Full of sweet soul and jazz colossuses, with transcendental floats and soundtrack woozes inbetween.

As regular readers will well know, we are big fans of Numero’s Eccentric Soul series, but it really has to be said, this week’s The Cuca Label really is top stuff excellent. A record focused on the Wisconsin-based soul label and their output throughout the 1960’s. Under the helm of Jim Kirchstein, this is smooth soul with upbeat pop sensitivity. Didn’t know any of the artists but we’re feeling totally invigorated by their energies. Great stuff.

+ Available on double Red colour vinyl.
Also on Numero this week (they don’t sponsor us, promise) is a really fantastic compilation that looks at the earliest works of new age titan, Laraaji. Glimpses of Infinity gathers selections from his 1978 debut Celestial Vibration and six additional studio sessions from the era. Whether more centred on traditional instruments and timbres or proto electronics and synths, he always makes such immersive music and this set is just pure floats. As ever, very highly recommended and perfect for some head time.

+ Available on ‘Ocean Blue’ colour vinyl.

The week’s reissues are really jazz heavy with plenty of bases covered. Some colossuses and plenty to discover, so the week’s playlist is a great jump off to find something new.

We have a double under the Verve By Request series - both pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit - with the elegant and swinging The Ebullient Mr. Gillespie from Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson’s iconic A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra, with interpretations of some of the old shmoozer’s biggest numbers.

Blow the Blues is a 1960 LP from hard-bopping saxophonist Sonny Stitt. His quartet includes Lou Levy, Leroy Vinnegar and Mel Lewis and they really get it going on both fast and slow. This one is an Acoustic Sounds Series and features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Hitting heavy, there are two seriously iconic albums on Blue Note’s Blue Vinyl Series (both with equally iconic sleeves and pressed on celebratory Blue vinyl). Firstly, we have Lee Morgan’s ludicrously grooving and still-fresh The Sidewinder. The title track is naturally the big draw, but there really are no misses here, it’s so light. Somethin’ Else is the graceful (and only) Blue Note record from Cannonball Adderley. Searching and at times mournful, the band of Pianist Hank Jones, bassist Sam Jones, drummer Art Blakey and Miles Davis himself on the trumpet are unique and quite incredible.

Slightly tagging onto the end of today’s reissue news is I Saw The TV Glow, the soundtrack to A24’s new supernatural thriller. This album really does create a vibe, and the participating artists are wild... (deep breath); Snail Mail, Pheobe Bridgers, Caroline Polachek, The Weather Station, Yeule, Maria BC, L'Rain, Frances Quinlan, Bartees Strange, Drab Majesty, Jas Som, Florist, King Woman, Proper and Sadurn... Yep!

+ Available on limited double Violet colour vinyl.