Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Unearthed after 63 years in the Lou-Mood Pictures vault, this long-lost soundtrack captures the lush elegance of pop's post-war heyday. Call Me Old Fashioned blends sugar-voiced divas with bold big bands, and a playful "zoo be zoo be zoo" flair, and is then topped with a Latin jazz twist. With its cocktail of vintage sophistication and cinematic intrigue, this 40-minute stereo escapade is tailor-made for fans of spy-fi glamour and is yet another sonic treasure from Numero that invites you to sip and savour the golden age of sound.

Review: Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities 1968-1974 Vol 1 is a vibrant compilation album that encapsulates the essence of early funk music during the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Featuring obscure tracks from that era, it showcases the raw energy, infectious rhythms, and soulful grooves that defined the funk movement. From big, fat basslines to horn sections that pack a punch, each track immerses you in impossibly catchy rhythms so you journey through the golden age of this genre. With its diverse selection of rare gems, Cold Heat offers a glimpse into a musical era characterized by innovation.

Review: Curated by David 'Mr Bongo' Buttle and Gareth Stephens, with additional picks from Gary Johnson, Ville Marttila, and Graham Luckhurst, Volume Two of this much loved Mr Bongo series finally gets a reissue after proving so popular first time round. It continues the vibe of its predecessor by offering a deeper selection of soul and disco tracks that Mr Bongo associates have been spinning in their DJ sets and radio show. Standout tracks from artists like Dee Edwards, Leny Andrade, Rosa Maria, The Equatics, Elbernita 'Twinkie' Clark and The Beaters make this a real must have.

Review: Paris, with its timeless allure, has long been a haven for jazz musicians from around the world and as the spiritual home of gypsy jazz, its vibrant clubs and cafes have shaped the genre's history and many Parisian jazz pioneers of the early 20th century began in the city's Bals-musette where they perfected their craft. Django Reinhardt rose to fame in Paris alongside Stephane Grappelli in the Quintette du Hot Club de France during the 1930s and 1940s while bands like those of Alex Renard and Claude Bolling thrived. Post-war, Saint-Germain des Pres and the Latin Quarter buzzed with iconic jazz clubs like Tabou and La Rose Rouge and now all that can be relived with this fantastic reissue.

Review: This soundtrack is a classy melange of blues, jazz and rock that all perfectly capture the sultry atmosphere of Dennis Hopper's neo-noir classic of the same name. Set in a small Texas town, the film follows drifter Harry Madox as he becomes entangled in a web of seduction and deceit and the moody cinematography and gripping narrative are elevated by this electrifying score. Legends of their game like Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal and Earl Palmer all feature with sparse, eerie and deeply evocative overtones. For that reason, this one is much sought after and has retained its smoky allure 35 years after its original release.

Review: Traditionally, Dutch jazz has not been that celebrated globally, despite the Netherlands producing some terrific performers and must-check recordings. Hip Holland does its best to set the record straight, offering up an impressive selection of 'modern jazz' gems recorded in the Netherlands between 1950 and 1970. It's an entertaining and eye-opening selection all told, with our picks of a very strong bunch including the soft-lit shuffle of The Diamond Five's 'Amsterdam Blues', the classic Blue Note flavours of The Jacob Brothers' 'Two Brothers', the bluesy brilliance of 'Golden Eaarings' by Martin Beenen and His Orchestra (where singer Sandy Fort supplies a sublime lead vocal) and the up-tempo hedonism of 'Sing Sing Sing' by the fabulously named Leddy Wessel With Jack Van Poll and His Tree-Oh.

Review: Still Life is the new album by Sachal Vasandani, the acclaimed vocalist, and Romain Collin, a noted pianist. They first linked up back in 2021 for the fine Midnight Shelter album which was emotive and intimate. That one reworked both classic and modern songs with some new moments in between and this one again reworks some classics by the likes of Billie Eilish, Paul Simon, Sam Smith, Peter Gabriel and others. It makes for something again lyrically powerful with beautifully emotive tunes and real honesty at their core. These personal reworks are things of real joy.

Review: A unique collaboration between Milo Fitzpatrick of Portico Quartet, and Jordan Smart of Mammal Hands, Vega Trails' 'Tremors In The Static' hears these two mega-accomplished musicians bring nine spaced out forays through melodic, solo double bass. Taking their name from the Carl Sagan novel Contact (the Vega system), Influences from Swedish fiddle to Indian Classical are woven into a minimized tapestry of ambient instrumental sounds. Verbed-out folk jazz for your pleasure.

Review: Encore has been remastered from the original tapes and features 11 compositions by Arthur Verocai who was joined by the legendary Azymuth, Ivan Lins and a nine-piece string section. The album was a long-awaited follow-up to his 1972 debut so bridges 35 years and bottles up Brazilian influences with American soul and cinematic experimentation. Initially overlooked amongst his wider canon, Verocai's debut gained cult status thanks to Far Out Recordings' Joe Davis who rediscovered it in the late 80s. In 2004, producer Dave Brinkworth brought Verocai back to the studio to reignite his musical brilliance. A master arranger, Verocai's work with Brazilian legends shaped his visionary sound and have helped to cement him as a timeless force in music history.

Review: Since late 2019, David Versace has independently released over 20 tracks and fans have long wanted an album. They now have to wait no longer as he has signed to La Sape Records and has finished his debut long player Eye To Eye. It is something of a conceptual masterpiece that traverses raw, organic concepts born in the moment and each of which represent his most refined and articulate work to date. For smooth jazz lovers, this is a must-cop with gorgeous sounds like 'You Really Mean It' and delightfully air and meandering space jazz cuts like 'Full Moon Sprint' all working their charms.

Review: Panama '77 is the debut album from Chicago-based drummer Daniel Villareal, and it lands on a label he's orbited for a little while, International Anthem. Having participated in projects like Dos Santos and Ida Y Vuelta, he's now flying solo with a project described by the label as "a vibrant and verdant suite of multi-textural, jazz-laced psychedelic instrumental folk-funk." We couldn't have put it better ourselves, as Villareal's incredibly intricate percussion skitters around an incredible panoply of productions. It's as though you're taken into the beating heart of the charismatic musician's world hopping between jams, gigs, sessions and skits, riding in the back of his vintage baby blue Merc on 18th Street.

Review: A Charlie Brown Christmas is a stone cold classic Christmas album that now comes with a specially festive gold sleeve. What's here has the air of a sophisticated evening spent enjoying slow drinks in a late night jazz bar. It's sexy and refined stuff, laidback to the point where you can almost see the flames in the fireplace, resulting shadows dancing off the walls. Yes, 'Skating' is far more uptempo, and both 'Hark, The Herald Angels Sing' and 'Christmas Time Is Here' take us to school age Yuletide plays with their vocal choirs. But, on the whole, this might be the most tasteful festive album we'll ever get. So dig in.

Review: This album was recorded in 1979 at Sound Ideas Studio in New York City with some heavyweights of the time all involved. Cedar Walton was on piano, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Bob Berg on tenor saxophone, Sam Jones on bass and Billy Higgins on drums and between them they had a finely tuned jazz sound that brought to life six strong tracks, all composed by Cedar Walton bar their jazz interpretation of the classic standard 'Never Never Land.' The dynamic interplay between the musicians makes this a tight, impactful collection.

Review: Norwegian pianist and composer Bugge Wesseltoft, a jazz innovator known for the diversity of his sound, is back with 'Am Are,' which is an expressive exploration of many sonic textures and dynamic contrasts. This album showcases Wesseltoft's inspiring collaborations with a constellation of superb musicians who bridge generations and styles. From sparse arrangements to complex layers of dubs and loops, Am Are highlights the power of human connection through improvisational interplay. Wesseltoft's curated selection demonstrates his passion for projects that spark creativity and celebrate the beauty of musical communication and make another fine addition to his catalogue.

Review: Almost 15 years after her tragic death and admission to the ill-fated '27 club', it's impossible not to tear up when thinking about Amy Winehouse. The untimely loss of such an incredible talent is one thing, gradually understanding that nobody caught and held such a vulnerable person in their time of need is what really hits the hardest. Back to Black, Sam Taylor-Johnson's biographical drama about the UK singer-songwriter and musician's rise to stardom, and the fallout, was never going to be an easy watch, then. As if we needed any more proof, the soundtrack really emphasises just how timeless Winehouse was as an artist. Highlights from her own incredible output are here - 'What Is It About Men', 'Stronger Than Me', 'Valerie', '(There Is) No Greater Love', the list could go on - as are some of the most evocative and captivating soul, blues and r&b tracks of the 20th Century. And there's nothing to separate these from each other, sonically, lyrically, or emotionally. We weren't worthy, and maybe never will be