Back catalogue: Rock

Review: "There's nothing 'jazz' about it, really," says Stefan Goldmann, Macro Records boss and remixer on this 12", "Just raw energy, something like the album Jimi Hendrix would have possibly recorded if he had lived another year." Goldmann first heard 'Marbles' - from the legendary jazz guitarist and trusted right hand man of Miles Davis - when he was a teenager and it's remained a personal favourite ever since. This gorgeous piece of vinyl connects the 1970 original, an almost proto-techno swampy stomp wreathed in psychedelic keys and interstellar solos, with Goldmann's own exceptional remix on the flip. It's quite a listen, as Goldmann homes in on the original's bassline and its parallels with Giorgio Moroder's trademark disco juddering a few years, turning it into an irresistible techno session complete with cascading electronic drums, Buddhist bells and, of course, a McLaughlin riff churning over and over. We love music that joins the dots between genres and this does it in effortless, ludicrously danceable style. 'Marbles'? You'll lose yours when you hear this.

Review: By 1975, Paul McCartney's Wings had cemented themselves as a global phenomenon with Band on the Run. Rather than replicate that album's formula, Venus and Mars embraces a looser, more exploratory approach, reflecting the band's evolving lineup and musical ambitions. Recorded primarily in New Orleans, the album incorporates rock, ballads and playful genre-hopping, embodying a free-spirited energy that defined mid-70s McCartney. The title track's gentle acoustic opening transitions seamlessly into the bombastic, arena-ready 'Rock Show', setting the stage for Wings' ambitious world tour. 'Listen to What the Man Said' delivers pure melodic bliss, its breezy saxophone flourishes making it one of McCartney's most effortless pop triumphs. Meanwhile, 'Letting Go' stands out with its bluesy, soulful atmosphere, contrasting the vaudevillian charm of 'You Gave Me the Answer'. New guitarist Jimmy McCulloch steps into the spotlight with 'Medicine Jar', a riff-driven rocker that, alongside 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt', adds grit to score. The album's whimsy shines through 'Magneto and Titanium Man', inspired by comic book lore, while 'Call Me Back Again' sees McCartney delivering one of his rawest, most impassioned vocal performances. The cinematic instrumental 'Crossroads' closes the album on an unexpected yet fitting note. An album that saw Wings at their most eclectic, harnessing both their playful charm and growing ambition while making it an essential piece of McCartney's post-Beatles journey. 50 years since it first was released, this reissue sounds better than ever.

Review: The first-ever vinyl reissue of a rare folk treasure from Shelagh McDonald, featuring Richard & Danny Thompson, Keith Christmas, and members of Mighty Baby & Fotheringay in the back. First released in 1971 and produced by the legendary Sandy Roberton, Stargazer has earned a devoted following for its blend of folk, psychedelia, and adventurous production, which spruce up McDonald's exquisite songwriting and puce, haunting vocals. Fans of Pentangle, Incredible String Band, and Joni Mitchell will find much to love, as will admirers of David Crosby's 'If Only I Could Remember My Name' and Gene Clark's 'No Other'. A long-overdue reissue, this one also marks the debut for Different Strokes For Different Folks, a new label dedicated to unearthing rare and cult classics, with more set for 2025.