Cherry Pop Vinyl & CDs

Review: Hardcore UK hip-hop heads may disagree, but there's a strong argument to say that Cookie Crew were Britain's first wildly successful rap group - even if they were initially more associated with hip-house. The South London four-piece's short but impactful career gets the retrospective treatment on this excellent four-CD set. Disc one offers an expanded edition of 1989 debut album Born This Way, an energetic collection of ear-catching party rockers, while disc two boasts 1991 follow-up Fade To Black, a big budget affair featuring guest production by DJ Premier, Black Sheep and Guru (amongst others), which was clearly informed by saucer-eyed house culture and New Jack Swing. Throw in two discs of remixes from the period, including some genuinely overlooked rarities, and you have a fine career retrospective.

Review: Kim Wilde's Now & Forever (here presented as an expanded Deluxe Edition) is a nostalgic journey through the pop icon's career. This release features timeless hits like 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' and the iconic 'Kids in America' alongside some rather more rare tracks and remixes that showcase Wilde's evolution as an artist. The album's expanded edition offers fans a deeper dive into her musical repertoire with bonus content that enhances the whole experience. As ever, Wilde's distinctive vocals and energetic performances shine throughout and reaffirm her status as a pop pioneer.