Below is an overview of the many great reissues, compilations, rediscovered albums and live recordings released in 2021. I would love to include embeds - but it takes forever and makes the page very slow to load for some people, so I've added links instead. I hope they all work!
Air - 10, 000 Hz Legend (PLG UK)
Air's follow up to Moon Safari perplexed people on its original release, but I've always enjoyed its combination of attention to detail, gleaming textures and playful parody. Its highlights (People In The City, Don't Be Light) still cut through.
Alice Coltrane - Kirtan: Turiya Sings (Impulse!)
Slightly controversial in that, rather than simply making the original Turiya Sings recordings (the first devotional music Alice Coltrane made alone after withdrawing from the wider musical world) available widely, this reissue presents us with a radically different version. The music here is stripped of the synthesisers and strings that adorn the original, leaving just Coltrane's voice and Wurlitzer. In part, this seems to be because the family have been unable to locate the original synthesiser masters, but it also seems to be both a musical and aesthetic choice too. It's certainly a fascinating alternate version - meditative and consoling music with a transcendent quality that is particularly valuable in these difficult times. I would still have liked a package that placed both versions side by side, however, even if improving the audio quality of the original wasn't an option.
Archie Shepp - Live In Paris (1974) (Transversales Disques)
A stunning live set - with Shepp playing with a band of musicians I really don't know enough about (Noel McGhie on drums, Bob Reid on bass, Siegfried Kessler on piano, Pablo Kino on percussion). Things Have Got To Change is a circling, hypnotic tour de force.
Aretha Franklin - Aretha (Rhino)
Predictably magisterial four disc box set of the Atlantic era.
Arthur Russell - Another Thought (Be With)
Arthur Russell - Iowa Dream (Rough Trade)
Another Thought is one of the strongest Arthur Russell collections, foregrounding both his songwriting and distinctive cello playing - now widely available on vinyl thanks to the efforts of the excellent Be With records. Iowa Dream is a mostly song based 2019 compilation now easy to find on physical formats in the UK.
Autechre - LP5 / Chiastic Slide (Warp)
Vinyl reissues of characteristically twitchy 1997 and 1998 albums.
Beatriz Ferreyra - Canto+ (Room40)
Collects work from over 40 years of Ferreyra's working life as a composer, highlighting her interest in the voice.
Benitez and Valencia - Impossible Love Songs From Sixties Quito (Honest Jon's)
See also 'The Paths Of Pain' compilation. Music filled with longing.
Bheki Mseleku - Beyond The Stars (Tapestry Works)
An immensely welcome previously unheard solo studio album from the great South African pianist. These performances are bursting with joy, exuberance, melody, rhythm and invention.
Billy Bang - Music From The Film 'Lucky Man' (BBE Music)
Not really sure where this should be categorised, in that it consists of previously unheard field recordings, spoken word fragments and music - but it dates back to a return trip to Vietnam improvising violinist and veteran Billy Bang bravely conducted in 2008. This is an immensely powerful document that demands to be heard. The film is available to watch online too.
"Blue" Gene Tyranny - Degrees Of Freedom Found (Unseen Worlds)
I'm not very proud to admit I knew nothing about 'Blue' Gene Tyranny until delving into this remarkable, multi-faceted box set that encompasses avant-garde composition, extemporising piano playing and much else besides. Much of the material has real emotional depth.
Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan 1970 (Columbia)
Bob Dylan - Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1980-1985 (Columbia)
As is the rather frustrating way with the Bootleg series now, every archive Dylan project seems to come in multiple different versions, with the full shebang inevitably being prohibitively expensive. It was nice that the 1970 set (with George Harrison on some recordings) got a wider release this year, although it's sadly not on streaming services. Springtime In New York doesn't quite rehabilitate Infidels for me (an album I've always found somewhat overrated), and certainly not Empire Burlesque, but it does again serve to underline how much excellent material was bafflingly left out from the final tracklists of Dylan's 80s albums. Too Late is a profoundly brilliant song - so full of ideas and clearly communicated. It's also delivered in a much more subtle, less clunky band performance than Foot Of Pride, the song it eventually became.
Bola Sete - Samba In Seattle: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Tompkins Square)
This captures three nights of the excellent Brazilian guitarist and his trio. The playing is often daring and exhilarating.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (Columbia)
A great live album, of course, but the real value here is in the accompanying film. It is remarkable how little live video there is of the E Street Band, particularly as it is in the world of live performance that Springsteen's lasting reputation is surely most clearly cemented. The intensity of the E Street Band at their peak is extraordinary. There will no doubt be fan complaints that this is a composite, rather than a complete set of both performances, but as a way of introducing curious listeners and viewers to the illustrious history of this band, it is ideal.
Bush Tetras - Rhythm & Paranoia: The Best of Bush Tetras (Wharf Cat)
Mobilising wiry punk-funk.
Calvin Keys - Shawn-Neeq (Black Jazz)
Urgent, propulsive jazz fusion - 1971 debut as a leader from the guitarist.
Can - Live In Stuttgart 1975 / Live In Brighton 1975 (Spoon Records/Mute Artists)
The opening up of the Can live archive has been most welcome.
Carroll Thompson - Hopelessly In Love 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition (Trojan)
Enticing, rapturous Lovers Rock.
Castlemusic - Live At The Music Gallery (Idee Fixe)
Excellent early live performance from Jennifer Castle.
Come - Don't Ask Don't Tell Expanded Edition (Fire)
Crisp sounding remaster of intense and raw rock record - with bonus disc of extras.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja Vu 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
The best recorded release from CSNY expanded to include all manner of extras - highlights include an early demo version of Neil Young's Birds.
David Bowie - Brilliant Adventure 1992-2001 (PLG UK Catalog)
A very welcome compendium of generally neglected later Bowie, including the previously held back Toy set of interpretations. Also a timely reminder of the wide-ranging imagination of 1. Outside particularly.
Dinosaur Jr. - Emptiness At The Sinclair (Jagjaguwar)
Blistering live set from one of the greatest (and loudest) guitar bands.
Don Cherry - The Summer House Sessions (Blank Forms Editions)
1968 sessions in Sweden featuring Cherry with a group of Swedish musicians alongside Turkish percussionist Bulent Ates and the New York Total Music Company group. Intuitive and ebullient music making.
1972 debut performance from Organic Music Theatre.
Donald Fagen - The Nightly: Live (UMC)
Fagen's first and best solo album reconstructed lovingly in full at The Beacon Theatre. It's still a shame that his 'solo' focus tours have not reached the UK.
Eboni Band - Eboni Band (We Are Busy Bodies)
Great, celebratory EP of West African soul music. Features some Motown session players and Fred Wesley alongside musicians associated with Eboni Records in 1970s Ivory Coast. Effortless groove.
Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles / Porcupine / Heaven Up Here / Ocean Rain (Rhino)
Vinyl reissues of the Bunnymen golden period, up to the point where hubris set in.
ÉVÉ - Canto Aberto (Komos)
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary (Beatles Solo/Universal)
Not sure how many times this needs to be reissued, or whether you really need the deluxe version - but it remains one of the towering achievements of a solo Beatle, with or without the Phil Spector contribution. If you're interested in the genesis of the album, the various takes and demos are worth the time investment at least.
Gideon Nxumalo - Gideon Plays (Matsuli Music)
The South African pianist and composer's great lost album, previously a collector's prize.
Goldie - Timeless (25 Year Anniversary) (London)
A belated anniversary celebration of this great piece of modern soul music, now expanded to three discs with various remixes and bonus tracks.
Hailu Mergia & The Walias - Tezeta (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
Rediscovered 1975 album from the Ethiopian group, featuring a mix of standards and then-popular compositions.
Harari - Rufaro (Happiness) (Matsuli Music)
Great Afro-rock set from the South African group (see also the entry for The Beaters, as they were previously known).
Henry Franklin - The Skipper (Black Jazz/Real Gone Music)
Henry Franklin - The Skipper At Home (Black Jazz/Real Gone Music)
Intense, swashbuckling 1972 and 1974 albums from the bassist. The whole of the reissued Black Jazz catalogue is really worth exploring.
Hiroshi Suzuki - Cat (We Release Jazz)
Sublime 1976 Japanese jazz-funk fusion.
His Name Is Alive - A Silver Thread: Home Recordings 1979 - 1990 (Disciples)
Collating eleven years of home recordings, previously released across three individual releases last year, and adding a bonus fourth disc.
Ian Carr - Belladonna (Mr. Bongo)
Ian Carr Double Quintet - Solar Session (Jazz In Britain)
Ian Carr's Nucleus - Roots (Be With)
It's been a good year to improve an Ian Carr collection - with new vinyl reissues from Mr. Bongo and Be With and a previously unreleased session from Matt Parker's excellent Jazz In Britain label.
Iron & Wine - Archive Series Vol. 5: Tallahassee Recordings (Sub Pop)
This superb series featuring previously unreleased recordings from one of the great contemporary songwriters here focuses on some rough and rustic early works.
J Dilla - Welcome 2 Detroit 20th Anniversary Edition (Bbe Music)
The debut, producer-driven album from the then Slum Village rapper, with abundant influence from West African and Brazilian music.
Jackie Leven - Straight Outta Caledonia (School Daze)
Excellent, if slightly short, primer for this still underrated singer-songwriter.
Jaimie Branch - Fly Or Die Live (International Anthem)
Incandescent live set from Zurich in January 2020.
Vinyl reissue from the pioneering 80s band.
Jeanne Lee - Conspiracy (Moved By Sound)
The great improvising vocalist is probably known best for her duo work with Ran Blake, but this is an excellent, consistently surprising ensemble record.
Joan Shelley - Ginko (No Quarter)
Debut album from the sublime, beautifully clear singer-songwriter, on vinyl for the first time.
Joe Harriott - Free Form & Abstract Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)
We don't talk enough about Joe Harriott.
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Live In Seattle (Impulse!)
Something of a holy grail.
Joni Mitchell - The Reprise Albums 1968 - 1971 (Rhino)
A valuable record of Mitchell's ongoing artistic development at the time, concluding with her first masterpiece 'Blue'. What came after this is arguably her greatest period, however.
Joseph Spence - Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing (Smithsonian Folkways)
1965 archival recordings from the great Bahamanian guitar player.
Julius Hemphill - The Boye Multi-National Crusade For Harmony (Anthology Of Recorded Music)
One of the true highlights of the year - a really vital collection of Hemphill's work across seven discs. Enough work in itself to soundtrack close listening for the entire year.
Karen Black - Dreaming Of You 1971-1976 (Anthology Recordings)
Maybe more familiar to many from her work as an actor (in a number of Robert Altman's films particularly), Karen Black was also a fine singer and songwriter, as this compilation attests.
Keith Hudson - Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood (VP)
The reggae producer and singer's foundational fourth album from 1974 - reissued on CD and vinyl and now available to stream for the first time.
Khan Jamal - Infinity (Jazz Room)
Tremendous 1984 album from the vibraphone player, also featuring free improvising drumming legend Sunny Murray.
Laura Nyro - American Dreamer (Madfish)
Great box set of one of the most crucial recorded artist catalogues - from the bold and vibrant arrangements of Nyro's early pop material to the overwhelming intensity of New York Tendaberry and beyond.
Lee Morgan - The Complete Live At The Lighthouse (Blue Note/Capitol)
8 discs of Morgan's July 1970 performances.
Leo Nocentelli - Another Side (Light In The Attic)
The Meters guitarist's excellent lost solo work with a Bill Withers-esque vibe.
Les Filles De Ilighadad - At Pioneer Works (Sahel Sounds)
Tremendous recording across two live shows in New York during 2019.
Leslie Winer - When I Hit You - You'll Feel It (Light In The Attic)
A wide-ranging compendium from across this musician, poet and author's career.
Lewis Taylor - Lewis Taylor (Be With)
Vinyl reissue of the excellent, lush R&B album.
Another vinyl reissue - and a great reminder of this band's brilliant combination of 60s pop influences with more contemporary 90s alternative production values.
Linda Smith - Till Another Time 1988-1996 (Captured Tracks)
Brittle, lo-fi pop songs.
Mario Rui Silva - Stories From Another Time 1982-1988 (Time Capsule)
A beautiful collection of music from the 80s work of the Angolan guitarist
Mary Lattimore - Collected Pieces II (Ghostly International)
Compendium of new, previously released singles and previously unreleased work from the composer and harpist - haunting, beautiful and moving music.
Mike Gibbs - Revisiting Tanglewood 63: The Early Tapes (Jazz In Britain)
A prototype take on one of the key works in the catalogue of this excellent and underrated musician.
Mike Taylor - Trio, Quartet and Composer Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)
Includes compositions for Cream.
Miriam Makeba - Keep Me In Mind (Strut)
Makeba's final album for Reprise includes a stellar version of For What It's Worth among many other great songs.
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything / EPs 1988 - 1991 / Loveless / m b v (Domino)
Domino not only reissued this most influential of catalogues on vinyl, but also brought it to streaming services. This provided a great and convenient opportunity to revisit this still striking and confounding music. It's hard to believe the m b v album is already eight years old!
Nancy Sinatra - Boots (Light In The Attic)
Nancy Sinatra - Start Walkin' 1965-1976 (Light In The Attic)
One of Sinatra's key albums and a satisfying compilation.
Natural Information Society and Evan Parker - Descension (Out Of Our Constrictions) (Eremite)
Very fruitful collaboration live at Cafe Oto between Joshua Abrams' group and the legendary free improviser.
Neil Ardley - Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows: Live 1975 (Jazz In Britain)
Live performances of Ardley's most important work as a composer from the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1975.
Neil Young - Young Shakespeare (Reprise)
Neil Young - Carnegie Hall 1970 (Reprise)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Way Down In The Rust Bucket (Reprise)
Just the four Neil Young releases this year, then, including a new album with Crazy Horse and these two acoustic sets. The highlight of them all, however, must be Way Down In The Rust Bucket, which could well be the finest live recording of Young with Crazy Horse that is legitimately available. It's absolute dynamite. Also a reminder that Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze is fantastic.
New Age Steppers - Avant Gardening (On U Sound)
An On U Sound reggae gem.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - B Sides & Rarities: Part II (BMG)
Long awaited second instalment of the deep cuts compilation.
Nick Lowe - The Convincer 20th Anniversary (Yep Roc)
Nick Lowe's Brentford Trilogy of albums is one of the great examples of a tremendous mature period in a singer-songwriter's catalogue. The Convincer may actually be my favourite of the three, its smoky country soul arrangements work perfectly for Lowe's wry delivery. Lowe's original songs sound like standards. Bonus tracks include an excellent Chi-Lites cover.
Nico - Drama Of Exile (Modern Harmonic)
A rare rock album from Nico - considerably less abrasive and confrontational than her most notorious work, but still with a sense of mechanistic doom. A close cousin of The Walker Brothers' Nite Flights, perhaps. Includes robotic takes on Waiting For The Man and Heroes.
Nirvana - Nevermind 30th Anniversary Edition (UMC)
Repackaged for the umpteenth time with a bonanza of live recordings.
Bremen live recording from the great supergroup.
Oren Ambarchi - Live Hubris (Black Truffle)
Captured over three dates at London's Cafe Oto - a superb, entrancing live album with numerous collaborators.
Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir - I Shall Wear A Crown (Numero)
An incredible, largely euphoric box set of the preacher and civil rights activist's gospel recordings.
Pelt - Reticence Resistance (Three Lobed)
Typically explorative and thoughtful live performance over two nights in 2016 at London's Cafe Oto.
Phuong Tam - Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul 1964-1966 (Sublime Frequencies)
One of the first singers to perform rock and roll in Vietnam.
PJ Harvey - Is This Desire / Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea / White Chalk / Uh Huh Her (UMG)
Continuing the excellent reissue campaign, with accompanying collections of demos for each album.
Prince - Welcome 2 America (NPG/Sony)
Long awaited lost album turns out to be just fine - not top tier Prince but with plenty to enjoy.
Two albums I still have something of an ambivalent relationship with, but which definitely work best when combined.
R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi Fi (Warner Bros)
One of R.E.M.'s finest, this on the road document is the band at their most unmediated and powerful. The extras (covers and live recordings) are of limited value unfortunately, although the alternate version of Leave is intriguing and a signpost to where they would go after Bill Berry's departure.
Roots - Roots (Frederiksberg Records)
Lovely 1975 debut album from the South African jazz ensemble.
Roy Brooks - Understanding (Reel To Reel/La Reserve)
Superb live set from the drummer-bandleader with a quintet also featuring Woody Shaw, Carlos Garnett, Harold Mabern and Cecil McBee.
Comprehensive anthology reviving out of print albums and EPs. One of the Warp acts to have got away somewhat.
Sly & The Viscaynes - Yellow Moon: The Complete Recordings 1961-1962 (Ace)
Early teenage doo wop from the future Sly Stone.
Splinters - Inclusivity (Jazz In Britain)
Drawn from Trevor Watts' own tapes - a brilliant ensemble of classic British jazz talent - with Tubby Hayes, Kenny Wheeler, Phil Seamen and and John Stevens on drums (panned left and right), Stan Tracey and Jeff Clyne. Includes the complete 100 Club concert and the Grass Roots concert. Essential.
Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies / Pure Phase / Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space / Let It Come Down (Fat Possum)
If later Spiritualized works have not had much impact for me, this reissue series provided a great opportunity to remember Jason Pierce at his best - when he was as interested in sound as in classic songwriting tropes. The first three albums still sound tremendous and, although the obvious turning point (particularly lyrically), Let It Come Down has some striking moments too.
Spirits Rejoice - African Spaces (Matsuli Music)
A key album in South African jazz, as musicians engaged with trends in jazz rock and fusion.
Star Lovers - Boafo Ne Nyama (Hot Casa)
Great Ghanaian high-life.
Steely Dan - Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live (Nightfly Productions/UMG)
A crackling and predictably meticulous live recordings compilation. The tracklist deviates quite substantially from recent Dan performances in the UK - Rikki, Glamour Profession, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Things I Missed The Most, A Man Ain't Supposed To Cry all appear here.
Stereolab - Electrically Possessed: Switched On Vol 4 (Duophonic)
An excellent fourth volume of Stereolab rarities, soundtrack commissions etc.
Squarepusher - Feed Me Weird Things (Warp)
Welcome remaster for one of Tom Jenkinson's best.
Perhaps the most accessible Ra - not necessarily my favourite, but still an important part of a vast catalogue. Expanded with an alternate mix.
Supergrass - In It For The Money (The Echo Label/BMG)
Still one of the highlights of the Britpop era. Expanded with demos, B sides, alternate versions and a live set. Richard III still hits hard and Cheapskate is one of the best should-have-been-singles of the 90s.
Susanna & David Wallumrød - Live (SusannaSonata)
Typically glacial covers set recorded live in 2019.
The Band - Stage Fright / Cahoots Anniversary Editions (Capitol/UMG)
Continuation of the expanded reissues programme. Stage Fright is immensely enjoyable, Cahoots a little more scattershot. Both come with fantastic live recordings.
The Beach Boys - Feel Flows: The Sunflower and Surf's Up Sessions 1969-1971 (Brother/Capitol)
A treasure trove of material from one of my favourite periods of Beach Boys history. Includes both albums, live material, a variety of mixes highlighting different aspects of the creative process.
The Beaters - Harari (Matsuli Music)
Another excellent 1975 recording from South Africa. The Beaters would go on to adopt the album title as their band name.
The Beatles - Let It Be Super Deluxe (Apple Corps)
Yes. Again. But valuable listening alongside Peter Jackson's Get Back documentary.
The KLF / Justified Ancients Of MuMu - Solid State Logik 1 / Come Down Dawn / Solid State Logik 2 / The White Room 1989 Director's Cut (KLF Communications)
Revised versions of the KLF catalogue (presumably to only contain authorised samples) so that they can make their streaming debut.
The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
Yet another reissue of The Replacements' brash and uninhibited debut, now across four discs with demos, alternate versions and a complete 1981 live set.
The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You Super Deluxe (Polydor)
Not sure anyone would argue that Tattoo You represents The Stones at their very best, but it's mostly a lot of fun, certainly has its moments (not least Start Me Up), and some of the bonus tracks here are surprisingly strong too.
The The - The Comeback Special (Absolute)
One of the year's most welcome releases - The The's brilliant return to the live stage (at London's Royal Albert Hall) captured in various formats including a Blu Ray edition.
Tori Amos - Under The Pink (Rhino)
Comfortably my favourite Tori Amos album, now reissued on vinyl.
Trashcan Sinatras - I've Seen Everything (Last Night From Glasgow)
Reissue of 1993 second album from the very endearing Scottish indie rock band.
Ultramarine - Folk (Foam On A Wave)
Vinyl reissue of gently burbling, uncategorisable combination of acoustic and electronic instrumentation.
Various Artists - Back Up: Mexican Tecno Pop 1980-1989 (Dark Entries)
A reminder that musical trends travel everywhere - and we tend to prioritise some contributions over others.
Various Artists - Belong To The Wind (Foraged Sounds)
Brilliant collection of obscure psychedelic folk, soft rock and soul 45s from the 1970s.
Various Artists - Bugunda Royal Music Revival (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
A fascinating project documenting the Buganda music tradition by collecting older recordings from the 1940s-1960s alongside more recent recordings.
Various Artists - Cameroon Garage Funk (Analog Africa)
Reliably focused and enjoyable compilation from Analog Africa.
Various Artists - Choctaw Ridge: New Fables of the American South 1968-1973 (Ace)
A typically superb, judiciously selected and well annotated compilation from Bob Stanley. CD only, but an enterprising person has made a Spotify playlist.
Various Artists - Country Funk III (Light In The Attic)
Third instalment in Light In The Attic's outstanding series.
Outrageous Armenian disco pop compilation.
Various Artists - Edo Funk Explosion Vol. 1(Analog Africa)
Funk and high life hybrid that emerged from Benin City.
Various Artists - Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House (Analog Africa)
Excellent compilation in honour of producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie's 90th birthday.
Various Artists - Everybody Makes A Mistake: Stax Southern Soul Vol. 2 (Craft Recordings)
A fantastic selection of emotional Stax deep cuts.
Various Artists - Fire Over Babylon: Dread, Peace and Conscious Sounds at Studio One (Soul Jazz)
Another essential set of Studio One reggae gems from Soul Jazz.
Various Artists - Habibi Funk 015: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
A personal selection from the great Habibi Funk label of less well known artists.
The vinyl at Bandcamp has now sold out but this intriguing, atmospheric collection is fortunately also available to stream.
Various Artists - Journeys In Modern Jazz: Britain (Decca)
Super primer - it is so good to see the rich history of British jazz being celebrated again. Includes Kenny Wheeler, Don Rednell, Neil Ardley, Mike Westbrook and Michael Garrick.
Various Artists - La Ola Interior: Spanish Ambient & Acid Exoticism (Bongo Joe)
Sequel to La Contra Ola - this compilation explores ambient Spanish electronic music.
Various Artists - Naya Beat Vol. 1: South Asian Dance and Electronic Music 1983-1992 (Naya Beat)
One of many excellent compilations focusing on 80s and 90s dance music from various parts of the world - this one focuses on South Asia.
Various Artists - One Night In Pelican: Afro Modern Dreams 1974-1977 (Matsuli Music)
Compilation celebrating the music associated with Soweto's first nightclub.
Various Artists - Psychedelic Soul - Produced By Norman Whitfield (Kent)
An excellent compilation celebrating the super producer's innovative contribution to soul music - including some obvious but necessary tracks alongside less well known sides.
Various Artists - Ritmo Fantasia: Balearic Spanish Synth Pop, Boogie & House 1982-1992 (Soundway)
Collection of Spanish underground electronic music.
Various Artists - Satisfaction Guaranteed - Sound Of Philadelphia Vol. 2 (United Soul)
Vinyl box set of complete Philadelphia International albums (celebrating the 50th anniversary) - includes Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Three Degrees and The O'Jays' essential classic Ship Ahoy. Part of an ongoing project to reissue and collect the complete Philadelphia International studio albums.
Various Artists - Saturday Night: South African Disco Pop Hits 1981 - 1987 (Cultures Of Soul)
It's not only the jazz from South Africa that has been available for rediscovery in 2021 - also this hugely enjoyable set of groove based pop music.
Various Artists - She Wants You! Pye Records' Feminine Side 1964-1970 (Ace)
Resplendent, opulent 1960s girl pop.
Another great instalment in Light In The Attic's essential Japan series.
Various Artists - The Paths Of Pain: The CAIFE Label, Quito 1960-68 (Honest Jon's)
One of the best compilations of the year.
Various Artists - Tokyo Glow: Japanese City Pop, Funk & Boogie Selected by DJ Notoya (Wewantsounds)
Great compilation of Japanese pop and fusion.
Various Artists - You Gave Me Reason To Live: Southern and Deep Soul From Louisiana (Kent)
This works as a great companion to the Stax Southern Soul compilation. The tradition of Dave Godin's compilations lives on.
Walter Bishop Jr. - Keeper Of My Soul / Coral Keys (Black Jazz)
More stirring selections from the Black Jazz catalogue.
Whipping Boy - Heartworm (Sony)
Expanded reissue of intense and underrated 90s rock album.
Willie Dunn - Creation Never Sleeps (Light In The Attic)
One of the best rediscoveries of the year.
Yello - Yello 40 Years (Datasound/Universal Music)
Compelling career overview from the perennially quirky and innovative electronic duo. Includes fourth disc of remixes.