Calibro 35 - Exploration (Deluxe Edition)

EXPLORATION (DELUXE EDITION) feat 3 BONUS TRACKS (DIGITAL ONLY). The three bonus tracks are available on the digital format only.

Italian cinematic funk heroes Calibro 35 return with the Deluxe Edition of their acclaimed studio album Exploration. The expanded edition features three brand-new bonus tracks, available only in digital format.

The previously unreleased tracks include a soulful rendition of the jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne”, a vibrant afrobeat take on Grover Washington Jr.’s timeless jazz-funk classic “Mister Magic”, and a powerful reinterpretation of Can’s krautrock anthem “Vitamin C”—recently brought back into the spotlight through Kanye West’s sampling.

Praised by Rolling Stone as “the most fascinating, retro-maniac and genuine thing that has happened to Italy in the past few years,” Calibro 35 have earned an international reputation as one of the most exciting independent bands on the scene. Their music has been sampled by Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and The Child of Lov (featuring Damon Albarn), and they’ve collaborated with icons such as PJ Harvey, Mike Patton, and Stewart Copeland. With Exploration (Deluxe Edition), the Milan-based combo continues to expand the boundaries of their cinematic funk universe.

Tracklist:
1. Reptile Strut
2. Discomania
3. Nautilus
4. Jazz Carnival
5. Gassman Blues
6. Pied De Poule
7. Chameleon
8. Mission Impossible
9. The Twang
10. Coffy Is The Color
11. Lunedì Cinema
12. Harlem Nocturne
13. Mister Magic
14. Vitamin C

Greg Foat & Sokratis Votskos with The Giorgos Pappas Trio - Impressions of Samos

When most of us go on holiday to Greece, we hang out by the pool, go to the beach and maybe bring home a souvenir or two. Last year Greg went on holiday to Greece and made an album. 

Synthesizer, Grand Piano and traditional Folk Instruments are blended with Field recordings to create an intriguing album of Authentic Greek Modal Folk-Jazz and soundscapes.

Tracklist:
1. Flasaki
2. Ussak-Huseyni
3. Karsilamas
4. In the Cave of Pythagoras
5. The Golden Jackals of Samos
6. Ode to Potami Beach
7. Eikosiefta
8. Liberta
9. Megalo Seitani Serenade 

The Olympians - In Search of a Revival

Thee Olympian, Toby Pazner, returns with In Search of a Revival–a lush bouquet of orchestral soul. A departure from the cosmic, Greco-Roman mythology themes on his debut, Pazner implements a more modern, terrestrial approach–drawing inspiration from his life and the tumultuous post pandemic age we live in. With a team of world class musicians expertly weaving his arrangements into a sonic tapestry, The Olympians deliver an impressively eclectic barrage of cinematic instrumentals.

Tracklist:
1. In Search of a Revival Part 1
2. Strawberry Kiwi
3. Thunderball
4. California
5. A Little Something
6. Here Comes Ben
7. In Search of a Revival Part 2
8. Saraswati Puja
9. Hollywood Cold
10. Tall Grass
11. Wildfire
12. Honey Bea

VA - Locus Sound Compilation, Vol. 7

For our first release of 2026, we return to our LP series with Compilation Vol. 7. LOCUSLP007 is an eight track project celebrating label artists as well as introducing some new members of the family who will be featuring on Locus Sound in 2026. 

Tracklist:
1. ContactGhost – No Signal
2. Wz – Voodoo Spells
3. Rational Soul – Orbital Pursuit
4. Photom – Stabs
5. Ma Barka – Behold The Gloktapus
6. Pharma – Shubz
7. Thenticy – They Have Arrived
8. Bale – Sometimes I Feel

Sladek - Things Gotta Change (Instrumentals)

"Things Gotta Change (Instrumentals)" is a complete instrumental reimagining of Sladek's studio album. The release showcases a complex blend of vintage soul, funk, and jazz elements. Special emphasis is placed on warm analog sound, live drums, and melodic bass lines. The album is presented as a standalone work, allowing listeners to appreciate the technical depth of the compositions and the atmospheric textures that served as a backdrop for vocals in the original version. The music is filled with both optimism and melancholy, reflecting the author's personal changes and creative journey.

Tracklist:
1. Weight of the World (Instrumental)
2. Stranger (Instrumental)
3. Wait for Me (Instrumental)
4. What a Little Love Can Do (Instrumental)
5. Here to Stay (Instrumental)
6. Lotus Eater
7. Things Gotta Change (Instrumental)
8. Beacon (Instrumental)
9. SWaking Dream (Instrumental)
10. Bye Bye (Instrumental) 

Pale Jay - Celestial Suite Flips

Tracklist:
1. Shameful Game Part 2 (feat. Conway the Machine)
2. Magnolia Tree (feat. Dahi)
3. Donny in Valdez (PJ's Flip) (feat. Erick the Architect)
4. Tres Uvas (feat. Common Saints)
5. Shameful Game (Sherwyn's Version) (feat. Sherwyn)
6. Shameful Game (Ian's Bossa Flip) (feat. Ian Ewing)
7. Shameful Game (Farhot's Edit) (feat. Farhot)
8. Dos Uvas (PJ's Flip) (feat. Erick the Architect)

DJ Tennis - fabric presents DJ Tennis

fabric Records has enlisted visionary renegade DJ Tennis for the next installment of its prestigious mix compilation series, fabric presents. Set for full release on February 13, fabric presents DJ Tennis will showcase his diligent curation talents, along with featuring two new original tracks. The announcement arrives alongside the release of the first single, ‘I Wanna Know,’ a collaboration with London producer Ashee, out now via fabric Records.

“fabric has always been a place where I shaped my taste—getting lost in the middle of the dancefloor, learning to really listen. This mix reflects how I approach music today: psychedelia, sound design, and groove shaped by early rave culture and an experimental, DIY background, beyond genres or formulas. Every track is something I would genuinely play in Room 1, and the cover of the mix says the same thing: a brain on a plate, memory, influence, and process, exposed.” – DJ Tennis

Tracklist:
1. Fordell Research Unit ‘Theme From William Basinski’
2. Djrum ‘Out of Dust’
3. Rudy With a Hoodie ‘LOVELOVELOVE’
4. Vitess ‘Insane’
5. Paperkraft ‘Funky Bluh Bluh’
6. Giammarco Orsini ‘Progression’
7. Klon Dump ‘As 2’
8. Andre Zimmer ‘Simpli-city’
9. DJ Tennis & Ashee ‘I Wanna Know’
10. M-HIGH ‘Intrusive Thoughts’
11. PAURRO ‘Bubbles’
12. ATRIP ‘Sinai Ray’
13. Danny Daze & .VRIL ‘Stargate’
14. Mungo Sound Machine ‘Vamos A La Beach’
15. DJ Tennis ‘Hello Hello’
16. Easttown ‘Bubblicious’
17. Josh Wink ‘Higher State of Consciousness (M-High Edit)’
18. Haris ‘Supadrug’
19. DJ Romain ‘Deep Reaktor (DJ Tennis Edit)’
20. Daskal ‘Unbalanced’

Shackleton - Euphoria Bound

Somewhere between revelation and delusion, Euphoria Bound maps a familiar trajectory: the irresistible pull towards dissolution, the gradual erasure of memory, the self rendered irretrievable. It moves between states of consciousness where such distinctions of enlightenment or self-deception are erased. 

Across ten tracks, the album constructs a spectrum of sound that is both ambitious and uncompromising.
The approach here is more direct than recent releases, with textures that accumulate and disintegrate with renewed urgency.

Tracklist:
1. Elemental Dream
2. Philistine Wavelength
3. Contagious Illusion
4. Crushing Realities
5. The Unbeliever's Pulse
6. When Memory Ceases
7. The Past Awakening
8. The Soul Of Everything
9. The Dream In Fragments
10. Buried And Irretrievable

Ranil - Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical - Galaxia Tropical (Analog Africa No.43)

On April 18, 2019, fresh off the plane in Iquitos, I jumped into the taxi of an elderly gentleman and immediately knew that the stars were aligned. As we rode toward the city center, I explained that I had come to the Peruvian Amazon to find Ranil. “You mean Ranil the singer? I know where he lives,” he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “He has a radio station — I’ll take you there.” We arrived in the heart of the frenetic Belén market 30 minutes later, and before I knew it, I was no longer searching for the man — I was standing right in front of him. Ranil and I hit it off immediately and ended up spending a month working together on this project.

A year later, in early 2020, I booked a flight back to Perú, this time carrying with me the first volume of Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical, freshly pressed on vinyl. The plan, together with Ranil, was to organise a release party in Lima and then continue on to Iquitos, but it was not meant to be. Before we could gather, a lockdown paralyzed the country, and Ranil passed away on April 24, 2020. Those who knew him best said that the silence that fell over his beloved neighbourhood was the one thing his heart could not endure.

Born in 1935 as Jorge Raúl Llerena Vásquez, Ranil’s story begins in the Peruvian Amazon, in a corner where the sounds of the forest fuse with stray radio waves from Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador. After winning several local singing contests as a young man, he quickly realized that breaking into Peru’s music industry — especially as an artist from “the end of the world” — would not be an easy path. So he focused on his studies, becoming a teacher in a rural town near the Brazilian border, quietly writing his first songs to the rhythm of jungle life.

Years later, back in Iquitos, destiny arrived in the form of Johnny Quinteros of Los Silver’s, who invited Ranil to join as singer. Their two albums recorded in the early 1970s, became cult treasures. When the band dissolved, the lead guitarist Limber Zumba and Ranil teamed up and recorded a demo that they took to Lima in search of a recording company. Returning disappointed from the capital — where unacceptable conditions had been proposed — Ranil decided to start his own label, Producciones Llerena, something unheard of in this part of the Peruvian Amazon.

With a rotating cast of brilliant musicians such as Luis Nigro, Emilio Piña, and Betto Gaviria by his side, Ranil crafted a sound that locals lovingly called "llullampeo" — imaginative, unpredictable, and fabulously unrestrained. His percussionists wove grooves that have not resurfaced in the region since, and the 14 songs presented here remain some of the most vivid document of that fearless, free-spirited, often psychedelic ensemble.

Over the years, Ranil released more than a dozen LPs, though often in beautiful disorder. Mismatched covers, wrong labels, missing song titles, chaotic management — Producciones Llerena was not meant to survive the test of time.

By the 1980s, as Amazonian cumbia faded and new trends took over, Ranil reinvented himself as a radio pioneer, founding Radio Llerena in the heart of Belén’s market. Its loudspeakers filled the neighbourhood with cumbia, commentary, and community news, turning him into one of Iquitos’s best-known voices and setting him on the path to politics. Outraged by Amazonian injustices, Ranil ran several times for Mayor of Belén with the Popular Action party, but he never won an election.

*** Epilogue by Samy Ben Redjeb ***

While I was stuck in Lima during the lockdown, I uploaded a selection of previously unreleased Ranil songs to our Bandcamp for a symbolic sum of $1. The collection was titled “Stay Safe & Sound – The Ranil Selection.” To my surprise, people began contributing far more than the suggested amount.

Looking for meaningful ways to put that money to use, I got in touch with Berlin-based Peruvian music producer Diego Hernández of the Eck Echo label. During our first conversation, I learned that in Iquitos, many people were dying primarily due to a shortage of oxygen. Diego told me about Father Raymundo Portelli, a priest who had been coordinating a fundraising campaign to acquire an oxygen plant for the city’s inhabitants. He was clearly the person we needed to support.

Diego and I joined forces to establish the Amazonía Relief Fund, actively encouraging contributions while featuring the Ranil selection as our centerpiece. Within two weeks, we had raised approximately €13,000, which was donated directly to Father Raymundo to facilitate the purchase of a second oxygen plant—likely saving many lives.

Even in death, Ranil was doing God’s work!  

Tracklist:
1. Galaxia Tropical
2. Bahia
3. Inka
4. Tres Cienaquero
5. Con Ranil por supuesto (Interlude 1)
6. Gitanita
7. Álbores De Mi Selva
8. Cumbia Del Torero
9. Llora Venus
10. Serenata (Interlude 2)
11. Pueblo
12. Mambo En Espana
13. Lindo Atardecer
14. Andalucía

Joel Ross - Gospel Music

Vibraphonist Joel Ross returns with his 5th Blue Note album Gospel Music featuring an expanded sextet line-up of his band Good Vibes with Josh Johnson on alto saxophone, Maria Grand on tenor saxophone, Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on bass & Jeremy Dutton on drums. The album is Ross' sonic interpretation of the biblical story, an exploration of his faith, and the fulfilment of his musical upbringing in the church, which delivers a message of hope and love.

Tracklist:
1. Wisdom Is Eternal (For Barry Harris)
2. Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
3. Protoevangelium (The First Gospel)
4. Hostile
5. The Shadowlands
6. Nevertheless
7. Word for Word
8. Repentance
9. The Sacred Place
10. A Little Love Goes A Long Way
11. Praise To You, Lord Jesus Christ
12. Calvary
13. The Giver
14. To The Throne (The Mercy Seat)
15. Be Patient
16. The New Man
17. Now & Forevermore

Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul feat. Sabina - When You Find Your Love…Hold On (25th Anniversary Mixes)

25 years ago, at the turn of the millennium, downtown NYC was spoiled with record stores. In this pre-digital age, vinyl was king for club DJs, and shops such as Downtown 161, Dance Tracks, and Vinyl Mania peppered lower Manhattan, thriving businesses that supported an expanding scene of local and international DJs. Perhaps the largest and most established of these was Satellite Records, an institution of club sounds that also spawned multiple record labels, including the deep-house imprint Central Park Recordings.

At this time, Central Park Recordings and Satellite Records owner Scott Richmond signed a demo in need of a vocal from young British producer Alistair Colling, and enlisted John-Christian Urich to write it, who had just had a massive hit with “I Might Do Something Wrong” the debut Tortured Soul single on Central Park. He in turn brought in Sabina Sciubba of then newly-formed band Brazilian Girls to record the vocal, and with Jon Cutler on remix duties the record was complete. Tortured Soul went on to release numerous deep house classics like “Fall In Love,” “How’s Your Life” and have continued to tour as a groundbreaking live-house act to this day (of which RNT co-founder JKriv was bassist and collaborator for 10 years).

For the 25th anniversary of this turning point release, Razor-N-Tape has rebooted and remastered the original and classic Jon Cutler mixes, which have never been reissued in any format since the original release. RNT also commissioned two new exemplary remixes from DJ Spinna and musclecars, connecting the dots between the deep-house lineage of the past and present. Presented in a gorgeous jacket that calls back to the graphical style of the original Central Park Recordings aesthetic, this 12” is an absolute essential for any lover of soulful club sounds or purveyor of NYC dance music history. 

Tracklist
1. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix]
2. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [musclecars Remix]
3. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba)
4. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [Jon Cutler’s Distant Music Mix]
5. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [Alistair Colling Breakbeat Mix]
6. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [Jon Cutler’s Distant Dub]
7. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix Instrumental]
8. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [musclecars Remix Instrumental]
9. When You Find Your Love…Hold On (feat. Sabina Sciubba) [Jon Cutler’s Distant Beats]

VA - Naive Melodies

Naive Melodies is a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation. Curated by Drew McFadden — the creative mind behind BBE’s acclaimed Modern Love (David Bowie tribute album) — this new collection dives deep into the Afro-diasporic rhythms and experimental soul roots that helped shape Talking Heads’ unmistakable New Wave sound. Inspired by artists like Fela Kuti, Parliament, and Al Green — whose influences loomed large in the band’s rhythmic DNA — Naive Melodies shines a light on the Black music traditions that underpinned their artistry.

Far from a conventional tribute, Naive Melodies reframes the band’s catalog through the voices and visions of a new generation of genre-defying artists. These interpretations illuminate the foundational grooves and sonic textures that fueled Talking Heads’ rhythm- forward aesthetic, bringing them full circle with authenticity.

“With Naive Melodies, I wanted to spotlight the deep and often overlooked influence of Black music on the sound of Talking Heads, drawing from the rhythmic foundations of Afro- diasporic traditions, soul, gospel, Latin, and spiritual jazz. This project is a chance to reimagine Talking Heads’ legacy through the lens of the very innovations that helped shape it, bringing those influences to the forefront through the voices of today’s most forward- thinking artists.” — Drew McFadden

The album features a globally minded lineup, including Liv.e, Bilal, Rogê, Miguel Atwood- Ferguson, Aja Monet, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Theo Croker, Kenny Dope, Rosie Lowe, Pachyman, W.I.T.C.H., and more — spanning Afrobeat, jazz, soul, funk, gospel, dub, electronica, orchestral, and Latin styles. It reflects not only the boundary-pushing ethos of Talking Heads, but also the influence of Black music as a cultural force that helped shape it.

This is not just a tribute album — it’s a recontextualization. A cultural conversation. A rhythmic reawakening.  

Tracklist:
1. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Heaven
2. Pachyman - Sugar On My Tounge (Dub) 
3. WITCH - Once In A Lifetime
4. Georgia Anne Muldrow - Girlfriend Is Better
5. Wu-Lu - Mind
6. Astrønne - Psycho Killer
7. KENNY DOPE - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
8. Liv.e - I Zimbra
9. Aja Monet - The Book I Read
10. Rosie Lowe - Burning Down The House
11. Ebba - Uh-Oh Love Comes To Town
12. Rogê - Road to Nowhere
13. Vicky Farewell - And She Was
14. Florence Adooni - Crosseyed and Painless
15. Bilal - Seen And Not Seen
16. Theo Croker - Born Under (More) Punches
17. Dominique Johnson - Take Me To The River
18. Leon Jean-Marie - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

Soul Jazz Records Presents - Soul Jazz Records presents JUNGLIST! Old Skool Ragga, D&B, Jungle

Soul Jazz Records new Junglist! is a heavyweight selection of classic and rare original Jungle and features Krome & Time, Cutty Ranks, M-Beat, Bizzy B, Lemon D, Brainkillers, Top Cat and more.

Junglist! tells the story of how Jungle and Reggae came together to produce some of the heaviest tunes ever made. Get ready for more pounding basslines, fierce Amen breaks and heavyweight Ragga vocals — strictly original Jungle style from the earliest days of drum and bass.

All these tracks date from 1993-95, at the height of jungle. Rarities include Bizzy B & TDK’s ‘Big Things’ (currently £350 on Discogs!) only ever released on white label.

Aside from first generation jungle producers such as M-Beat, Krome & Time, Lemon D, DJ Vern and DJ Ash, the album includes super heavy jungle mixes of hardcore original dancehall legends like Cutty Ranks, Beenie Man, Josey Wales, Poison Chang and more.

This album comes follows on from earlier Jungle and Hardcore releases on Soul Jazz Records including ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, Ragga Twins ‘Step Off’ and ‘Black Riot – Early Jungle, Rave and Hardcore’.

Tracklist:
1. M-Beat - Surrender
2. Cutty Ranks - Original Ranks (Just Jungle Remix)
3. Bizzy B - Big Things
4. Redrose - Jungle Tempo
5. Krome & Time - Ruffneck Scouts
6. Terror Fabulous - Ragga Ragga Ragga (Whitehouse Crew Remix)
7. M-Beat - Rumble (Original Mix)
8. Poison Chang - Love The Woman (DJ Rap Remix)
9. Bizzy B - Dub Select
10. Top Cat - Bunn The Sensi (Dub Hustlers Remix)
11. Josey Wales;Beenie Man;Ini Kamoze - Build Me 3 Coffins (New Blood Crew Remix)
12. Lemon D - Jah Love

Frollen Music Library - Exponential Generator

F.M.L. presents Exponential Generator—a tribute to the hip soul-jazz era that defined much of 1970s library music.

Built on a foundation of Rhodes and percussion, these 15 original compositions showcase the Korg Monopoly synthesiser, weaving hooky melodic narratives over the chunky, bottom-heavy ARP Odyssey bass. The music gleams with early '70s soul-jazz and mid-tempo, funk-informed arrangements where propulsive congas cook beneath charging horn-like synth lines and dreamlike Rhodes swirls. Exponential Generator captures that sophisticated library music aesthetic: utilitarian yet transcendent, mood-setting yet personality-driven, evoking both the playful experimentation of KPM's golden era and the sleazy, lumbering grooves of DeWolfe's most sought-after cuts.

F.M.L. creates some of Australia's most meticulously crafted, groove-driven library recordings. The trio—Darvid Thor, Henry Jenkins, and Hudson Whitlock—brings decades of combined experience to every session. With two Grammy nominations and samples with Leon Thomas, ScHoolboy Q, and more, their work channels the spirit of golden-era library music.

Every sound has been meticulously captured using vintage preamps and carefully selected microphones, ensuring authentic tonal character and warmth. All compositions are BPM labelled, performed and recorded on real instruments, and mixed with attention to the dynamic interplay between Rhodes, percussion, and synthesiser.

Gear list:
- Korg Monopoly
- Fender Rhodes
- ARP Odyssey
- Kangaroo Hide Drum Kit
- Percussion

Tracklist:
1. Away We Go
2. Window Seat
3. Gas
4. Drifters
5. Complimentary Snack
6. Mildly Soft
7. Member's Lounge
8. Hot Air Balloon
9. Crash Landing
10. Leg Room
11. Qantas
12. Cockpit
13. Safety Bell
14. First and Last Flight
15. Sniffers

DJ Harrison - ElectroSoul

ElectroSoul is the most collaborative and personal record yet from two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist DJ Harrison.

Sparked by a sudden health scare in 2024, the album brought the Richmond, VA, native’s close-knit creative community into the studio. The result is a genre-melding testament to healing, recovery, rejuvenation and making the most of the present. Grounded in his Richmond roots and inspired by family, ElectroSoul moves with warmth, purpose, and groove.

Featured artists include Yazmin Lacey, Yaya Bey, Fly Anakin, Pink Siifu, Stones Throw labelmate Kiefer, Angélica Garcia, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and many more.

Tracklist:
1. Fresh Squeezed Drums
2. OG Players
3. Can’t Go Back (feat. Nigel Hall)
4. Sepia Visions
5. It’s All Love (feat. Yazmin Lacey)
6. Ballade de Vixen (feat. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson)
7. Recycled
8. End of Time (feat. Grebes)
9. Y’all Good? (feat. Pink Siifu)
10. Curtis Joint
11. SmokeSetBreak
12. Stay Ready (feat. Yaya Bey)
13. NeverFold
14. Beginning Again (feat. Kiefer)
15. Seek God (feat. Fly Anakin)
16. The Floyd
17. Turn Away (feat. Angélica Garcia)
18. Ain’t Going Back (SoundGenesius Remix)

Land of Leaves - Delicate & Peaceful

A tender sound, using carefully chosen, minimal cello & piano melodies to portray a caring ambience.

Tracklist:
1. Gently Evolves
2. Touching Moments
3. Waiting
4. Light At The End Of The Tunnel
5. Sentimental
6. Future Fears
7. Everyday Wonders

Apollo Brown - Night Moves

It's in this rarefied air where you'll find Detroit's Apollo Brown, constantly conjuring fresh innovations out of a tried-and-true formula. For the last decade, the Mello Music Group artist has singularly re-defined and expanded the foundation of what boom bap production can sound like. No less than DJ Premier declared the latter "hip-hop for the people," naming "Trophies" the best album of the year. He makes music for old and young heads-bone bruising beats that summon visceral images of back alley brawls in '81 pool hall melees and metropolitan griminess.

Tracklist:
1. Aquarius
2. Night Moves
3. Opulence
4. Moon at Midnight
5. Hold On

SAULT - Chapter 1

Sault return and in fine form with Chapter 1 - their 13th album. The elusive collective led by producer Inflo unleash another masterpiece that features contributions from R&B singer Cleo Sol, singer-songwriter Jack Peñate, and legendary hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

In a statement accompanying Chapter 1, the group noted that the album “moves with patience and belief. Rhythm, breath, and silence sit side by side, creating a space that is reflective yet charged. There is warmth and expectation. A sense that something is gathering.”

Tracklist:
1. God, Protect Me from My Enemies
2. Chapter 1
3. Fulfil Your Spirit
4. Protector
5. Good Things Will Come After the Pressure
6. Create Your Prophecy
7. Love Does Not Equal Pain
8. Lord Have Mercy
9. Don't Worry About What You Can't Control
10. Puppet

JJ Whitefield & Forced Meditation - Birth Of Consciousness

The latest instalment in Whitefield's Temple Jazz series brings you an enhanced collective improvisation inspired by the meditative styles of Pharaoh Sanders, Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra. An aural approach to soothe ones soul in overly hectic environments. 

Tracklist:
1. Movement One: Stimulation
2. Movement Two: Inception
3. Movement Three: Awareness
4. Movement Four: Perception
5. Movement Five: Experience
6. Movement Six: Knowledge

Kaidi Tatham - Miles Away

First Word Records are very proud to bring you a brand new album from the legendary Kaidi Tatham.

'Miles Away' is the sixth full-length solo project for the award-winning London-based independent label.

Comprised of 10 new tracks, performed entirely by the multi-instrumentalist himself once again, this is an array of forward-thinking eclectic electronic jazz. Rhodes, pianos, synths, strings, horns and flutes weave in & out atop of vibrant percussion and mind-bending drum patterns, forming a sound that is uniquely King Kaidi.

We begin with the delicate groove of 'Misty Garden', before the infectious synth-boogie of 'Sweet Cherry Punch'. The almost-Quincy / EWF vibes of lead single 'So Happy' follow, ahead of the mid-tempo stomp of 'Kanji'. 'Silkie Bantam' keeps the energy nice while picking up the BPM a touch, as we reach the half-time title track 'Miles Away', which also features Kaidi on vocals. 'Hipsteppin' does what it says on the tin; another slice of infectious bruk-tinged jazz-boogie. Then it's the return of frequent collaborator, the super-dope MC Uhmeer (aka Jazzy Jeff's son!) on the smooth soulful hip hop bounce of 'Wave'. 'Hydration' brings the funk; clavi keys and some weighty live bass accompany some truly knockin' drums that switch in & out. The set closes with a real treat for the reggae steppers; 'Ku Deh' is a short sweet touch of uplifting rock steady.

For those that don't know, Belfast-based Kaidi Tatham has been an innovative powerhouse in the world of British black music for decades. From his early days as one of the pioneers of the broken beat movement, to his recent prominence as a key-player for DJ Jazzy Jeff's PLAYlist project, he has inspired an array of artists and tastemakers across the globe, from Madlib to Gilles Peterson.

The list of artists he's worked and collaborated with reads like a fever dream - Amy Winehouse, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Leroy Burgess, Nubya Garcia, Slum Village, Andrew Ashong, Marcos Valle and beyond. Additionally to a number of releases with 2000 Black's Dego and The Herbaliser, he's also dropped records for Theo Parrish's Sound Signature and Alex Nut's Eglo Records, taking in a number of aliases along the way, including Agent K, Shokazulu, Blakai, Da One Away and Likwid Biskit - the latter two projects alongside IG Culture (New Sector Movements / LCSM). He's also worked with fellow First Word label-mates like Children of Zeus, Allysha Joy, Darkhouse Family and Eric Lau.

As ever, this album is another truly diverse set from the Grammy-winning Kaidi Kyat, exuding quality and good vibes throughout, crossing genres and borders with intergalactic energy, taking us 'Miles Away'.

Tracklist:
1. Misty Garden
2. Sweet Cherry Punch
3. So Happy
4. Kanji
5. Silkie Bantam
6. Miles Away
7. Hipsteppin'
8. Wave (feat. Uhmeer)
9. Hydration
10. Ku Deh

Samm Henshaw - It Could Be Worse

With hundreds of millions of streams worldwide, Samm continues to bring sincerity and soul to every note he sings. London-born Nigerian singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist is redefining modern music with emotion and rich storytelling. Blending soul, R&B, indie, and alternative influences, his music captures the highs and lows of love, growth, and self-discovery. After breaking out with fan favorites like “Broke” and “Grow,” Samm earned critical acclaim from COLORS, Clash Magazine, The Guardian, NME, and NPR and collaborated with artists like Pharrell Williams, John Legend, Quincy Jones, and more.

Samm Henshaw’s new album It Could Be Worse captures the raw beauty of heartbreak, healing, and growth. Samm Henshaw channels vulnerability and emotional honesty through live instrumentation and powerhouse vocals. The project reflects on love, loss, and the humor in pain with songs like “Float,”, “Get Back,” and “Tangerine.” The result is a soulful, hopeful, and deeply human record that reaffirms Samm’s place as one of today’s most authentic voices in modern soul/R&B.

Tracklist:
1. Don't Give It Up
2. Closer
3. Wait Forever
4. Float
5. Sun and Moon
6. Stay on the Move
7. Hair Down
8. Don't Break My Heart
9. Get Back
10. Heavy Measures
11. Tangerine

INCOGNITO - Music. Magic. Ironic.

London jazz-funk institution Incognito return with Music Magic Ironic, the 20th studio album in a career that began with Jazz Funk in 1981 and later drank the waters of eternal life with Talkin' Loud, released during the 90s acid-jazz tsunami. It dialyses veteran and new blood, echoing the historic heartbeat of bandleader Bluey Maunick's childhood memories of street musicians in Mauritius, where on-the-fly percussion blurred "music" and "magic". That formative mix still powers Incognito's ensemble ethos, brought into sharp focus here with 17 tracks voiced by long-time collaborators Joy Rose, Tony Momrelle and Maysa Leak, plus Zebulon Ellis and Natalie Duncan. The family-sized lineups remains unestranged, a trait going back to the group's early days when Richard Bull's drum programming and Maysa's arrival shaped their Talkin' Loud breakout.

Incognito is getting ready to celebrate yet another career milestone. The iconic British group created by the maestro Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick is scheduled to release their 20th studio album Music. Magic. Ironic. this month. The historic set will drop on Thursday, December 25th, so make some room for it under your Christmas tree and in your music collections.

Music. Magic. Ironic.’s arrival on Christmas Day is the perfect release date for this collection because it’s shaping up to be quite a gift. The project is a double album showcasing 17 tracks, including a groovy cover of Roy Ayers’ hit “Running Away” featuring lead vocals by Tony Momrelle and Joy Rose and the return of Incognito mainstay Maysa on the song “Lost Until I Want To Be Found.”

Aside from those esteemed collaborators, the collective known for its soulful roster of vocalists has a few more in the mix. There’s Zebulon Ellis who can be heard on the lead single “Strangers Become Friends” and the cut “Changes In Me,” Natalie Duncan, Cleo Stewart, Imaani, Megan Khan and Chicco Allotta.

Incognito wants their fans to get their groove on this holiday season and well into the new year and beyond with the release of Music. Magic. Ironic., but there’s more to this album than catching a vibe and working up a sweat on the dance floor.

“Music is the message, the power and the key. Hope that you enjoy this 20th chapter of the Incognito story,” Bluey said in a teaser video recorded alongside the album’s co-producer and mixer Mo Hausler. Bluey also touched on what inspired the title, sharing, “You see, I was five years old when I mistakenly called ‘music’ ‘magic.’ Feeling trapped in a broken world 63 years later, this album has magically set my soul free.”

With 46 years and now 20 albums in, Incognito is still going strong and sounding better than ever. Music. Magic. Ironic. will be released worldwide on Splash Blue and available on all streaming platforms and on vinyl and CD, which can be pre-ordered from Bandcamp. Preview the album with the singles “Strangers Become Friends,” “It’s About Time” and “Running Away,” view Bluey and Mo chatting it up in the studio and check the full tracklist below.

Tracklist:
1. It's About Time (feat. Joy Rose)
2. Running Away (feat. Tony Momrelle)
3. Can't Be A Fool (feat. Natalie Duncan)
4. Lost Until I Want To Be Found (feat. Maysa)
5. Reasons To Love (feat. Cleo Reign Stewart)
6. Can't Give Up On This Feeling (feat. Joy Rose, Imaani & Cleo Reign Stewart)
7. In Time We’ll Love Again
8. This Is Your World (feat. Cleo Reign Stewart)
9. Changes In Me (feat. Zebulon Ellis)
10. Like Fire In The Rain (feat. Natalie Duncan)
11. (Your Lovin' Is) Everywhere (feat. Tony Momrelle)
12. Zahra Smiles
13. Strangers Become Friends (feat. Zebulon Ellis)
14. Sweet Enough (feat. Tony Momrelle & Megan Khan)
15. Rain On A Hot Tin Roof
16. Late Night On The Subway (feat. Tony Momrelle)
17. Music. Magic. Ironic. (feat. Chicco Allotta)

VA - WaJazz: Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol.II - Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz from Japan 1962-1985 - The King Records Masters - Selected by Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds)

Following the highly acclaimed first volume in the series, Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa continues the WaJazz exploration with another essential collection of music that contains something uniquely Japanese — focusing this time on the King Records catalog. Featuring timeless music by Isao Suzuki, Toshiaki Yokota, Akira Miyazawa, Takeru Muraoka, Yasuaki Shimizu, Masahiko Togashi, George Otsuka, and more!

"It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the second volume of the "Japanese Jazz Spectacle" series. Following the first compilation which focused on recordings from the Nippon Columbia catalog, this time we are digging into the King Records archives. It is almost impossible to capture the whole picture of Wa-Jazz in a couple of compilation albums since it is such a broad and deep genre, however, by extracting tracks from the Nippon Columbia and King Records collections - both labels having an extensive archive of jazz music - we may be able to glimpse a part of its allure and essence. This time again, I have made the music selection with this idea in mind. The music in this compilation was recorded between 1962 and 1985 and is a brief history of Japanese jazz on King Records. Listening is believing, so I hope these tracks will capture your heart and that you will enjoy the charms of Japanese jazz." - Yusuke Ogawa

Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.

Tracklist:
1. Toshiaki Yokota & The Beat Generation - Clair Deluge
2. Tadao Sawai - Constant Rain
3. Akira MIyazawa - Yamame
4. Various Artists - Ma Mère L'Oye
5. Masao Yagi - Blossom In The Water
6. Masahiko Togashi - A Day Of The Sun
7. Yasuko Nagamine - Summer Wind
8. Hideo Shiraki - Sayonara Blues
9. Masahiko Togashi & His Improvisation Jazz Orchestra - Desireless
10. Takeru Muraoka & His New Group - Lady Boogie
11. Yoshio ikeda - Down To The Sea
12. George Otsuka Quintet - Loving You