Special Easter greetings from the Drift crew.
Now, you might not know it yet, but you are about to fall head over heels for Pete Jolly’s Seasons. Originally released in 1970, the album was the pianist's third for Herb Alpert’s A&M Records and has the most beautiful grooves. While Seasons never had significant commercial success upon its release, it has since amassed a cult following and this new Future Days Recordings / Light In The Attic pressing is going to give that stock another bump. Using a Wurlitzer and other soft humming organs, it is an album of different paces and styles, but it is just locked into the most free-flowing grooves from the get-go. Honestly, such a vibe.
Remastered from the original analogue master tapes by Kevin Gray at Coherent Mastering, these pressings sound absolutely stupendous.
+ Available on Translucent Amber colour vinyl.
+ Also available on Translucent Green colour vinyl.
The doctor is open for business! Mr Bongo have made a really lush pressing of Dr. Lonnie Smith’s Afro-Desia LP, a 1975 album of funk and freakin’. Funky throughout, the first half is a spaced-out and grooving affair, with the second side moving into more soulful jazz with ‘Latin spice’. Really rich, really vibrant and absolutely one to check out.
If you want vibes, we have vibes! Widely regarded as one of the most graceful vibraphonists to ever pick up the beaters, Johnny Lytle’s 1972 People & Love album is just… lush! It has soul, it has funk and it’s all connected with those interplanetary vibe tones.
It is a lovely edition, reissues as part of the Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series. The album was remastered from the original analogue tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI.
Domino Recording Co have taken a trip back to focus on the solo output of German singer, songwriter, actress, model and chanteuse Nico. Her second solo album - 1968's The Marble Index - and third solo album - 1970's Desertshore - have long been out of print so these are very welcome editions. They both include audio mastered from the original tapes and previously unreleased photos by Guy Webster.
Black magic, they are!
Also this week we have a new pressing of Soulwax’s euphoric 2005 tour de force, Nite Versions. After previously only being available as a 7” boxset, Soul Jazz have pressed the glorious Studio One Down Beat Special album on CD and double LP. Bangers! Ninja Tune have made a 3LP pressing of Mr Scruff’s super-fun Ninja Tuna album, the first time on vinyl as we understand it!
After what felt like yonks, we finally have the self-titled Cymande back in the racks. Played that a lot on Saturday and sold a ton, as you’d imagine. Worth flagging that we have Second Time Round instock too!
Full Time Hobby have made fresh (White colour vinyl) pressings of the excellent Ghost Woman, with the self-titled 2002 LP and last year’s Anne, If. Such scorching rock and roll hues without treading on anyone else's sound, really good!
Pure gold via the On-U Sound label this week, with pretty much the entire Creation Rebel discography back in print to include; Rebel Vibrations, Psychotic Jonkanoo, Dub From Creation, Close Encounters of the Third World and Starship Africa. Creation Rebel were originally the backing group for the late reggae great Prince Far-I, and working with producer Adrian Sherwood they created the wildebeest dub and reggae during the first wave of punk. Funky and spacious, they really are amazing.
Lastly today - and firing off the Numero Group klaxon as we do it - Butterflies Don't Go Away is a compilation of Detroit proto-shoegazers Majesty Crush. It is focused on the Love 15 album plus supporting singles, EPs and rarities that all create such dense sonic beds. Much harder than the The American Analog Set LP that Numero released a while back, but a same sort of nowhere land ambience. Really good.
Okay, don’t overdo those eggs!
