Decca Vinyl & CDs

Review: You may already know 22-year old Norwegian pop singer Aurora Aksnes for her rendition of Oasis' "Half the World Away" for a John Lewis Christmas advert in 2015, but if not, she's the biggest thing since Robyn. This latest record, following A Different Kind Of Human (Step 1) from last year, presents a third album to date and one that forms the second part of last year's surprise release. Fast-paced, hopeful, dancey and nordically folkal music, (Step 2) sees Aurora deliver something more experimental than before with its themes said to focus on ecological crisis and societal concepts of individualism. Syncopated basslines, staccato vocals and criss-crossing rhythms hit all the right spots in "Apple Tree" while our other pick "In Bottles" combines '90s pop sensationalism with breakbeats made to fit house tempos. Tip!

Review: Jeff Goldblum is a cult movie actor, a famously likeable bloke and also a damn good jazz singer and pianist with many essential works to his name. Now he has released two new singles featuring singer, songwriter and actress Haley Reinhart. Teaming up with his long-time band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, for the occasion, the unlikely but accomplished pair deliver unique covers of Taylor Swift's hit 'Lover' and Loreen's 'Tattoo.' They add completely different musical perspectives to the delightful pop originals and both tunes are sure to appeal to a wide range of music lovers, not just fans of Goldblum.

Review: Decca has seemingly listened to the cries of collectors and diggers everywhere by serving this reissue of two sought-after 7-inch singles from the 1960s Mod era, including their original B-sides intact. This is one of them, 'Tax Man' by Loose Ends, the British Beat quintet formed in 1963 in Bexleyheath in Kent and fronted by Alan Marshall. The band toured alongside acts like The Paramounts (later Procol Harum) and The Birds and this, their second and final single, was released in August 1966 to coincide with The Beatles' original. Featuring an added organ for extra dancefloor appeal, this is a timeless delight that still gets any floor going.

Review: This exclusive Record Store Day Limited Edition of Ennio Morricone's score to The Blue-eyed Bandit has been restored and remastered from the original tapes, preserved in the historical CAM Sugar archives. It is the first time the soundtrack has been released on vinyl since its original release in 1982, and quite possibly the only chance to listen to the genius of Morricone engaging with the world of jazz. He was famously suspicious of jazz improvisation, yet let his musicians be free in this setting, allowing them to add their solos to the original structure. The band featured his friend and collaborator Enrico Pieranunzi on piano, drummer Roberto Gatto and double bassist Riccardo Del Fra.

Review: This is a reissue of the 1962 novelty song by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, which was a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart just before Halloween that year. A parody of horror movie tropes, the song features Pickett's imitation of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, two historic vampiric icons, as well as many more impersonations of various monsters all getting together for a mash . A bastion of the off-beat Hammond-organ-style "cartoon" Halloween music.

Review: Aussie soul man Jordan Rake has a voice as smooth as silky. He first made waves with deeply emotive and romantic r&b laced slow jams on labels like Rhythm Section and has since put out several albums that grow ever more accomplished and adventurous. 'Flowers' however is a new standout 7" single on Decca with a signed insert that marks his own new deal with the legendary label. It finds the Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and songwriter offer up more of his inner most emotions all wrapped in his signature production.

Review: "Acoustic Sessions" is a new Thin Lizzy album featuring stripped-back versions of Thin Lizzy classics and with previously unheard vocals provided by old recordings of late Phil Lynott. Not all material on the album is sourced from archived Thin Lizzy recordings though. Founding member Eric Bell has prepared fresh acoustic guitar arrangements for the new album, marking the first time since 1973 that Bell has played on a Thin Lizzy album.

Region code: B