Back in stock: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Shabaka Hutchings' new label Native Rebel Recordings welcomes understated innovator and educator Chelsea Carmichael for a superb debut album. The River Doesn't Like Strangers is a fresh serving of innovative jazz that finally makes its way to vinyl and features plenty of her hypnotic and warm playing, smart improvisation and subtle sound work. Cultural powerhouse Shabaka Hutchings himself wrote a set of songs for the record which were then perfumed with Chelsea playing alongside Eddie Hick from Sons of Kemet, Dave Okumu from The Invisible and Tom Herbert from The Invisible and Polar Bear.

Review: Do not hang about not his one because it is super limited and super good. It's a new 7" from Messin About with some golden old, rare yet vibrant modern soul and rare groove. On the A-side is the masterpiece 'It'll All Come Around' from the great Patsy Gallant and it is one that will swell the heart with its luxurious sound, while the B-side enchants with the funky and cinematic soul of Love Unlimited Orchestra and their superb 'Strange Games & Things'. This waxy treasure promises to elevate your vinyl collection to new heights.

Review: The heady collaborative cocktail of Marc Collin and the late Olivier Libaux, who came together in 2003, led to the quiet storm that its Nouvelle Vague, a project with its heart set on a winner from the start: the fusion of post-punk songwriting with the form and instrumentation of bossa nova. Intended as a one-off, the success of the project came as a surprise, but the duo were hardly willing to let a good thing slide for the sake of dourer endeavours. As part of a retrospective, comprehensive reissues series on top of a new album, this repress of the first album takes us back to where it all began.

Review: Expertly curated by Time Capsule, Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980 offers an authentic trip through Japan's rich psychedelic folk scene. Across its eight standout tracks, the album showcases a diverse range of artists and styles, from dreamy acoustic ballads to experimental electronic compositions. Each song is a testament to the creativity and innovation of the era, blending traditional Japanese folk elements with psychedelic and avant-garde influences from around the wider musical world. The album's carefully curated selection means it plays out with a sense of story that provides a fascinating glimpse into a unique period of Japanese music history. This one then is a must-listen for enthusiasts of experimental folk and global psychedelia.