Fragile and blissful whispers, doo-woppin’ soul, vibraphone flourishes and Reggae blazers from the golden age.

A beautiful and sad album to start the new week. Spell Blanket: Collected Demos 2006-2009 is a collection of songs and sketches drawn from Trish Keenan’s extensive archive of 4-track tapes and MiniDiscs and shows the groundwork for what would have been Broadcast’s fifth album. On a bright morning like today (it’s bright here, early May 2024) these transmissions from the past are like spooky, sandblasted cobwebs, twinkling in the sunlight.

It’s such a gift to hear these intimate ruminations and they are perfect.

This week, Numero Group’s Eccentric Soul series is concerned with Ohio’s The Tammy Label. It’s such a vibrant history here, from doo-wop soothers and funkin’ soul cuts through to proto disco. All the good vibes.

+ Available on limited and exclusive 'Sheer Magic' Silver glitter colour vinyl.
+ Housed in a deluxe tip-on jacket, with a booklet crammed full of notes and ephemera.

Two absolute belters this week under Blue Note’s Tone Poet series.

Firstly, the earliest Byrd with Byrd’s Eye View, Donald Byrd’s first session as band leader (and what a band!). Mid-fifties swing with mellow vibes.

+ This mono Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket with an 8.5” x 5.5” booklet.

Recorded at the tail-end of the 60s, Total Eclipse is a really joyous set from vibes man Bobby Hutcherson. It was his first collaboration with Harold Land and it moves from post-bop to graceful spaces.

+ This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Lastly for the jazz set, we have a reissue of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers’ Les Liasions Dangereuses 1960 soundtrack. Really dexterous stuff with striking changes of pace.

+ This beautiful reissue of the original recording is pressed on 180g vinyl at GZ, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket with the original liner notes and a photo of Gérard Philippe and Jeanne Moreau from the film; and additional notes by recording producer Marcel Romano from 1988.

World of Echo revisit the The Cat’s Miaow vaults, with Skipping Stones: The Cassette Years ‘92-’93. Thirty-five cuts from the Australian pop whisperers and quite the vibe it creates too! Beautiful melancholy and hushed hooks, really great stuff.

Fire Records reissue Vanishing Twin’s excellent and hugely evocative The Age of Immunology LP on a couple of nice colourways. The richest psych-pop futurism, such a brilliant band and such a stonking LP.

+ Available on either "Sine Teal" or "Nothing Pink" colour vinyl.

Cometh several hours of warm early summer light, cometh the Cool Operator! We end today's dispatches with Delroy Wilson and 28 Reggae blazers from the golden age to transport and transform. The bass cabinets sure to worble, but there is a real lightness to the energy too. Island bangers!