Buscar:heart 2 heart
RareTwo Inc. aka DJ Sneak and Tripmastaz are back together for 33 chambers EP, the next Respect The Craft release.
Words by Sneak:
"On a hot Ibizan summer the Rare Two fellas spent a period of 33 days on the island making tracks in a house garage with a couple of pieces of affordable gear and a whole lot of talent. We managed to create 33 tracks often burning them on CD to take to djs like Ricardo Villalobos at Amnesia and seeing the instant reaction of the crowd. We are a mega team of same mentality dudes who create from the heart breaking all rules and getting music done for a purpose. The Tripmastaz and Sneak Team is one to expect many great dance floor killers. As we call them Guttah Styles!
Words by Tripmastaz:
Recently I found these projects and since they were done on just a laptop and cheap small speakers, I gave them proper analog mixing and mastering.
All tracks remain exactly the same form and arrangement as they were originally done, including track Aww Lawd, that was featured on R. Villalobos BBC Radio 1 Pete Tongs mix back in 2018.
Mike Grinser at Mandmade Mastering did the lacquer cut and made it sound very crisp and loud a lot like it would've been cut in the 90s.
This second album by Bitsy Knox and Roger 3000 is an intimate and unsettling journey through mental, geographical, and emotional landscapes. Blending spoken word, ambient layers, and minimalist electronic textures, each track unfolds like a fragment of poetic autofiction—a tentative mapping of the invisible. The introspective texts probe solitude, desire, language, and time, in a chiaroscuro of tension and digression.
- A1: Prelusion
- A2: Do We Become Sky?
- A3: The Past Is Always Following Close Behind
- A4: Empty Lake, Empty Streets...the Sun Goes Down Alone
- B1: Etrograde
- B2: Cavanaugh Bay
- B3: Another Heart In Need Of Rescue
- C1: Devastation Is The Path To Recreation
- C2: Time Won't Forget What You Meant To Me
- D1: Moments Bruise & Bleed
- D2: The Return
- D3: Coda
Standard[37,61 €]
Washington's Slow Dancing Society aka Drew Sullivan has gone long here: Do We Become Sky? is a deeply immersive 86-minute work that very much rewards being listed to in one sitting. It is "a spiritual successor" to his 2008 album Priest Lake that draws upon feelings of loss, mostly using the tonality of the Korg Wavestation as a foundational instrument through the work. It features well-balanced boiling of tension with subtle moments of release, swelling harmonies, plucked guitars and evocative synth progressions that always keep things moving both physically and emotionally.
Pick a Piper is a Toronto-based electronica duo featuring Caribou drummer Brad Weber and vocalist–songwriter Sophia Alexandra. Their music pairs catchy, ethereal vocals with warm synths, upbeat percussion, and a distinctive sense of sound design that feels both grounded and vulnerable.
The duo’s live show is an intoxicating blend of vibrant physicality and immersive lights and visuals, creating an experience that is both danceable and hypnotic. Pulsing with momentum, vocally driven and haunting, it radiates a charisma that unites the band and audience in cathartic release.
Their new album "Dandelion", explores how we exist in the space between opposing feelings while calling for resilience and the courage to recognize that growth is possible and inherently beautiful, even in life’s most difficult experiences. The record employs skippy beats, bass-heavy kicks, warm subs, hyperactive percussion, woozy synths and organic textures, delivered with a lovingly human-curated feel.
Pick a Piper has toured across Europe, the US, Canada, Guatemala, and Colombia, and has shared the bill with Bonobo, Gold Panda, Blue Hawaii, Do Make Say Think and Ghetto Kumbe.
- A1: Kind Hearted Woman Blues
- A2: I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
- A3: Sweet Home Chicago
- A4: Rambling On My Mind
- A5: Phonograph Blues
- A6: They're Red Hot
- A7: Dead Shrimp Blues
- A8: Preachin' Blues
- B1: I'm A Steady Rollin' Man
- B2: From Four Till Late
- B3: Little Queen Of Spades
- B4: Malted Milk
- B5: Drunken Hearted Man
- B6: Stop Breakin' Down Blues
- B7: Honeymoon Blues
- B8: Love In Vain
Robert Johnson was an American blues musician whose 1936 and 1937 recordings heavily influenced many, many future generations of artists. Despite the fact his recording career spanned a mere seven months, he is universally recognized as a master of the Delta blues style, one of the earliest-known styles of blues emerging from the Mississippi delta in the early twentieth century.
This second compilation of the King of the Delta Blues collects sixteen recordings previously available on the 78 rpm format and includes recordings of two Johnson songs that have since become blues standards: "Sweet Home Chicago" and "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom." In contrast to the deeply emotive songs released on the 1961 album, many of the tracks on this volume display Johnson's lighter side. In 2003 the record was ranked #424 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Whether he really needed to sell his soul to the devil at the crossroads to reach these great heights, we'll never know...
King Of The Delta Blues Singers, Vol.2 is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on yellow vinyl and includes an insert with liner notes by Pete Welding.
Amateur forever? Oh yeah! “Amateur Hour” celebrates 15 years of Frank Music - still running on pure DIY energy, with Johannes Albert happily admitting he’s got no master plan, just a deep feel for House Music. And somehow, nearly 80 releases later, that instinct still hits. Volume I digs into the archives: forgotten cuts, long out of print, quietly becoming cult favorites. David Jackson’s “Broken Heart” returns to wax, alongside J.A.’s own “Giovanni Frizzante" if Italo is still your thing.
Flip it over and it gets deeper: Shan reworks “Wing House” into something massive, while Max Lessig closes things out with the understated, timeless glow of “Jupiter Hymn”.
Let's be frank. Once again.
- A1: Skyscraper (Live In Uelzen)
- A2: It's A Hard Life (Live In Paderborn)
- A3: I Got My Eyes You (Live In Uelzen)
- A4: Strange Feeling (Live In Uelzen)
- A5: Goldrush (Live In Uelzen)
- A6: It's Good To Know (Live In Uelzen)
- A7: Just Get Back (Live In Paderborn)
- B1: Dirty Slapstick (Live In Paderborn)
- B2: Heart In Danger (Live In Paderborn)
- B3: We Don't Want It No More (Live In Paderborn)
- B4: Legend (Live In Uelzen)
- B5: Subways Of Your Mind (Live In Uelzen)
- B6: Waiting Song (Live In Uelzen)
We are pleased to announce the first FEX live album, Don't Look Back. The release features selected recordings from two concerts in Paderborn and Uelzen, both captured in 1985. All tracks on the album are previously unissued, including entirely unheard songs such as It's a Hard Life, Just Get Back, Legend, and Waiting Song, alongside a previously unreleased version of Subways of Your Mind, widely known as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet."
One of the most striking aspects of the album is the remarkable sound quality of the live recordings, as well as the strength of the performances themselves - particularly given that FEX were still considered a newcomer band at the time. The four-piece lineup consisted of singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich on keyboards and occasional second guitar, Norbert Ziermann on bass, and Hans-Reimer Sievers on drums. In 1985, the band was preparing for broader exposure through a nationwide tour organized by the small promotion company HBM-Musikbüro.
The album opens with the psychedelic Skyscraper, a track Rückwardt reportedly regarded as a personal favorite to perform. Hädrich contributes dynamic synthesizer layers, while Ziermann underpins the track with a distinctive slap bass groove. This is followed by the energetic rock number It's a Hard Life, which once again demonstrates that the band possessed multiple songs capable of matching the impact of their best known track Subways of Your Mind.
After this energetic opening, the album shifts into a more restrained mood with the synth-pop ballad I Got My Eyes On You. It is followed by Strange Feeling, presented here in a particularly compelling live version that arguably surpasses the previously released studio demo featured on the Skyscraper LP, with Rückwardt delivering one of his most expressive vocal performances. On Goldrush, another fan favorite, it is Hädrich's DX7 synthesizer work that stands out.
Don't Look Back continues to flow seamlessly, moving between styles such as new wave, synth pop, and a blues-influenced form of classic rock. On It's Good To Know, a song addressing the theme of stardom, the band returns to a heavier rock sound. In contrast, the synth-driven Just Get Back reflects on the conflict in Northern Ireland, then ongoing at the time. Lines such as "It's the money, it's the money why they come along" are directed at mercenary soldiers, while "even Sunday's a killing time" directly references Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2.
Previously known songs such as Dirty Slapstick and Heart in Danger lead into We Don't Want It No More, perhaps the band's most striking pop ballad. It is easy to imagine that the track had the potential to achieve radio success in the 1980s. The following piece, the epic Legend, explores themes of loneliness and love simultaneously. With poetic and abstract lines such as "some isolate in the falling rain" and "that's why I count all the reasons they call out for living, sadness is falling inside," it builds an almost eerie atmosphere.
One of the final highlights of the album is Subways of Your Mind, recorded in Uelzen. In this version, Rückwardt's vocal performance is even more on point than on the previously issued recording from Paderborn. Another notable moment is the driving, 1970s-inspired rock 'n' roll track Waiting Song. Both the composition and its live performance carry an energy that could easily stand alongside the repertoire of bands such as AC/DC. It was usually the track that FEX ended their concerts with, calling out each band member at the end of the song.
This leads to a broader reflection: it is striking that FEX did not achieve a wider breakthrough at the time. The performances captured here suggest a band capable of delivering consistently, song by song, note by note. It is not difficult to imagine FEX performing in large venues and engaging sizeable audiences. In reality, however, most performances in 1985 took place in front of relatively small crowds. The recordings featured on this album originate from the Roxy club in Paderborn and a small, unknown venue in Uelzen, likely in front of fewer than fifty attendees.
An essential figure behind these recordings is the engineer known only under his nickname Hase (German for "rabbit"), who was responsible for capturing not only these concerts but many other surviving FEX recordings. Bringing his own mixing desk to performances, he developed a deep familiarity with the band's material and was able to shape the live sound with precision, including the timely use of vocal effects. The original recordings existed only on cassette and required careful and extensive restoration work. Zoey Cairs was finally responsible for bringing them to their present quality.
This album marks the beginning of the Live Waves series, following the rediscovery of additional recordings that have gained international attention since November 2024, when they surfaced through what has been described as the largest "lost wave" music search to date. The title of this first live LP Don't Look Back carries a certain paradox. While the album invites listeners to revisit recordings from forty years ago, FEX themselves were always oriented toward the future. In that spirit, further releases of brand new material are already planned.
The cover artwork is once again based on an image by Magnussen from the Kiel archive, depicting the Prinz-Heinrich-Brücke. The bridge, once located in the northern part of the city, no longer exists. As a symbol, however, it remains fitting: a bridge stands for movement and connection - qualities that FEX sought to embody on tour, bringing their music to different places and audiences.
Berlin-based disco don Tobi Schwermann aka Jack Tennis strides into his tenth year making music with a seance on his Art Groupie label. 'Billy's Family' is a heart-sweeping disco sound with sweeping Philly strings and neat guitar lines, golden chords and a nice plump mid-tempo rhythm. 'Lonely Streets' channels Bill Withers gritty soul and moody basslines into an infectious groove, then 'Some Kind Of A Lady' gets lips pouted and hands in the air with unrestrained disco joy. 'VO' closes with a rich ecosystem of whistles, organic percussive sounds and a strident electronic groove with fiery Latin vocals. Eclectic excellence once more.
2026 Repress
Maltese talent Human Safari debuts on Mutual Rytm with jazz-influenced techno EP, 'Culture Shock'.
Human Safari is a key player in his native scene in Malta. He's a resident at Glitch Festival, has played cult spots, and has a dynamic sound that brings jazz improvisation to techno, often featuring live instrumental elements. His music has found its place on top labels like R&S Records, and most of this new EP for SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint was produced during his Colombian summer tour last year - written and recorded amongst inspiring and unusual settings with just a laptop and headphones.
"This EP represents embracing new beginnings that, though might bring uncertainty and fear, the
light always guides you to where you were always meant to be." - Human Safari.
Opener 'Mouse on Keys' has been a key cut for the label boss across the past year, a unique track that peaks curiosity from dancers to DJs whenever it's played. Its cantering techno rhythm is overlaid with delicate, heartfelt piano keys straight from a smoky jazz bar, making for a great counter to the physical drums. 'Fragments' is a deeply personal track dedicated to the artist's late grandfather. It's a funky, soulful techno roller with blissed-out and sunny chords full of hope.
Next, 'Classique' gets more gritty with loopy drums and bass and glitchy percussion that fizzes with energy, while 'The Labyrinth' features piano motifs recorded in just one take. It brings a dark paranoia in the uneasy, off-grid keys which dart about with nervous energy over the booming low ends. There is just as much intensity and edge to the unresolved keys that loop over the raw drums on 'A Rainy Day in Bogota', before digital bonus cuts 'Dorian' and 'Phantom' bring more jazzed out techno madness with warped keys and expressive elements bringing great invention.
300 pages, 175 x 129mm paperback book w/ french flaps.
DINTE mint their short run book publishing imprint, The End books, with this vast collection of flyers for dances, clashes and blues parties from across the UK between the early 1970s and mid 1990s. Comes complete with intro by David Katz (People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae) and outro by Kevin Le Gendre (Don't Stop the Carnival: Black British Music, Children of the Ghetto: Black Music in Britain). Colour scans sit alongside scuzzy photocopies amassed over several years with the assistance of multiple archivists. The material presented in A Night to Remember is not just valuable musical history, but the story of a community and a culture that revolutionised sound culture in the UK.
"The flyers collected in A Night To Remember speak to the burgeoning sound system underground that flourished in Britain in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. There are held events on hallowed ground as well as lesser-known sets. Flyers for house parties remind that shebeens remained an important feature of social life in black communities and the many sound clash and cup clash events emphasise the rivalry and camaraderie that has always been at the heart of the culture, as friends go head-to-head with their dub plates, vying for that definitive crown. Dances featuring guest appearances by name-brand artists such as Sugar Minott, Lone Ranger, Barrington Levy and Admiral Bailey, as well as sound systems such as Jack Ruby, King Jammies, Ray Symbolic, Arrows, Black Scorpio and Metro Media remind how closely the local sound systems remained to their Jamaican roots, even as sounds such as Saxon, Unity, Java and Diamonds carved out a distinctly British niche. All hail the enduring sound systems of Britain – long may they reign!" — David Katz
- A1: La Mosca
- A2: Desfile Na Praia
- A3: Funk Sin Cuenta
- A4: Al Son
- B1: Salir Del Agujero
- B2: Los Bsoaso De Paris
- B3: Quando Lembro
- B4: 6X8 En La Mañana
- B5: San Bon
ElCalefón
Salir Del Agujero
El Calefón's 1985 LP Salir Del Agujero is a rare bird.
Self-produced and privately released in Zurich, the albumdocuments one of the very few South American groups that were resident in Europe at the time, and certainly the only such band working in Switzerland. Co-founded by two Argentinians in Europe – the multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer Coqui Recaand the guitarist Pablo Miguez–the group consisted of Argentinian and Brazilian musicians, most of whom were present initially Europe as tourists, but had stayed on, without official sanction, as immigrants.Their music gathered its primary influences from the varied sounds of their home countries, fusing these elements drawn from the manifold indigenous styles of Argentina and Brazil with the international sounds of rock,jazz, pop and pan-Latin music.
Honed and polished by the steady gigging through which the group earned their living in Zurich, the music that appeared onSalir Del Agujero was sophisticated, original and filled with light. Resonating with a freshness undiminished in forty years, the album brims with possibility and hums with tropical warmth, bearing testament to the open-hearted musical freedoms of a mercurial musical era.
- A1: I’m Signed To Lex Now I’m Up
- A2: You Know My Love Language Right?
- A3: Flewed Out, All Expenses Is Paid For
- A4: Tia Mowry (The Rich Tt)
- A5: Butter Leather Weather
- B1: Drunk Nights In Edgewood (Imysm)
- B2: 360 Photo Booth
- B3: I’m Getting Too Famous (This Time Last Year) Https //Www.youtube.com/Watch?V=Qrleygqbins
- B4: Okay, I Know Who My Twin Flame Is
- B5: Bedford Avenue (Skit)
- C1: So You Really Don’t Miss Me?
- C2: Let Me Reflect / Uber From O’hare
- C3: Texting This Fine Shit For A Month
- D1: Instagram Highlights
- D2: Nah, You’re Mad Extra Https //Www.youtube.com/Watch?V=Toxadunvris
- D3: King Of Charlotte (I Feel Like Trolling)
- D4: Lord Jah-M
Tape[17,23 €]
“My auntie asked me what’s my path?” spits Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon on his de but from the celebrated Lex Records. The lyric relatably references the cross roads he’s at in his current life, especially as someone right on the cusp of rap stardom. “Recently I’ve been thinking more and more about what comes next in my life,” the artist reveals.
It’s fair to say Ogbon’s Lex LP features less of the sh*t-talking court jester of old. Instead, there’s more of an imperfect man re-examining past mistakes so he can avoid any future forks in the road. There’s a particular focus on over coming heartbreak, inspiring Ogbon to admit he’s haunted by an ex so badly he now needs to call up the Ghostbusters for assistance.
Since emerging in the late 2010s, Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon has consistently lit up America’s underground rap scene and this is thanks to a refreshingly honest writing style. Amid the exquisitely wavy strings of 2021’s The Missing Link / The Sneaky Link, for example, he rapped: “Everyone thinks they’re play er, until their bitch doesn’t come home.” Biting and snappy, the nasally vocals carry the playful verve of comedian Richard Pryor bravely excavating personal Demons to solicit giggles.
All this brash, wry Redman-inspired storytelling continues on the new pro ject. Its first single is titled I’m Signed to Lex, Now I’m Up – a name that mirrors what a big moment releasing a project on the label that once housed MF DOOM represents for Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon’s legacy. “I’m really driven by being able to level up and give my family more financial freedom,” he hopes.
And, if auntie asked what his path was right now, what exactly would the rap per say? Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon concludes: “Auntie: this rapping thing feels like it’s finally about to pay off!”
2026 Repress
Bosconi Records, the Florence-based imprint run by Fabio Della Torre, is back with something truly special. Over the years, the label has built a reputation for pushing house, funk and electro in all their shades, always keeping a strong link between the local scene and international legends. And when it comes to legends, there are few names that shine brighter than Alexander Robotnick.
The Italian electro pioneer – aka Maurizio Dami – has already collaborated with Bosconi on The Hidden Game and Italcimenti Under Construction. Now he returns with My La(te)st EP, a vinyl-only release that pulls five standout cuts from his 2007 CD My La(te)st Album and finally makes them available on wax. All tracks have been remastered for the vinyl format, enhancing their depth and dynamics to deliver the best possible experience on wax.
The EP opens with “Jette Le Masque (Extended Version)”, driven by a pumping bassline and jagged sawtooth synths, with whispered French vocals by Robotnick himself. Stretched out and more DJ-friendly than the original, this version is tailor-made for the dancefloor.
On “We Love The Music” things get fun and funky: vocoder vocals, an electro-funk bounce and that unmistakable Robotnick irony. A killer cut to start a set on the right foot.
Flip the record and you dive into the acidic depths of “I’m Getting Lost In My Brain”. Old-school Chicago vibes, a hypnotic groove and basslines that just don’t quit – a peak-time weapon that feels raw and timeless.
Then comes “A Coffee Shop in Rotterdam”, one of those secret gems: melodic, laid-back and warm, built on a slapping bass and dreamy arpeggios. It has that Riviera house touch from the ’90s, but with Robotnick’s unmistakable twist.
Closing the EP is “Addio” – a track that wears its heart on its sleeve. Romantic, emotional, and driven by a bassline that nods back to Robotnick’s all-time classic Problèmes d’Amour. A perfect goodbye track, the kind that leaves a smile on your face as the lights come on.
This is a must-have for vinyl lovers and Robotnick fans alike – five cuts carefully remastered for the vinyl format, pressed exclusively on wax and ready to work the floor from start to finish. Don’t sleep on it: limited copies, vinyl only.
"Ed DMX has been part of Shipwrec since the label's inception. Under his DMX Krew moniker, this analogue wizard has released four Eps and one LP on the Nijmegen imprint. DMX Krew returns to Shipwrec for a brand new album, a collection that displays yet another side of this sculptor's sound. Brutal and cold, shadows are long and shades dark from the outset. Drum patterns twist in tempo and intent, from hard and punishing to gentle and fragile. Elements of breaks and industrial are also present in the percussion, this fragmenting allowing deep and soulful melodies to counter the battery. In fact, echoes of electronica permeate the harmonies across the LP such as deep and divergent "Interrupt." No single style is adhered to. Instead, the full palette of machine music is employed. From the squelchy Tudor electrofunk of "I Wonder Why" to the melancholic braindance of "Rephlections in Time", genre boundaries are given little credence. Instead, Ed DMX draws on his decades of experience to create sounds that are both familiar and completely one of a kind. The deep-sea dive of "Final Comedown" is juxtaposed with the ambling calypso of "Dinosaur Reaction", styles reimagined and reshaped to the creator's evolving purpose. Echoes of the halcyon days of Rephlex permeate the 2LP. The harshness and softness of the Cornwall imprint being present throughout, those more subtle tones coming to the fore in the delicate beauty of the "Phaser Level 2." A transcendent album and a certified future classic. To accompany this very special release, there will be a limited edition run with full cover art by Ruwedata. An artist very close to Shipwrec's heart, Ruwedata was responsible for the sleeve work on DMX Krew's Cosmic Awakening."
Somewhere long ago in a vinyl galaxy near you We Play House Recordings released an E.P. called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 1’. The release was called like that because the music on it could only have been made by Belgians. Vol 2 never happened…until now. Label boss Red D has always been inspired by the rich Belgian club music of the 90’s and inevitably those influences have sneaked into his own productions, but never as clear as on the three tracks you are reading about now.
And so the original WPH series has been revived with WPH 024.5, aptly called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 2’. The music is situated somewhere between house, progressive house and early trance music, basically club music with soul & melody at its core.
On the A-side we find Red D teaming up with his friend Mona Lee, a soul sister who has been making waves in recent years in soulful house circles and who comes up with the vocal prowess to match Red D’s emotional trip of a track and heartfelt lyrics. Can you handle the break?
The B-side opens up with ‘Tides’, a deep hypnotic builder for late night eyes-closed dance floors and closes with ‘Papillon’, a track that came to life long ago in the minds of Telepaticos (Marcos Salon & Sandro Valcke). When Red D heard a demo version of this one the melody got stuck in his head and never really left him. Many moons later he rediscovered the parts of this one on a hard drive and got to work on his interpretation that features on this E.P. Safe to say the track holds a special place in Red D’s heart and we’re sure you’ll feel it as well!
- A1: Here I Am Baby (Come And Take Me)
- A2: Everything I Own
- A3: Green Grasshopper
- A4: Play Me
- A5: Children At Play
- B1: Sweet Bitter Love
- B2: Gypsy Man
- B3: There’s No Me Without You
- B4: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- B5: I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely
- C1: Mark My Word
- C2: The First Cut Is The Deepest
- C3: Melody Life
- C4: Work And Slave
- C5: Working To The Top (My Ambition) (Part 1)
- C6: Don’t Let Me Down
- C7: Band Of Gold
- D1: Put A Little Love In Your Heart
- D2: I See You, My Love
- D3: It’s Too Late
- D4: Baby If You Don’t Love Me
- D5: Love Walked In
- D6: When Will I See You Again
- D7: Play Me (Part 2)
2025 Repress
140g vinyl, remastered, double LP with the original LP along with a second record of 14 rare tracks
Sweet And Nice is the vital debut album from Jamaica’s undisputed first lady of song Marica Griffiths. It’s reggae at its most soulful. Slinking through a tight ten tracks of R&B and pop-sourced material, it became an instant best seller. 45 years after its initial release the LP is available again on vinyl, now as a double LP, with an extra record collecting 14 rare tracks.
Sweet And Nice has appeared over the years with a revised running order and under different titles. But the original’s opening sequence of loping soul is legendary, even beyond reggae circles. These songs are now returned to how they were presented on that first Jamaican release, and under their intended album title. Be With doesn’t mess with magic.
Marcia’s version of “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” has long been lusted after, played by genre-hopping selectors to snapping necks for decades now. It’s followed by the sophisticated, rollicking wah-wah funk of “Everything I Own” and the slice of smooth lovers soul par excellence that is “Green Grasshopper” and her ace, lilting Neil Diamond cover “Play Me”.
The thundering, humid funk of “Children At Play” “sounds uncannily like a precursor of Massive Attack”, as FACT Mag astutely noted when they put Sweet And Nice at number 16 in their list of the 100 best albums of the 1970s. Otherworldly, moody and essential.
Side two keeps the fire burning. “Sweet, Bitter Love” should leave you swooning, and is also one of the album’s alternate titles. Curtis Mayfield’s already-eternal “Gypsy Man” is up next, recast as proto-lovers rock.
“There’s No Me Without You” is elevated to canonical status by the majestic, forlorn horns of the Federal Soul Givers and Marcia’s heartbreaking delivery. And if this doesn’t get you then surely the next track will: arguably the definitive version of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. Yes, seriously.
“I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely” re-takes its rightful place at the end of the LP’s second side… but we couldn’t leave it at that. So we added an entire second record of rare material recorded around the same time as Sweet And Nice, much of it unavailable since it was originally released. Some of these songs have only ever been found on now unattainable 7" singles and no, rarity doesn’t always correspond with quality, but in this case we’re talking about some seriously jaw-dropping music.
Amongst 14 extra tracks you’ll find the exquisite late-60s singles “Melody Life” and “Mark My Word” which, along with the sumptuous reading of “Band Of Gold”, are now £100 records, if you can find them! Just sayin’. There‘s also a fantastic version of “The First Cut Is the Deepest” and an alternate take of “Play Me” with producer Lloyd Charmers adding his own vocals.
Everything’s been remastered of course, including the original LP, so Sweet And Nice now sounds even sweeter, and even nicer.




















