Such a fantastic week for the reissues; with rock and roll, scorching soul, loads of Studio One and all shades of funk too.
Okay, total truth, we didn't really know too much about Northern Irish psychedelic rock band Andwella / Andwellas Dream, but we’re totally lapping up a lush new LP box on Numero called To Dream. Early seventies folk and roots lushness with soaring psych experimentations, there is something here for everyone. This essential new 3LP appraisal includes Love And Poetry (recorded as Andwellas Dream), with World's End and People's People as Andwella.
We actually have a Numero double today with another scorching compilation called Beehive Breaks, pulling in a set of sultry singles from female singers across the ‘Numero-verse’. Absolute essentials of funk and soul, these are high vibes indeed and Marva Whitney’s first note is worth the ticket price alone!
+ Available on limited Mr.Lucky' Green colour vinyl.
This does not feel like ten years ago! Brainfeeder release a 10th anniversary edition of Apocalypse, the second studio LP from all-round funk-feline Thundercat. A set of neo-funk soothers, with some frenetic finger-work and plenty of soothing soul. It’s a really lush package too, with limited edition translucent red vinyl housed in a deluxe rainbow holographic sleeve and PVC outer slipcase.
We have another real-nice compilation this week called Funk Tide on We Want Sounds, with Japanese Funk expert DJ Notoya making a superb selection of Nippon Jazz-Funk from the cult Electric Bird label. Proper transportive stuff.
Rolling it back even further, we have 50th Anniversary celebrations (of the band) of the entire AC/DC catalogue, pressed on limited Gold vinyl. They look great! Serious raw power with; High Voltage, Dirty Deeds, Powerage, Highway To Hell and Back In Black. Yeah, it remains a long way to the top.
Craft Recordings reissue a real nice edition of saxophone virtuoso Joe Henderson’s 1969 hard-bopper Power To The People. This Jazz Dispensary reissue was mastered from the original analogue tapes by Kevin Gray, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, and comes packaged in a gatefold tip-on jacket. US import.
Also back in the racks this week; A rejuvenated Nina Simone on the late-career album Nina’s Back. The second volume of Miles Davis’s Blue Note recordings as part of the Classic Vinyl Series. A 25th Anniversary Edition of Toumani Dibate and Ballake Sissoko’s sublime New Ancient Strings collaboration. Truly as light as air. Oh, we also got a few copies of Courtney Barnett’s The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas on limited double Sea Blue vinyl. Essential.
Lastly this week, absolute crucial represses from the Soul Jazz Records Presents vaults, with Studio One on the stereo and getting love. Includes; Studio One Roots, Studio One DJ's, Studio One Story, Studio One Dub, Studio One Disco Mix and Studio One Lovers. Hours and hours of musical history that simply doesn’t miss a beat.
There ain’t nowhere finer!