New releases last two weeks: All genres

Review: To mark its 30th anniversary, Take That's iconic 1995 album Nobody Else gets the deluxe treatment with its first-ever vinyl release. Packed with beloved pop-hits of the era like 'Sure,' 'Back for Good' and 'Never Forget,' this reissue brings new life to a classic 90s gem by including exclusive extras such as the rare Japanese bonus track 'All That Matters to Me,' electrifying live recordings from the 1995 Nobody Else Tour, and a brand-new remix of 'Hanging Onto Your Love' by Howard Donald, who later went on to DJ in his own right. It makes for a nostalgic yet updated celebration of a defining era in British pop.

Notes: Affordable entry-level handheld recorder from one of the most reliable brands in the game. Simple, straightforward two-channel design with built-in microphones for stereo recording and USB audio interface.

Supplier's notes:
DR-07XP

2-Channel 32-Bit Float Handheld Recorder With USB-C Interface and Adjustable Mics

Pro-Quality Portable Recording, Simplified

The TASCAM DR-07XP portable handheld recorder makes it easy to capture pro-quality recordings for music, audio-for-video, meetings, dictation, and more. With 32-bit float recording mode, you'll never need to worry about setting audio levels, and adjustable stereo condenser microphones give you full control over your sound. With easy one-handed operation, the DR-07XP makes it simple to start recording with minimal setup time.

Capture Pro-Level Recordings Every Time

With its 32-bit float recording mode, the DR-07XP ensures your audio recordings will always be clear, distinct, and free of distortion that could ruin your recording - and you'll never need to worry about setting input levels.

Adjustable Stereo Condenser Microphones

The DR-07XP features unidirectional stereo condenser microphones with adjustable A/B or X/Y configurations, allowing you to capture incredibly vivid stereo recordings in any setting.

Simplicity in Your Palm

With the DR-07XP, the complexities of audio recording are a thing of the past. Easily access every feature from the palm of your hand. Plus, the backlit LCD screen means no squinting; just clear and concise navigation any time of day, in any environment.

Your Portable Recording Studio

The DR-07XP isn't only a powerful portable recorder - it's also a 2-in/2-out USB-C audio interface you can use to record anywhere, directly to audio recording software on your Mac or PC.

Ideal for Musicians

The DR-07XP is a fantastic portable recording solution for musicians with its high-quality microphones, 32-bit float recording, built-in tuner, reverb, overdubbing and more.

On Location

With its compact size, the DR-07XP can travel anywhere for exceptional field recording. Choose from three different low cut filter options for getting rid of unwanted noises. As a companion for video, the DR-07XP can attach easily to tripods and the Auto Tone output for cameras makes post-production a simple task.

Record Anything, Anywhere

From dialogue to vlogs, whether you're in an alley or a recording booth, the DR-07XP captures clear, crisp audio with ease. In addition to the built-in mics, use the stereo mini jack to add microphones with plug-in power or external line inputs to capture audio from any source in mono or stereo. Connect the unit to a computer via USB-C for use as a USB microphone.

Features

2-channel portable handheld audio recorder with microSDXC card storage
32-bit float recording mode ensures low-noise, distortion-free recordings
Stereo AB/XY condenser microphones handle loud environments and sources (up to 125dB SPL)
2-in/2-out USB-C audio interface for recording directly to your computer
Up to 17.5 hours operation with 2 x AA alkaline batteries
Recording modes include 32-bit float/24-bit/16-bit, 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz
microSDXC (up to 512GB) cards can be used as recording media
USB Type-C port
Stereo mini jack for external stereo microphones (provides plug-in power) / External line input
Support multiple menu languages (ENG/FRA/DEU/ITA/ESP/RUS/PRT/JPN/CHI/KOR)
Long recordings as MP3 files possible
Various recording function (Auto rec, Self timer, Pre rec)
Overdubbing function
Limiter and Peak reduction
Three low-cut filter levels (40/80/120Hz)
Auto Tone output for use with DSLR camera
Reverb effect for vocal and instrument resonance
Mark function
128×64 pixel graphic LCD with backlight
Tripod mounting point attaches to any standard tripod
Stereo mini line output and headphone output
Speed change (VSA) function for adjusting the speed from 0.5 to 2.0 times (in 0.1 increments)
Playlist function
Built-in monaural speaker makes it easy to check your recordings
Chromatic tuner for tuning musical instruments before recording

* WS-11 Windscreen sold separately
* SD card not included



Recorder specifications

Recording media/file systems: microSD cards, microSDHC cards, microSDXC cards (up to 512 GB)
Recording/playback formats

WAV (BWF)
Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz
Quantization bit depth: 16-bit / 24-bit / 32-bit float

MP3
Sampling frequency: 32 / 64 / 96 / 128 / 192 / 256 / 320 kbps
Quantization bit depth: 24-bit / 32-bit float
Maximum number of input channels: 2
Maximum number of recordable tracks: 2

Analogue audio input/output ratings
MIC/EXT IN jack (can provide plug-in power)

Connector: 3.5mm (1/8") stereo mini jack

Input Impedance: 18 kO or more (when plug-in power is turned off)
2 kO or more (when plug-in power is turned on)
Nominal input level: - 20 dBV
Maximum input level : -4 dBV
PHONES/LINE OUT jack

Connector: 3.5mm (1/8") stereo mini jack
Output impedance: 12 O
Nominal output level : - 14 dBV (10kO loaded)
Maximum output level: +2 dBV (10kO loaded)
Maximum output: 20 mW + 20 mW (32 ? load)
Working impedance: 16 - 250O

Built-in Speaker

Output: 0.3W (monaural)

USB
Connector: USB Type-C
Format:USB 2.0 High Speed Mass Storage Class
USB 1.1 Full Speed Audio Class

USB Audio

Sampling rate : 44.1 / 48 kHz
Quantization bit depth: 24-bit
Number of inputs: 2 channels (output from this unit)
Number of outputs: 2 channels (input to this unit)

General

Power 2AA batteries (alkaline or NiMH)
USB bus power (5V/0.5A) from a computer, etc.
TASCAM PS-P520U AC adapter (sold separately)
Power consumption: 1.7 W (maximum)

Weight: 184 g / 0.406 lb (including batteries)
136 g / 0.30 lb (not including batteries)
Operating temperature range: 0 - 40 -C / 32 - 104 -F

Dimensions
Mic closed: 68 x 159.6 x 27.0 mm
2.68 x 6.28 x 1.06 inch
Mic opened: 90.3 x 159.6 x 27.0 mm
3.56 x 6.28 x 1.06 inch

Included items:
DR-07XP x1
Safety guide (including warranty) x1
TASCAM ID registration guide x1
*Note:0 dBV=1 Vrms, 0 dBu=0.775 Vrms

Review: Signed to blues rock master Joe Bonamassa's Journeyman Records, Joanne Shaw Taylor is one of the UK's foremost blues players and has delivered a transcendent tenth studio album. The Black Country singer and guitarist lets the natural twang of a Fender Telecaster ring brightly through the stomping blues classic 'What Are You Gonna Do Now?' and she matches her virtuoso playing with a commanding vocal take that puts her up there with the greats. 'Look What I've Become' sees her bare herAsoul to stunning effect as she lets rip with one of her best solos. Elsewhere, 'Summer Love' is a husky take on Americana with a more languid, feel-good vibe that reflects her ability to express almost any feeling through music. Clearly, Joanne Shaw Taylor has developed, since her 2009 debut, into a hugely accomplished member of the blues and Americana community, who doesn't just pay homage to her influences, but splices them into something new and her own.

Review: Vintage Pleasure Boutique is bringing back a Eurobeat classic in Kim Taylor's iconic 'Say You'll Be Mine,' which was originally produced by Rob Van Eijk in 1987. This high-energy banger helped shape the Euro disco sound and became a cult anthem in LGBTQ+ club scenes across the US of A as well as in Japan. Everlasting version feature here from radio mixes to instrumentals, while remixes by Electro Potato, Chris Van Buren, A.P. Mono and Albiero alongside a rare 1988 remix all make this a vital 12" for fans of camp and colourful disco.

Review: It's always nice to hear new music from Towa Tei, who will forever be revered for his work with 90s dance fusionists Deee-Lite. His 13th studio album shows he's lost none of his adventurous spirit, with quirky melodies, chopped samples, and imaginative collaborations galore. AH!! is testament to Tei's knack for assembling unexpected parts into something stylish and, well, just a little wackadoodle. With contributions from the likes of Takkyu Ishino, Verbal, Yukihiro Takahashi and Haruomi Hosono, AH!! plays like a mixtape from an alternate pop universe. Over 30 years since he and his bandmates tore the roof off the dance underground, AH!! lands as a marker of Towa Tei's staying power and serves as the final part of a loose trilogy that began with EMO and LP. A milestone release, then, from a shape-shifting producer who's always been more interested in what's next than what's expected.

Notes: OpticShifter is a 20-Stage optical Phaser with flexible feedback and pole selection. Drawing inspiration from classic 70's era phase shifters, it combines vintage charm with modern versatility. Whether you're aiming for subtle movement or dramatic swooshing and whooshing, from phasing to vibing, OpticShifter creates an immersive Phase Shifting experience.

Notes: The OpticTone MK2 is an improved revision of our original module, combining a 12dB multi-mode Vactrol VCF and a Vactrol VCA. This unique circuit is inspired by the distinct characteristics of Vactrols and Lowpass gates, celebrated for their fluid and natural character.

Notes: RipWave is a compact 6HP analog VCO designed for rich sonic exploration in a small footprint. At the heart of its design is the Transform knob: a unique, voltage-controllable parameter that shapes the character of each waveform. It offers a wide range of timbral variation, from saturation to wavefolding, harmonic morphing, and pulse width modulation, all in a single control.

On the Sine output, the Transform knob applies a tanh() saturation circuit, gradually shaping the waveform from a pure tone into a warmer, slightly overdriven version. As you turn the knob, the wave is smoothly compressed and harmonics are introduced, adding character without harsh clipping.

For the Triangle wave, turning the Transform knob folds the waveform through a transistor wavefolder, shaping the timbre of the signal by adding harmonic complexity. An additional soft clipping diode saturation stage keeps the amplitude in check, taming peaks while introducing additional character.

In the case of the saw output, the waveform is generated by combining two complementary signals: one waveform containing only odd harmonics, the other only even harmonics. The Transform knob controls the balance between them. At the center position, both are equally summed to produce a Sawtooth wave. Turning the knob blends between the two, letting you isolate odd or even harmonics and shape the timbre across a wide range of harmonic textures.

The Transform knob performs a more traditional role with the Pulse wave, acting as a pulse width control. At the center position, it produces a classic Square wave with a 50% duty cycle. Turning the knob shifts the duty cycle toward narrower or wider pulses, delivering the familiar pulse width modulation sound.

An octave switch provides quick transposition and includes an LFO mode for low-frequency modulation duties, allowing RipWave's uniquely shaped waveforms to be used as modulation sources. RipWave also features both sync and linear FM inputs. The sync input allows the oscillator to be reset by an external signal, creating harmonically rich or rhythmically locked results depending on the source. A rear-panel jumper lets you select between hard and soft sync modes to suit different patching contexts.

The linear FM input offers a wide modulation range, from subtle pitch modulation and vibrato to deeper, more complex timbral shifts depending on modulation depth.

Though initially designed as a companion for VastWave, RipWave has developed a strong identity of its own. It performs equally well as a standalone oscillator in a compact system or alongside its larger sibling. Whether used for Lead voices, complex layering, or modulation, it delivers a wide range of shaping options. From warm tones to ripping textures, RipWave pushes all waveforms into harmonically rich territory, making every output well suited for East Coast - style subtractive synthesis as well as West Coast - style waveshaping systems.

Review: Nicola Conte and Nico Lahs, both Bari-born producers pushing the boundaries of underground Afro-Latin and jazzdance, hear the warmest of intros through their friends over at Schema Italy, their sound pivoting a careful Newtonian balance between presence and nostalgia. The roomy but distant highs of 'Macumba De Oxala' contrast strongly yet subtly to the hifi plinks and percs of 'La Danse De L'Esprit', on the latter of which we hear visiting production fellow Oaklandian Lalin St Juste add an ancestral vocal magic. This first EP is only a start, with a second 12" and a resultant double LP planned.

Review: With his third EP and second for this label, Seattle-based South American Martin Selasco's project continues to carve out a distinct space in the Balearic downtempo universe, radiating a sun-baked, cross-cultural charm that is worldly and intimate. Side-A opens with 'La Pantera', a smoky instrumental driven by a dubby pulse and layered Latin percussion, the track's hazy atmosphere and subtle melodic touches hinting at everything from tropical lounge to low-slung sound system culture. 'Descalzo' is more of a downtempo cumbia laced gem with light funk and breezy French-Island textures. The rhythm sways with a casual elegance, evoking barefoot dances at golden hour and lazy days under a beachside canopy. Effortlessly blending influences, this EP feels like a postcard from an imagined coastline that somewhere between Colombia, Guadeloupe and the Balearics.

Notes: In the mid-nineties, documentarian Peter Spirer embarked on a three-year odyssey to offer a realistic view of Hip-Hop and the people and culture it encompassed, interviewing over 80 artists involved in the art form. Spirer managed to capture a seminal moment as the culture balanced on the cusp of the mainstream. As Ice-T comments in his foreword to the book, 'Rhyme & Reason is one of the few films that was there to document us before Hip-Hop truly exploded.' While filming, Spirer took accompanying stills using a medium format Rolleiflex camera. It is these photographs that form The Book Of Rhyme & Reason. 'The Rollei allowed me to capture some amazing moments: Puffy getting a trim in his office while doing three tasks at once, Biggie opening record plaques on his couch, Ice-T and Mack 10 hanging with their homies, Heavy D at the barber, playing pool. There was the Jack The Rapper convention with Death Row making a statement, at a Disney World Hotel, that ended in chaos. There were magical moments such as Redman and Erick Sermon freestyling on the mic to amazed onlookers at a block party in Newark and watching Wu-Tang Clan chop it up on the block in Staten Island on a cold winter's day before they exploded.'

This coffee table volume features over 130 of Spirer's photographs from 1994 to 1997. As Hip-Hop commemorates its fiftieth anniversary in 2023, it is particularly fitting that many of these images from this formative period are being seen and published for the first time.

Hardback Book, 224 pages with over 300 illustrations
275mm x 230mm x 25mm
Weight: 1.5kg

Review: Back in 2018, artist Omar "El Oms" Juarez introduced the world to Marie and Necalli, then known as Thee Lakesiders. Sensing something special, he linked them with Big Crown's Leon Michels and The Shacks and together, they recorded 'Parachute,' a soulful gem that became a cult classic and sparked a new wave of modern soul. The original 7" sold nearly 10,000 copies and its music video racked up over 15 million views. To celebrate its seven-year anniversary, the label has now assembled this special edition of 'Parachute' and its instrumental version on transparent green vinyl, complete with El Oms' artwork and guaranteed no represses. Once they're gone, they're gone.

Review: Some cynics say there's no romance *without* finance, but the one hit wondrous German funk and soulers Thirty Two Soul Band begged to differ. A formerly unreleased lowrider soul beauty from 1975, 'Finance Or Romance' was shelved for nearly half a century, but now it finally steps out of the vault and chooses love. Woozy horns collide with a plaintive groove that could've easily lit up any Eastside cruise: "what's it gonna be, what's it gonna be?". On the flip, 'Body Wave' also resurfaces for the first time since its scarce 7" run, a sultry midtempo cut, dusty fidelity intact.

Review: Martyn Hodgson (Tijn) and Daines (real name not known) have been mutually favourite collaborators within the experimental minimal techno scene in London since at least 2019, when the pair first crossed streams for Moss Co's eleventh for the 'Archway' EP, dedicated to the unmistakable North London district. Then came 'Aesthetic', a black vinyl interloper with revolutionary undertones, and now finally in 2025 comes 'CVS 008' for Curtea Veche, the voltage controlled UK outfit named after a Wallachian-Romanian palace built in Dracula's time (yes, that Dracula). On 'So Mad At You' and 'Excuse Me', we hear dreamy and fog-filled orbs of sound float before our ears, emitting juts of twiglike percussion and sheet metal gong sounds, worked around studious oneiric beats and swirling, timestretched vowel sounds.

Review: Electric Ballroom proudly introduces Tommahawk, a rising force from Germany's next generation of peak-progressive house producers. 'Unfolding' lends a heart-in-mouth pre-drop choir motif to an antecedent stab centrepiece, whose vestiges linger long after the refrain tapers off. Label head Thomas Schumacher remixes the track in airier and floatier tones, meanwhile, creating an abiding minimal progressive ballast to contrast the A-side's intense eschatology.

Review: After declaring his retirement in 1996 with Gettin' It, it turned out that Too $hort couldn't really stay away from the game. In 1999, he returned with Can't Stay Away, his 11th studio album and one recorded in Atlanta with Southern influences folded into his signature West Coast Bay Area sound. Produced by Jazze Pha, Jermaine Dupri and Erick Sermon and with features from 8Ball & MJG, Scarface, E-40 and others, it's another example of Too $hort's versatility. It also introduces his Nation Riders, a collective of up-and-coming rappers signed to his new label, in a record full of pimp tales and classic $hort storytelling.

Review: Ali brings together Malian guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Toure with Houston-based trio Khruangbin for pattern-textured tribute to Vieux's father, the legendary Ali Farka Toure. The group chose to reinterpret Ali's music, drawing on a shared sense of space and groove to honour his legacy without embalming it. Recorded in just a week in a barn in Burton, Texas, the sessions came steeped in warmth and mutual respect, with the final tracklist curated by Ali's eleven children. Khruangbin's dusky, reverb-heavy style embed the earthy, cyclical patterns of the recently popularised Malian desert blues, each side subtly reshaping the other sound while drawing parallels between North American and West African takes on the same name. Though long delayed by the pandemic, what has emerged is an unhurried traditional group mind, invoked to tread newer ground in songs erstwhile deemed well-trodden.

Review: Two legendary producers joined production forces in 1999 to create one timeless track that sees the light of day again here. Ron Trent and old friend Chez Damier were co-owners of one of the most important house labels of all time - Prescription Records - and they re-teamed up for this deep house classic for Ron's first full length album Primitive Arts. For the remix package, Atjazz deliveres an extended remix that amplifies the groove while maintaining the soulful depth of the original. Atjazz's signature melodic refinement and rhythmic precision shine through, making this version more uplifting yet hypnoticia lush reinterpretation that still respects its deep-rooted heritage. On Side-B, two more Ron Trent gems receive modern reworks. First up, 'Berlin Night in Paris' (Fred H Remix) transforms the 2017 track from 'Spaces and Places' EP into a chord-driven, tech-house-infused journey. Lastly, 'Cry' (Sourires Remix) delivers an atmospheric deep house experience, rich in space and emotion. Subtle yet powerful, this remix explores introspective tones, balancing melody and groove with a meditative feel. Together, these remixes further reinforce the already vast legacy of Trent and Damier in deep house history.

Review: Russian Tripmastaz is back with more devastatingly effective tech house that's infused with a touch of minimal, dub and garage. The prolific producer really knows how to tap into the dancefloor with his tunes and this one shows that from the off as 'Politics As Usual' sucks you in with a nice deep, loose groove that's lit up with singing leads. A dub mix pairs back some of the synths to allow the cavernous drums to shine and then 'Coffee Smack 4 Dat Azz' gets more raw and direct. 'Scarp' shuts down with physical drums and squiggly acid that bursts out of the speakers.

Review: Aachen Jazz Files is a tribute to NABEL Records, a groundbreaking German jazz label active from 1980 to 1994. This new and essential compilation has been curated by Miche and Rainer Truby and highlights NABEL's unique fusion of acoustic jazz, Brazilian rhythms and avant-garde influences. Featuring gems like Monika Linges Quartet's samba-infused grooves, John Thomas & Lifeforce's cosmic explorations and Maria Joao's expressive vocals, this collection captures Aachen's rich jazz heritage from every angle. Though it was once a hidden gem, NABEL's sound has since travelled worldwide and its sophistication and warmth shine through here from a most distinctive era of jazz.

Review: Back in 2008, Jethro Tull performed a now legendary set at the Basel Festival in Switzerland. Their "powerful and passionate" performance - as the accompanying press release puts it - was previously available on DVD, but this double-CD marks the first time the soundtrack has been made available as an audio release. It naturally stands up to scrutiny, with the effervescent Ian Anderson (switching as ever between vocals and flute) leading the way on a memorable trawl through their epic back catalogue and its notable blends of folk, progressive rock, jazz, hard rock and neo-classical movements. Expect to hear fine versions of 'Aqualung', 'Living In The Past', 'A New Day Yesterday', 'Locomotive Breath' and much more besides.