Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
London-based Soccer 96 is a futuristic duo featuring keyboardist Danalogue (Dan Leavers) and drummer Betamax (Maxwell Hallett), which makes up two-thirds of The Comet Is Coming (with Shabaka Hutchings). They have just released their highly-anticipated fourth full-length album, titled Dopamine, which is inspired by a sci-fi theme in which robots have taken over the world, and humanities attempt to destroy them.
Earlier in the year, two legendary artists in producer, DJ, and radio broadcaster Gilles Peterson and multi-instrumentalist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick teamed under the name STR4TA to release one of the most groundbreaking records of 2021. This incredible full-length album, titled Aspects, has helped shine a bright light on the Brit-funk sound of the late 70s and early 80s. Fast forward a number of months later, producer and Z Records label boss Dave Lee, who is a legend in his own right, has remixed one of the many standout tracks in “After The Rain”, which is out now on a 12inch single via Brownswood.
The always-brilliant French label Favorite Recordings has recently reissued the incredible hard-to-find self-titled 1980 jazz-funk/fusion masterpiece from the Venezuelan ensemble Esperanto.
Following last year’s incredible breakthrough full-length album Bichos (named one of BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Albums of 2020) from Venezuelan-rooted group Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos, London-based Olindo Records has recently issued a limited-edition 7inch EP featuring superb remixed versions of two selections from the recording.
Following the group’s superb 2020 breakthrough album Worshippers, and an expansive remix release, the Munich-based ensemble Web Web, led by mastermind Roberto Di Gioia, teams up with composer, musician, and producer, Max Herre and a string of outstanding guests to release a phenomenal new 70s-era inspired spiritual jazz recording, tilted WEB MAX.
Following the breakthrough debut album Dreams Fulfilled on Acid Jazz Records, Glasgow’s Nimbus Sextet returns with an incredible new 4-track EP release, titled Helix, which features a mixture of new material and unreleased remixes.
For well over a decade, Manchester composer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist Nat Birchall has released some of the most standout jazz recordings, as well as some brilliant dub-infused collaborative work with producer Al Breadwinner. He has recently released an incredible new solo African-influenced spiritual jazz album titled, Ancient Africa.
For more than a decade, acclaimed London-based pianist Greg Foat has been at the forefront of some of the best groove-oriented jazz recordings for labels like Jazzman Records, Athens Of The North, and Strut. On his latest release, he teams up with two incredible Finnish musicians in bassist Teemu Åkerblom and drummer Aleksi Heinola for a superb feline-themed album on Jazzaggression, titled Gone To The Cats.
London-based keyboard wiz Joe Armon-Jones, who is also a member of the UK Afrobeat-inspired group Ezra Collective and a regular collaborator with saxophonist Nubya Garcia, follows up his two incredible breakthrough solo releases on Gilles Peterson’s Brownwood Recordings, with a superb 10-inch single Pray on his newly launch label Aquarii.
French label Ici Bientôt has unearthed and reissued an incredible 1985 spiritual and meditative album, titled Comme Au Moulin by a highly innovative five-piece Paris-based collective called Nyssa Musique, whom were born out ongoing rehearsals that took place in a contemporary dance class hall, upstairs from the notable venue New Morning.