Vito Ricci “A Symphony For Amiga”
via Intelligent Instruments: Last year’s stunning Music From Memory retrospective introduced a fresh generation of listeners to Vito Ricci’s obscure downtown magic, leaving young and old anaesthetized and invigorated in equal measure. With no new material hitting the shelves since 1985, further digging proved a fruitless and disappointing endeavour. Good …
Hildergard Knef “Im Achzigsten Stockwerk” (1970, Decca Records)
In the world of vinyl, Germany is famous for its great classical pressings and the undeniable influence of Krautrock on modern electronic music. That’s why I was so surprised to find a smooth and downright funky track on Hildegard Knef’s 1970 LP. Indeed the song Im Achzigsten Stockwerk highlights the …
Wiley “Godfather”
via Boomkat: Trust Wiley the Godfather to set Grime’s levels in 2017 with his most intense, bruising album for years, even ever(?). It’s an unmissable return to root, with a frankly starving Wiley flanked by practically everyone – Frisco, Devlin, Jamakabi, Manga, Footsie, Flowdan, Pres T, Ghetts, Ice Kid, a.o. …
Filter Dread “Tribal Data”
via Boomkat: One year on from Tribal Realm, Filter Dread aims his 2nd volley of deconstructed jungle, garage and grime with an ‘ardcore twyst on Unknown To The Unknown. In “Tribal Data” he shatters the ‘nuum timeline to a mosaic of interrelated style ’n pattern, stepping from the 8-bit 2-step …
Sam IRL “Melting Memories” (via Sampling As An Art)
The Sampling As An Art imprint continues its ascension as one of the finest new labels in highly intelligent dance-floor sounds. Founded in 2014 by the fantastic French-producer S3A, the label follows releases by Byron The Aquarius, Neue Grafik, Cuthead, Henry L with an absolutely killer start to 2017. The …
Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe “Duo Exchange” (1973, Survival Records)
via Boomkat: Incendiary and rare free jazz ripper from Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe from 1973. Out of print on vinyl ever since and a fierce addition to any jazz or avant-garde shelf. From Thurston Moore’s Top Ten Free Jazz Underground (1996): “Frank Lowe has been studying and playing a …
Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids “Tinoge Ya’a Ba”
via Philophon Records: 2016 was the year for Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids. Their album “We Be All Africans” (produced by Philophon and released on Strut) vaulted them among the global top acts of the current Spiritual Jazz renaissance. The strength of the group is its deep connection to Africa: …
Victor Assis Brasil “Toca Antonio Carlos Jobim” (1970)
via Far Out Recordings: Following the recent reissue of Jose Mauro’s Obnoxius, Far Out Recordings presents the second release in the treasure trove of the Quartin catalogue, Victor Assis Brasil Plays Jobim. Over the course of the 1960s, Roberto Quartin released more than 20 albums in Brazil on his label …
Forgotten Treasure: Joe King Kologbo “Sugar Daddy” (1980)
via Strut Recordings: Strut presents the first in a series of essential original LP reissues exploring rare and under-rated African, Latin and Caribbean music classics, curated by Duncan Brooker. In January 2017, the series kicks off with ‘Sugar Daddy’, an experimental highlife / disco outing by Nigerian highlife guitarist Joe …