Sdban Belguim Vinilo y CD

Review: Should you ever want to discover what was happening musically in Belgium in the "black hole" period between the variety orchestra movement of the '60s and the electronic music revolution that took place in the late '70s onwards, Funky Chicken is the gateway. This compilation - the first of two plus a ton of accompanying 7" samplers - superbly documents the various clusters of talented session musicians based throughout Belgium dabbling in all manner of funk, Latin, soul, psychedelia and more. Some acts you will know, like Placebo whose music has been the subject of a reissue programme from Music On Vinyl, but there are still plenty of curios and forgotten gems to discover like Open Sky Unit and the sublime orchestral funk of "Tonight's The Night" by SSO.

Review: A Special Radio: TV Record No 23 is a deep dive into the eclectic world of Belgian radio and TV music from the 1980s and is exactly the sort of esoteric record that we nerdish collectors fawn over owning. Arriving on limited transparent yellow vinyl, it features a diverse selection of tracks ranging from funk and jazz to synth-pop and electronic experimentation. Each song is a snapshot of the vibrant and innovative music scene that thrived during that era and comes with some nice infectious grooves, catchy melodies, and nostalgic charm that all serve as a delightful homage to the golden age of Belgian broadcasting. It's a must-have for those who seek out hidden gems and forgotten treasures.