Back in stock: Soul

Review: Over the course of two fine, full-length excursions, Don Glori (real name Gordon Li) has perfected a warm, breezy and frequently life-affirming trademark sound that cannily joins the dots between jazz, samba, MPB, jazz-funk and soul. He leans into the latter elements more on summery third set Paper Can't Wrap Fire, drawing on the talents of a wealth of Melbourne music friends across nine sublime tracks. There's much to admire throughout, from the sun-soaked jazz-funk/soul fusion of 'Brown Eyes' and summery head-nodder 'Janet', to the spiritual jazz joy of 'Song For Ants', the Brazilian brilliance of 'Precious' and the oceans-deep nu-jazz shuffle of 'Saturn's Return'.

Review: I'm Glad About It: The Legacy of Gospel Music in Louisville is a remarkable 2x12" vinyl set that revives the vibrant history of Black gospel music in Louisville. This collection is far more than just an anthology; it's a journey into a vital cultural heritage. The set chronicles the stories, challenges and victories of Louisville's gospel music community, highlighting a tradition deeply rooted in the city's Black churches. During the mid-20th century, many local grassroots labels captured and released key gospel recordings that formed a significant, yet nearly forgotten, body of work. Recognising the risk of these invaluable records slipping into obscurity, the Louisville Story Program, with generous support from The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation and Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation, undertook the mission of finding, cleaning, and digitizing these recordings to ensure their preservation. 26 newly restored tracks are featured here and housed in a old school tip-on gatefold jacket that perfectly preserves this wonderful edition. Local favorite gospel groups such as The Ecclesiastics, The Solomonaires, The Gospel Motivators and The Singing Son of Zion are just some of the ones included in this package. This vinyl release is much more than just a compilation; it's a tribute to the enduring spirit of Black pride, joy and determination, preserving the rich legacy of Louisville's gospel music for generations to come.