Abu Obaida Hasan - Abu Obaida Hasan and his Tambour: The Shagiya Sound Of Sudan (Ostinato)
Outstanding, mesmeric music from northern Sudan, played on a modified Tambour with an additional string, with additional percussion and vocals. A thrilling discovery.
Alan Braufman - Valley Of Search (Valley Of Search)
Intense and powerful spiritual free improvisation. With Cooper Moore, Cecil McBee, David Lee and Ralph Williams.
Alela Diane - The Pirate's Gospel Deluxe Edition (AllPoints)
It's been a bumper year for Alela Diane fans with an outstanding new album 'Cusp' (somewhat overlooked by many) and this new reissue of the album that made her name. Beautiful songs delivered with subtlety and nuance.
Alice Coltrane - Spiritual Eternal: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (Real Gone)
The continued reassessment of Alice Coltrane's musical and cultural legacy is a necessary enterprise. This set covers her brief stint on Warner Bros.
Aretha Franklin - Atlantic Records 1960s Collection/The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967-1970 (Rhino)
Peerless, vital music delivered with steadfast verve and elan - either in depth or the commercial highlights.
Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Art Ensemble of Chicago and Associated Ensembles (ECM)
A substantial box set collating the Art Ensemble of Chicago's ECM output and some equally essential but less widely recognised work from associated acts - including Jack De Johnette's New Directions and Roscoe Mitchell's collaboration with Evan Parker on the masterful Boustrophedon.
Art Of Noise - In No Sense? Nonsense! (Warner Music UK)
Another instalment in this excellent expanded reissue series of the 8os sonic experimentalists' work. The sounds have inevitably dated, but there's still something appealing about their madcap cut and paste quirkiness.
Basa Basa - Homowo (Vintage Voudou)
Superb rescued Highlife from Ghana.
Betty Davis - Nasty Gal (Light In The Attic)
Supremely dirty 1975 album from the gritty, defiant and erotically charged funk singer once married to Miles Davis, reissued on vinyl by the great Light In The Attic label. "I just can't seem to keep my tongue in my mouth...That's all folks!"
Bitchin Bajas - Rebajas (Drag City)
Tantric meditation in drone musical form. Pretty much all the Bitchin Bajas you need.
Bob Dylan - More Blood, More Tracks (Columbia)
Terrible title, but I guess it does what it says on the tin. If you have unlimited disposable income and you really need multiple takes of Up To Me (and maybe you do), it's worth investing in this now as Columbia are apparently deleting it. It can't help but feel that the Bootleg Series has lost its original spirit and become somewhat exploitative as well as exhaustive though.
Bob Seger and The Last Heard - Heavy Music: The Complete Cameo Recordings 1966-67 (ABKCO)
Enjoyable compilation of sturdy early work from the recently retired rocker.
Bobbie Gentry - Girl From Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters (Capitol)
Incredible box set that establishes Gentry as an underrated and richly creative artist - as weird and wonderful as her best known song is, there is so much here beyond Ode To Billy Joe.
Brian Eno - Vinyl Remasters/Music For Installations (Universal)
Peak ambient
Bronski Beat - The Age Of Consent (London Music Stream)
One of the most important albums of the 80s is expanded with bonus BBC Sessions.
Bruce Springsteen - The Album Collection Vol 2 (Columbia)
To many, this won't be considered Springsteen's golden era (and this set has been a bit neglected in light of the Broadway show), but it's worth keeping in mind that is move towards more reflective, sometimes even introspective songwriting included some of his very best songs. Lucky Town is particularly worthy of reassessment.
Buzzcocks - Another Music In A Different Kitchen/Love Bites 40th Anniversary (Domino)
The recent loss of Pete Shelley puts these anniversary vinyl reissues from Domino in a more poignant light. Incisive, radical lyrics meet biting, mercilessly economical music.
Carl Stone - Electronic Music From The 80s and 90s (Unseen Worlds)
For losing track of time...
Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes - No. 2/Ame Debout/Paix (Universal)
First three albums of uncompromising, defiant weird folk music from the inventive, imposing singer, beloved of Kim Gordon and Jim O'Rourke.
Charles Mingus - Jazz In Detroit/Strata Concert/46 Selden (BBE)
This radio broadcast constitutes a major treasure trove of Mingus' wild frontier.
Cocteau Twins - Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years (Mercury)
Some revisionism of the Cocteau Twins on Fontana seems necessary - rather than terminal decline into commercialised blandness, much of this music feels like a gentle refinement.
David Axelrod - Earth Rot (Now-Again for Record Store Day)
Major suite of music from the producer and composer - arguably second only to the Songs of Innocence and Experience sets in his catalogue.
David Bowie - Glastonbury 2000 (Warner Music)
I don't actually remember this set being all that fondly received at the time, given there was a general scepticism about Bowie's embrace of various electronic music and a predictable huffiness about his tendency to radically rework his older material.
David Sylvian - Dead Bees On A Cake Deluxe Vinyl (Universal)
David Sylvian and Holger Czukay - Plight and Premonition/Flux and Mutability (Groenland)
Unfortunately, David Sylvian continues to be somewhat AWOL from contemporary music following the cancellation of planned live performances a few years ago. These reissues constitute some of his most searching, texturally rich and imaginative work, particularly the excellent, absorbing collaborations with Czukay.
Deben Bhattacharya - Paris To Calcutta: Men and Music on the Desert Road (Sublime Frequencies)
An extraordinary, deeply fascinating sonic document of field recordist Bhattacharya's journey from France to India in 1955. Archive, history, cultural memory.
Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (Light In The Attic)
Supremely relaxed, philosophical, jazz-infused hip hop from 1993. Think Arrested Development, Dream Warriors etc.
Don Rendell/Ian Carr Quintet - Lansdowne Series Reissues (Decca)
Pioneering, melodically authoritative British jazz ensemble. Rendell and Carr gave their names to the group, but pianist Michael Garrick was an equally crucial compositional voice.
Erasmo Carlos - E Os Tremendoes/Carlos, Erasmo (Light In The Attic)
Two excellent albums from the relaxed Brazilian singer-songwriter reissued by Light In The Attic.
Felt - Vinyl Remasters (Cherry Red)
Including some of the peaks of 80s alternative guitar pop, not least Forever Breathes The Lonely Word.
Flaming Lips - Greatest Hits Vol 1 (Warner Music)
In some ways this compilation doesn't veer too far off the beaten track (as its title might suggest) but it's worth noting that it does contain mixed down versions of a couple of tracks from their grand folly Zaireeka. It also charts one of the more extraordinary evolutions in modern music - from very unassuming, scuzzy and ramshackle beginnings to the vaunting ambition and widescreen splendour of The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi.
Fleetwood Mac - 50 Years Don't Stop (Warner Music)
Neat, punchy 3CD set collating the obvious highlights of all incarnations of Fleetwood Mac.
Frank Sinatra - Only The Lonely 60th Anniversary Edition (UMC - Virgin International)
Maybe the greatest Frank album?
Gene Clark - Gene Clark Sings For You (Omnivore Recordings)
Great to see more of Gene Clark's solo work being made available - this set is ramshackle but typically affecting.
Graham Nash - Over The Years (Rhino)
30 track anthology bringing together solo work, CSN(Y) material and a couple of tracks from the albums with David Crosby. Second disc features demo versions.
Haruomi Hosono - Hosono House/Cochin Moon (Light In The Attic)
Two excellent albums from one of the major, most experimental figures in Japanese popular music.
https://lightintheattic.net/releases/4101-cochin-moon
Hiroshi Sato - Orient (Wewantsounds)
Originally released in 1979 in Japan, Orient is a masterpiece of textured synthesiser pop. Available on CD and vinyl.
https://wewantsounds.bandcamp.com/merch/hiroshi-sato-orient-cd-edition
Hiss Golden Messenger - Devotion: Songs About Rivers and Spirits and Children (Merge)
Box set collecting the largely solo Bad Debt, and the first Hiss Golden Messenger ensemble albums Poor Moon and Haw plus an additional disc Virgo Fool, gathering rarities (some drawn from the Lord I Love The Rain mini-album). Songs that manage to be earthy and spiritual at the same time.
Hollywood Beyond - If (Expanded) (Warner Music UK)
A relative obscurity now, this first (and only?) work from Mark Rogers generated one memorable hit in 1986 (What's The Colour Of Money?). Nothing else is quite as melodically insistent, but it's a solid example of sophisticated, artful 80s pop.
Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids/Tin Drum (UMC)
Some of the strangest, most blissfully disorientating pop music ever to have hit the upper reaches of the UK Top 40. Reissued on vinyl.
Jess Sah Bi and Peter One - Our Garden Needs Its Flowers (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
One of the most popular acts in West Africa in the 90s, this is a fascinating, beguiling and ultimately uplifting fusion of traditional songs, West African rhythms and western folk music.
John Coltrane - Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album (Impulse!)
One of the year's most significant releases in any genre and a worthy addition to the Coltrane canon.
Joseph Spence - Bahaman Folk Guitar (Smithsonian Folkways)
Remarkably unique - rhythmic and driving solo guitar work.
Kate Bush - Remastered (PLG UK Catalog)
Vinyl and CD box sets of the entire catalogue of one of the great English eccentric artists, lovingly remastered (including, it has to be noted, the removal of a certain disgraced individual from Aerial). The Other Sides collates B Sides and offers a reminder of Kate's implausible (and weirdly faithful) cover of Sexual Healing.
Kath Bloom and Loren Conners - Restless Faithful Desperate (Chapter Music)
A beautiful avant-folk masterpiece.
Ken Boothe - Freedom Street (Real Gone)
Very limited vinyl run of this classic from the great reggae vocalist.
Kimiko Kasai and Herbie Hancock - Butterfly (Sony Music)
Great spacey fusion collaboration between Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters and Japanese vocalist Kasai, recorded in Tokyo in 1979. Contains a number of well known Herbie Hancock compositions. Some naturally absorb Kasai's vocal, others (such as Maiden Voyage) are majestically reworked. Concludes with a disco-tactic take on Stevie Wonder's As.
Lindsey Buckingham - Solo Anthology (Rhino)
Buckingham's farcical and unfortunate departure from Fleetwood Mac offers a welcome opportunity to revisit his underrated solo work and extraordinary guitar playing.
Liz Phair - Girly Sound To Guyville: The 25th Anniversary Box Set (Matador)
Combines Liz Phair's highly acclaimed debut album with the earlier tapes she circulated under the Girly-Sound moniker.
Love - Forever Changes 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe (Rhino)
Not sure anyone needs another edition of this, but the original album continues to endure.
Mansun - Attack Of The Grey Lantern (KScope)
A massive expanded reissue of the 90s grand folly. It's still rather fun, from Bond theme parody to exuberant, camp English pop via the inevitable Beatles rip.
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (UMC)
Anniversary reissue of Massive Attack's dark and introspective classic.
Miles Davis and John Coltrane - The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 (Sony)
The Miles bootleg series continues to offer remarkable and rewarding riches, even if this must by now have reached the 'completists only' stage. I love the contrast between Coltrane's intelligent fieriness and Miles' use of space, but both play with a melodic approach even when stretching out.
Morrison Kincannon - Beneath The Redwoods (Spacetalk)
Rare, bucolic music from previously undiscovered Californian duo.
Neil Young - Roxy: Tonight's The Night Live (Warner Music)
Neil Young - Songs For Judy (Warner Music)
Two gems from Neil's archive this year (and his work rate on both old and new material shows little sign of slowing). The Tonight's The Night show at the Roxy is typically wayward, excoriating and thrilling, whilst Songs For Judy offers solo performances.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture and Morality (UMC)
Vinyl reissue of OMD's finest album. Artful, cerebral synth pop.
Orchestre Abass - De Bassari Togo (Analog Africa)
Resplendent groove music from Togo. Tragically, the leader of Orchestre Abass, Malam Issa Abass, was killed by a grenade thrown into his room in 1993.
Ornette Coleman - The Atlantic Years (Rhino)
This is a simply peerless ten disc set. Ornette's relatively brief period on Atlantic generated some of the most divisive and important music ever recorded.
Pablo's Eye - Spring Break/Bardo For Pablo (Stroom)
The first two instalments of Stroom's trilogy of reissues from this malleable Belgian collective. The third part is out in January 2019.
Pat Ament - Songs (Grapefruit/Ba Da Bing)
Originally released in 1971 in a very limited run for friends and local shops, the internet now enables this charming, affecting set of songs to be distributed in a far wider manner than ever intended.
Pet Shop Boys - Further Listening Reissues (PLG UK)
Superb expanded reissue series - essential for those of us who only ever owned these albums on cassette! Introspective, Behaviour, Very, Bilingual.
Peter Zummo - Frame Loop (Foom)
Vinyl pressing and digital re-release of excellent work from composer, trombonist and Arthur Russell collaborator (Russell plays cello here). Also features marimba and congas.
Prince - Piano and A Microphone 1983 (Rhino)
The Prince estate seems to be dealing with the catalogue in ways that are unexpected (not least putting the music back on streaming services). But if they continue to uncover pure gems like this, where Prince's gift for capturing emotion through song is communicated without filter or enhancement, then this is a very welcome development. The recordings include occasional interjections from Prince ('turn the voice down a little'), but even this can't diminish the impact of his isolated talent.
Professor Rhythm - Professor 3 (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
The dance sound of attempted unity at the end of the Apartheid era in South Africa. Hugely joyful and uplifting.
R.E.M. - At The BBC (UMC)
Essential for me due to the inclusion of the 1995 Milton Keynes Bowl concert I attended as a teenager (a memorable formative live music experience, with Automatic For The People songs controversially rocked up) - but also a reminder of how inventive post-Bill Berry R.E.M. were at their best too, the performances in this set particularly emphasising the bold experimentalism of the Up era. There's also a great 1984 show from Nottingham Rock City (although the sound quality here is less impressive and the mix is poor).
Roxy Music - Roxy Music Deluxe (UMC)
Deluxe version of the ever impressive debut.
Songs: Ohia - Love and Work: The Lioness Sessions (Secretly Canadian)
A key transitional work from the much missed Jason Molina - mysterious, eerie and compelling.
Stereolab - Switched On Vols 1-3 (Duophonic)
4CD Box Set that gathers remastered versions of the legendary Stereolab compilations. In the end, it transpires that this was presaging new shows and new music next year.
Sun Ra - Of Abstract Dreams (Strut)
Given the vastness of the existing Sun Ra catalogue, it's hardly surprising that the vaults are also proving to be substantial. This is a previously unreleased radio session from 1974-5.
Super Furry Animals - At The BBC (Strangetown)
Radio sessions and live recordings from across the band's career - neatly charting their evolution from quirky power pop to broader pastures.
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque/Thirteen/Grand Prix/Songs From Northern Britain/Howdy! (Sony)
Vinyl reissues of the most essential albums made by our most essential songwriters. Teenage Fanclub are probably too modest and unassuming to be canonised, but these albums should by now be established classics. It's also interesting to listen to them in sequence and observe their transition from slightly wayward fuzzy grunge to chiming Byrdsian power pop. All the albums come with a bonus 7" containing choice B sides. Songs From Northern Britain arguably remains their masterpiece. Sadly, now a poignant opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the substantial contribution of the departing Gerard Love.
Terry Callier - The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier Deluxe Edition (Craft Recordings)
Welcome reissue of a crucial recording. Includes additional takes.
The Band - Music From Big Pink Super Deluxe (Commercial Marketing)
Another one probably not really in need of another repackaging - but the album itself remains essential.
The Beatles - The White Album 50th Anniversary (UMC)
Genuinely one of the superior products in the endless Beatles legacy series.
The Beta Band - The Three EPs 20th Anniversary Remaster (Because)
Has it really been 20 years? It's pleasing to report that this still feels goofy, loose and idiosyncratic.
The Gladiators - Serious Thing (Warner)
Strong 1984 roots set from the reggae trio.
The Handsome Family - Through The Trees 20th Anniversary (Loose)
Anniversary vinyl edition of The Handsome Family's most evocative, romantic and richly poetic work - the best of their stark, gothic Americana. Includes one of my all time favourite songs, The Giant of Illinois.
This Heat - Repeat/Metal/Live 80-81/Made Available (Light In The Attic)
Later set of This Heat reissues.
This Mortal Coil - Deluxe Reissues (4AD)
Vinyl reissues of 'It'll End In Tears', 'Blood' and 'Filigree and Shadow' - still the epitome of the 4AD aesthetic.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - An American Treasure (Warner Bros.)
Superb box set offering choice outtakes and rarities from across Petty's career. Includes unreleased songs, demos, alternate takes and live recordings.
Various Artists - African Scream Contest 2 - Benin 1963-80 (Analog Africa)
Good to see a second instalment of this excellent compilation, this time focusing on under appreciated Afro-funk music from Benin.
Various Artists - Basement Beehive: The Girl Group Underground (Numero Group)
Superb compilation of girl group sounds, pretty much all of this previously unknown to me.
Various Artists - Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present Paris In The Spring (Ace)
Various Artists - Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present State Of The Union: The American Dream In Crisis 1967-1973 (Ace)
Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs' compilations are jewels in Ace Records' crown and these two are particularly strong. State Of The Union, in particular, is one of the essential releases of the year, not least for including Roy Orbison's magisterial South Jericho Parkway.
Various Artists - Gumba Fire: Bubblegum Soul and Synth Boogie in 1980s South Africa (Soundway)
Great 90s minimal synth disco from South Africa. The extent to which the Survivals song below resembles Ed Sheeran's Shape Of You is probably coincidental.
Various Artists - Listen All Around: The Golden Age of Central and East African Music (Dust to Digital)
Another gargantuan, comprehensive and hugely informative compilation from Dust To Digital.
Various Artists - Mother's Garden: The Funk Sound Of Female Africa 1975-1984 (Africa Seven)
Excellent celebration of female artistry in African popular music.
Various Artists - Kafundo Vol. 6: Afrobeat Brazil (Kafundo)
High energy compilation of Afrobeat in Brazil. Includes the excellent Bixiga 70 amongst others.
Various Artists - Pop Ambient 2019 (Kompakt)
Various Artists - We Out Here (Brownswood)
Two compilations that could justifiably belong in my new releases list - celebrating the European ambient sound (and 25 years of the Kompakt label) and the much vaunted and well promoted end of the UK jazz scene respectively.
Various Artists - Silk To Dry The Tears (100% Silk)
Gathers together affiliates and alumni of the 100% Silk label and helps to sustain Oakland's creative communities following the devastating warehouse fire of 2016.
Various Artists - Quare Groove vol. 1 (Allchival)
Surprising and stimulating sounds from the Irish musical underground of the 1970s and 80s.
Various Artists - When The Day Is Done: The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby (Ace)
Entirely essential selection of arrangements from the great Robert Kirby, from the by now well known (Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan) to more off-the-beaten-track choices (Shelagh McDonald, Audience).
Various Artists - Uneven Paths: Deviant Pop From Europe 1980 - 1991 (Music From Memory)
The second multi-artist compilation on Music From Memory (following last year's outstanding 'Outro Tempo' set of electronic music from Brazil) is another gem, introducing us to a whole world of previously unknown quirky electronica from Europe.
Various Artists - Levanta Poreia: Afro-Brazilian Music and Rhythms 1976-2016 (Jazz and Milk)
Another label collates Afrobeat inspired music from Brazil, with similarly thrilling results.
Various Artists - Paradise: The Sound Of Ivor Raymonde (Bella Union)
Simon Raymonde's Bella Union celebrates the impressive work of his father Ivor, a songwriter, arranger and orchestra leader.
Various Artists - Trojan Records 50th Anniversary Box Set (Wholesale)
All the great reggae hits now in one place.
Various Artists - Running The Voodoo Down Vol. 2: Explorations in psychfunksouljazz 1965-77 (TAD)
Superb second instalment of the out-there funk, fusion and psychedelic soul compilation. This one includes Chairmen Of The Board's Life and Death in G and A suite and Sonny Sharrock's Black Woman - two of the greatest pieces of recorded music of all time.
Various Artists - Soul Jazz Presents Black Man's Pride 2 (Soul Jazz)
Another superb Studio One compilation from Soul Jazz.
Various Artists - Soul of a Nation: Jazz is the Teacher, Funk is the Preacher - Afro-Centric Jazz,
Street Funk and the Roots of Rap in The Black Power Era 1969-75 (Soul Jazz)
Pretty irresistible and open minded fusions of various forms of black music.
Various Artists - Switched-On Eugene (Numero Group)
The Eugene Electronic Music Collective and associates in Oregon. All new to me.
Various Artists - The Wrecking Crew (Wienerworld)
It's impossible to go wrong with any compilation of tracks featuring the crucial session band.
Various Artists - Voices of Mississippi - Artists and Musicians Documented By William Ferris (Dust To Digital)
Substantial three disc set of uncovered blues delights.
Wings - Wild Life/Red Rose Speedway (UMC)
The band The Beatles could have been.
XTC - Skylarking/Apple Venus Vol. 1/Apple Venus Vol. 2 Wasp Star (Ape House - Panegyric)
It's particularly good to have the excellent Apple Venus Vol 1 available again. Skylarking of course remains a pastoral psychedelic classic.
Yazoo - Four Pieces (Mute)
Comprehensive and enjoyable box set from the irresistibly melodic electronic pop duo.
Zuider Zee - Zeenith (Light In The Attic)
Unfairly neglected 70s glam folk psychedelia.