Series Vol. 2)“ will Jon Batiste sein Konzept weiterführen, klassische Musik neu zu interpretieren, ohne ihren Kern zu verlieren. Er verbindet Mozarts Musik mit kraftvollem
Jazz, Blues und Gospel – ein ungekünstelter Dialog zwischen klassischer Musik und afroamerikanischen
Traditionen, ein Pianoalbum, das überrascht und begeistert.
Im August wird das musikalische Multitalent seine ”Batiste Piano Series” übrigens mit gleich zwei weiteren
Alben fortsetzen, auf denen er sich mit einer Ikone des Jazz auseinandersetzt: Thelonious Monk!

Ten years ago, Anderson .Paak didn't just release an album; he staged a full-scale takeover of the soul and hip-hop landscape. Released on January 15, 2016, Malibu served as the definitive arrival of an artist who had spent years grinding in the underground before a star-making turn on Dr. Dre’s Compton. While his previous work hinted at his potential, Malibu was the moment the world met the "Cheeky Andy" persona in full—a virtuosic drummer, a raspy-voiced crooner, and a sharp-witted rapper all rolled into one. The album is a sprawling, sun-drenched journey through the Southern California coast, blending 1970s funk, church-reared gospel, and gritty boom-bap into something that feels both nostalgic and entirely futuristic. With a heavyweight production lineup including 9th Wonder, Madlib, Kaytranada, and Hi-Tek, the record maintains a warm, analog texture that was a breath of fresh air in an increasingly digital era. It’s an album that breathes, full of intentional imperfections and the kind of "in-the-pocket" groove that can only come from a seasoned live performer. Beyond the infectious, dance-floor-ready energy of tracks like "Am I Wrong" and "Come Down," the album is a deeply autobiographical masterwork. .Paak uses the 65-minute runtime to unpack his life story with startling clarity, touching on his mother’s gambling addiction, his father’s incarceration, and his own brushes with homelessness with a sense of resilience that never feels heavy-handed. He weaves these heavy themes through a lens of triumph, grounded by vintage surfing documentary samples that give the project its cinematic, coastal atmosphere. It’s a celebratory record born out of struggle, anchored by his impeccable technicality on the drums and a guest list—featuring ScHoolboy Q, Rapsody, and The Game—that feels hand-picked to complement his specific brand of West Coast swagger. A decade later, Malibu stands as a modern classic and the blueprint for the soulful revivalism that would eventually lead .Paak to global superstardom and Grammy-winning heights. It remains a testament to the idea that the most profound music often comes from the most personal places, proving ten years on that the best way to move forward is to stay rooted in the groove.

At the beginning of the 1960s, at the Berklee College of Music, Byard Lancaster met some feisty friends: Sonny Sharrock, Dave Burrell and Ted Daniel. It is easy to see why he rapidly became involved in free jazz. Once he was settled in New York, he appeared on Sunny Murray Quintet, recorded under the leadership of the drum crazy colleague of Albert Ayler.

In 1968, the saxophonist and flutist recorded his first album under his own name: It’s Not Up To Us. The following year he came to Paris in the wake of... Sunny Murray. He would come back to France in 1971 (again with Murray) and in 1973 (without Murray for a change). This is when he met Jef Gilson, the pianist and producer who encouraged him to record under his own name again.

On Palm Records (Gilson’s label), he would release four albums: Us, Mother Africa, Exactement and Funny Funky Rib Crib.

“Funny Funky Rib Crib” is an unforgettable recording (made up of several sessions dating from the middle of 1974) of creative jazz overwhelmed by funk and soul.

If Lancaster had already made successful albums in the same genre – notably New Horizons, under the name Sounds Of Liberation which he co-led with Khan Jamal –, this one is an homage to James Brown and Sammy Davis enjoying the company of a host of guests including François Tusques (electric piano), Clint Jackson III (trumpet), François Nyombo (guitar), Joseph Traindl (trombone)...

Funny Funky Rib Crib’s cover is a three-quarter profile portrait of the saxophonist (who can also be heard on flute, piano and even vocals), however, on the record, it is the whole group, inspired and frenetic, that tests the melodies of “Just Test”, “Dogtown” or “Rib Crib” – the two versions of which display leader Lancaster’s art of nuance. On both sides of the album, the group also moves into a calmer groove, infused by blues and soul, “Work And Pray” and “Loving Kindness” are meditative tracks where listeners can lay back and relax before asking for more: Funny Funky Rib Crib

Side A’s “Mysterious Vibes” comes from Action (1977), the later-era The Blackbyrds LP produced by Donald Byrd. By this point the group had fully locked into that hazy jazz-funk pocket—rhodes, bassline glide, & drums that feel tailor-made for loops. It’s been a quiet weapon for producers: Kurious (“I’m Kurious”), Paris (“The Days of Old”), plus later flips from Big K.R.I.T. & Dom Kennedy. The Jazz Dub leans into that—stretching the groove, letting the atmosphere breathe, keeping it playable.

Flip side is certified soul-collector territory. Tom Brock’s “When There’s Nothing Left…” is lifted from I Love You More and More (1974), produced by Barry White & Gene Page. Lush, aching, full orchestration—exactly why Just Blaze flipped it for Jay-Z’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” off The Blueprint. One of those samples that instantly connects eras.

This isn’t just a “nice edit” 45—it’s a bridge between jazz-funk heads, soul collectors & hip-hop producers. Both sides rooted in records that already did damage, now reworked for the floor.

Berlin lo-fi crooner Der Assistent returns with "Ultramarin", a sun-faded suite of soft-focus pop, Balearic grooves and late-night yacht moods drifting between languages, moods and references – slightly surreal, and quietly melancholic.
Following the tropical haze of its predecessor "Amnesie am Amazonas", his third album makes a slightly bigger splash: classic late-80s digital pianos, downbeat grooves and flashes of dub-reggae intertwine with subtle soprano and alto saxophone lines that drift between lounge melancholy and nocturnal jazz.
Laid-back opening cut “Wenn der Scirocco weht” pays homage to Japanese lovers rock, while the dubby downbeat title track celebrates the color blue in French, English, Italian and German, echoing situationist slogans and painter Yves Klein’s idea of “the invisible becoming visible.” Lead single “Mann am Telefon” dives into hazy yacht-pop and lo-fi soul, gradually unfolding into an instrumental outro that recalls the early synth romanticism of Vangelis.
Across the album, Der Assistent traces a playful tale of split personalities – with subtle nods to Fight Club and Blade Runner – culminating in the lush closing 80s R&B ballad “Total Confusion”.

Written, recorded, produced and mixed entirely by Der Assistent, Ultramarin also inaugurates his new imprint of the same name.
RIYL: Fishmans, Eddie Chacon, The Zenmenn.

n a career spanning over 50 years James Brown became known as a progenitor of funk music and influencing the development of many other genres. All his hit songs, hidden gems and collaborations are now bundled on Collected. It contains 29 songs, including music from his early days with the Famous Flames, the J.B.’s and a wide collection of tracks from his solo career.

Brown began his career as a gospel singer and joined a rhythm and blues vocal group, the Famous Flames, as the lead singer in the 1950s. Later on he formed his own band and released successful singles as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". While developing the funk to a new level he created the J.B.’s, with which he scored hits like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". Brown was inducted into 1st class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the years he gained different honorific nicknames including "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" and "Soul Brother No. 1".

Music On Vinyl proudly presents a special coloured edition of the James Brown Collected compilation, which is available as a limited edition of 7.500 individually numbered copies on gold vinyl, and includes an insert with liner notes.

Roland Kirk was an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist, who lost his sight at a very early age, and played unconventional jazz, which was not entirely free but in which melodic and very beautiful phases alternated with moments of complete dissonance and conjured up his urban background, especially reflecting his view of the world as a handicapped man. Kirk was not only famous for his unique sound achieved through his playing several instruments simultaneously and his innovative approach to music but also for his dynamic live performances.

In November 1967 Kirk left EmArcy for Atlantic Records, leading his quartet through a highly introspective, somewhat melancholy programme, which was based in the blues and groove traditions of the mid-60s. Kirk himself played flutes, the stritch, manzello and tenor saxophones, the whistle, clarinet and more – precisely those instruments that had created his unique sound, particularly when some of these instruments were played simultaneously by him. Jazz critics who had previously criticised Kirk’s sound now praised him once they had heard the restrained and elegantly layered "Black And Crazy Blues", the breathtakingly executed Creole "Love Call", the razor-sharp soul in "The Inflated Tear" and the gyrating lyricism of the winds in "Fly By Night" – and quite rightly so.

Roland Kirk convinced his listenership anyway and sold over 10,000 copies of the present LP in the very first year of its release. This is Roland Kirk in his most competent and visionary form; his reading of jazz harmony and capricious sonances is virtually incomparable.