A big week with stuff that we have loved for decades and other bits that we didn't know; but will be loving for decades!

Firstly then, it’s a superb week for fans of big grey suits, with two releases right up your street.

Following last summer’s reissue of the iconic Stop Making Sense, we have Talking Heads’ iconic concert film back in stock and available on a limited, double Clear vinyl pressing too. I know we said last time we discussed it, but it was entered into the National Film Registry in recognition of its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance… It really is superb!

+ Available on Exclusive double Crystal Clear colour vinyl.

Then, very much connected, we have an all-new tribute album - Everyone’s Getting Involved - with guest turns from; The National, Blondshell, BADBADNOTGOOD and Norah Jones, The Linda Lindas, Toro Y Moi, Miley Cyrus and Lorde amongst others. With such amazing material, it’s always most interesting when the reinterpretations are pretty out-there, there is loads to enjoy here.

+ Available on double “Big Suit Silver” colour vinyl.

Originally released in 1966, Today! is the second album from legendary Delta blues singer Skip James. Just James singing and playing solo for the very vast majority of the album and it is absolutely spellbinding. Rarely for a bluesman, he sung somewhere between a falsetto and a tenor and there is such a ghostly and mournful quality to it. Absolutely essential listening, this really is amazing stuff.

+ This 180-gram LP pressed at QRP includes an obi with notes by Scott Billington, a paper-wrapped jacket and (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab.
Hands up, we didn’t even know Modesto Duran’s name before this week’s scorching reissue on Numero, but we are now absolutely firm converts of the Cuban-born mambo innovator. He was a session man for dozens of mega-sellers like Esquivel, Belafonte and Eartha Kitt, but his 1960 debut Fabulous Rhythms of Modesto is an exotic treat all of his own. (Well, with his Orchestra too.) Filmic, afro-cuban vibes with piercing horns and a cha-cha sway. It is a great vibe.

+ Pressed on limited Red vinyl.

Rough Trade Records have pressed a special 10th Anniversary Edition of Sleaford Mods’ landmark, self-released ‘proper second album’ Divide and Exit. Drenched in punk energy, Williamson is fierce and Andrew Fearn’s electronics crackle and hiss, it really was way out of nowhere. Enjoyed going back to this one a lot.

+ Available as a limited-edition LP that has an updated sleeve designed by Cold War Steve, plus a bonus flexi featuring the rarity “Git Some Balls”; released on translucent red vinyl with new sleeve notes by the Mods’ Jason Williamson and a fully reprinted, 2014 interview from The Wire.

David Bowie’s 1967 debut, David Bowie, gets a new pressing this week with an exclusive ‘Cloudy Green’ colour vinyl pressing to match the album’s sleeve. We’ve always been fond of this one, weird and a bit hammy, but even on his debut he had a knack for a pop sensitive melody. Did you know that all those pretty guitar shimmers are John Renbourn? Loads of highlights, none less than The Laughing Gnome, which is included on this special edition as an early mix.
We have a proper gem that has been getting played a lot here. An Electric Storm is the 1969 LP from White Noise; a collaboration between American electronic engineer David Vorhaus and Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. With ghostly guest vocals, the trio blended electronics, tape loops and live percussion to wild effect. Any of you Hauntology heads are just gonna lose it! This is whispers from the long past and its dark finale is just magical stuff!

+ This reissue faithfully replicates the original UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

And lastly today, a stone cold masterpiece. Originally released at the end of May 1994, Ill Communication is the fourth studio album by Beastie Boys and it is just a proper rush from start to stop. Landmark hits like Sabotage, album opener Sure Shot and Root Down are any-time-of-day essential, but Ill Communication is absolutely stacked from start to finish and was the first major evolution of the band, with funk, soul and punk instrumentalism brought into the mix alongside the crackling samples. It locks you in, there is such a groove. An amazing and utterly timeless album.

+ We have an all-new, lavish 3LP edition with lenticular cover art and a bonus LP with 12 remixes, B-sides and rarities. We also got hold of more of the double vinyl 180g pressing.