Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Albums of 2019
This was an incredible year for new album releases that spanned a wide range of genres. I even felt at times it was hard to keep track of all the great new music that was being released on weekly basis. Selecting my favorite albums was extremely challenging, yet still very enjoyable. I’m sure in weeks or even days from now, I will realize that I forgotten to include a worthy release, or discover an album that might of slipped by me.
BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Tracks of 2019
As with just about every year, 2019 featured numerous great tracks from all corners of the globe. More and more it feels that artists are bluring the lines between these things we call “genres”, and I think that’s a good thing. In which was an almost impossible task, I have compiled my favorite 125 tracks from the past twelve months and have dived deeper into the top 25.
BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissued Singles of 2019
With so many incredible reissues in 2019, I decided to break-up this year’s “best of” into two sections, full length albums and singles. Out of all the lists I put together for these year-end posts, both reissue lists were probably the most challenging to compile.
BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissued & Previously Unreleased Albums of 2019
Just as we’ve seen over the past few years, there continues to be many high quality reissues released on an annual basis, even to the point that this has become the main focus for some labels. With prices for original copies of many records continuing to become more and more pricey, the actual need for affordable reissued releases seems to be more an more necessary.
BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2019
It’s that time of the year again where we spend some time and look back at many of our favorite releases over the past twelve months. To kick things off, we take a look at our top 10 favorite compilations of 2019, those records that often introduce many of us to new/old artists, obscure rarities, and/or explorations into lesser known sounds from all corners of the world.
Greg Foat returns with analog jazz-funk album ‘The Dreaming Jewels’
In what has turned into quite a productive year for Greg Foat, the London-based pianist follows up a number of incredible releases for Edinburgh’s Athens of The North label, including the one of the year’s best albums in The Mage, and released another brilliant full-length to close out the year, titled The Dreaming Jewels.
Chicago bassist Junius Paul releases adventurous debut ‘Ism’ on International Anthem
Bassist and composer Junius Paul has been making a name for himself over the last decade both in Chicago with his jam sessions at the now-shuttered Velvet Lounge, and internationally with his collaborative work with drummer and beat-maker Makaya McCraven. As usual, Chi-town’s International Anthem Recordings continues to have their finger on the pulse, and have just released Paul’s debut album, titled Ism.
Total Refreshment & International Anthem release 12″ featuring Emma-Jean Thackray, Gilles Peterson remix
One of the best releases in 2018 was Makaya McCraven’s widely collaborative Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape), a recording that brought together some of the most forward-thinking musicians and beat makers from both Chicago and London. One of the many standout tracks from that session was London-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray’s “Too Shy”. Total Refreshment Records and International Anthem have teamed up again to release an extended version on a new twelve-inch single.
London’s Clap City Records releases limited-edition reissue of Tribe’s ‘Farewell To The Welfare’
This December, London-based independent label Clap City Records will be reissuing the 7inch version of the highly-obscure 1975 jazz-funk classic ‘Farewell To The Welfare’ by Wendell Harrison and the legendary Detroit Tribe collective.
Experimental electro-acoustic London trio Still Moving releases debut EP
The London-based trio Still Moving featuring saxophonist Nat Philipps, drummer Pike Ogilvy, and keyboardist Sam Bates have just released a brilliant debut self-titled EP on Lanquidity Records.
Soul Jazz Records reissues Steve Reid’s 1976 spiritual jazz masterpiece ‘Rhythmatism’
For the second time in two decades, Soul Jazz Records has reissued legendary drummer Steve Reid’s 1976 spiritual jazz masterpiece Rhythmatism, which is one of the most sought-after and adventurous recordings of it’s time.
UK label Pressure Makes Diamonds reissues rare 1980 jazz dance groover ‘Paradise Island’
Respected vinyl collector, selector, and Mr Bongo family member Gary Johnson has started a new label Pressure Makes Diamonds, focusing on making obscure and pricey recordings available to the masses. This UK-based record label’s first reissue release is the impossible-to-find 1980 jazz-funk twelve-inch single Paradise Island from Florida’s Azwon.
Ghanaian Frafra-gospel singers Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy release full-length album
After a string of standout 7inch releases, Berlin-based Philophon label has released the long-awaited and much anticipated full-length album from Ghanaian Frafra-gospel singers Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy.
