From deliciously dark and slow, to Lagos levels of hot hot heat - all via Manchester's contributions to Britpop.

We are starting off this new week exactly where we left it off on Sunday with the esteemed David Pajo, this time as Aerial M. As Drag City explain; “Unearthed from the neolithic tar that eventually swathes all history, Aerial M’s early-98 Peel Session is once again among us.” The session was performed (quite uniquely) as a four piece and the performances and density adds much weight to the free-flowing songs. Rich in waves of space and distortion, this is 30 minutes of very special music… with no commercial interruptions.

Read more about Papa M’s Whatever Mortal here.

Numero keep the The American Analog Set goodness rolling with the Texan slowcore band’s ethereal third LP, The Golden Band. The pacing is glorious, it makes everything from the blurred organs, the clicking drums and the laconic vocals just sound so good. This 25th anniversary edition has been remastered from the original tapes and flawlessly reproduced in a gorgeous tip-on sleeve. Pressed on limited ‘Weather Report’ Yellow colour vinyl.
Be With Records are doing some serious archeology this week with a first official release of Arthur Russell’s In The Light Of The Miracle remixes. Two sides, two cuts, two warping headspaces of out-there house and disco floats… with guest vocals from Allen Ginsberg! A really lush sideways tour into the Arthur Russel vaults, he truly was a generation ahead of his time.

We have a triple set from our man Chet Baker and Quartet/Quintet this week, with high quality reissues on 180gm vinyl of the three original Chet Baker ‘in Paris’ albums that were released on Barclay in 1955 and 1956. Volume One and Volume Two were both recorded in October of 1955, the second set just days after pianist Richard “Dick” Twardzik had died from an overdose. The Third was recorded throughout the Winter of 55/56 and all three releases chart an ever more mournful Chet, the ‘Prince of Cool’ was getting ever darker.

Reissued as part of the Original Jazz Classics Series, In Orbit is a mid-fifties LP from Trumpeter and bandleader Clark Terry Quartet, featuring Thelonious Monk on piano.

Decca turn the Verve Acoustic Sounds Series’ attention to Stan Getz and his post-bossa LP, Sweet Rain. A really impressive young band and this one never stays in any one place for long, great stuff. Features transfers from analogue tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
Absolutely one of the best - and certainly our favourite - compilations is getting a handsome new edition this week with a 2024 pressing of Strut’s seminal Nigeria 70: The Definitive Guide To 1970's Funky Lagos. This series (and we are hoping that the other volumes will follow in time) absolutely took us ever deeper into Afrock and they are still unbelievably vibrant. This special edition features the original artwork and liner notes, pressed on translucent green vinyl across 3LPs.

‘Tis Essential!

Lastly for today - and grabbing all the headlines both good and bad - we have a good edge of the 30th Anniversary edition of Definitely Maybe, Oasis’ era-defining debut LP. The singles still hit pretty hard, Lee and I had a right laugh with it cranked up loud after work on Friday.

+ Available on limited and exclusive double ‘Strawberries and Cream’ colour vinyl.
+ Available on deluxe 4LP Black vinyl, including bonus unreleased session tracks and outtakes.