Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Fresh instrumental Afro-funk-disco magic from LA-based quartet The Bombillas, once again emerging from their post-LP slumber with the complementary 'Kidi Bloom' and 'Hatif'. In no rush to release again since 2022's 'Nac Nac/Senebi', this new 12" is suitably taciturn and unaffected; the A-sider riffs on distinctive Arabian folkloric music styles, its brand of funk closing in on a harmonic minor key, as David Michael Celia and Tyler Nuffer digitally riffle the electric keys and vintage-amped guitar respectively. 'Kidi Bloom' is a similar pre-car-chase scene complement, bringing cluing vibraphones and mod-wheeled synth work to a relative slow jam.

Review: Something's Up! is a masterful compilation that features the eclectic brilliance of John Barry's film scores. Curated by Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley, this collection highlights Barry's transition from a British arranger to a pop icon, renowned for defining the sound of the Cold War spy movie era. Focusing on music from 1964 to 1967, this album features Barry's iconic work on James Bond classics like Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice, cementing his influence on the spy genre. Beyond Bond, Barry's contributions to films such as The Ipcress File and The Quiller Memorandum exemplify his ability to blend tension with sophistication. The collection also includes less-celebrated but notable scores like those for King Rat, The Chase and Seance on a Wet Afternoon, reflecting Barry's diverse range and ability to craft memorable themes beyond the mainstream. Barry's music, characterised by its lush orchestration and emotive power, extended its reach from the silver screen to the vinyl, resonating with listeners even if they hadn't seen the films - and his exceptional talent and enduring legacy in film music is on full display here,

Review: A narrative. An odyssey. The journey of a lifetime. As the world locked itself away and the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, Battaglia stepped into the record studio and evidently fired up the ignition rockets. Travel in the literal sense may have been off the cards, but Season One certainly transports the listener through a deep and complex sonic tapestry, telling a tale of struggle from fear into hope and onto something altogether unique and new and enlightened. Plenty here has been inspired by the aural work of John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream, to name but two influences, but ultimately where Battaglia is taking us feels resolutely new. More so, tangibly unchartered. Out to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy and back again in a stunning collection of strange and beguiling electronic business.

Review: Originally recorded in Rome with top-tier players like Giorgio Carnini and Giovanni Tommaso, this psychedelic library session bridges modal jazz, Latin percussion, and fuzzed-out funk. This reissue restores the 1970 cut in full, swirling through ghostly organ grooves and spiralling rhythm sections with a clarity that feels startlingly fresh. 'Psichefreelico (Sostenuto)' and 'Bacharachico' glide between dreamy lounge and scorched delay-drenched oddness, while 'Africaneidico' pulses with loose Afro-Latin syncopation. Mined from Italy's golden age of library music and remastered from mono tapes, it's a masterclass in instrumental storytellingivivid, woozy and totally transportive.