Fantasy US Vinyl & CDs

Review: On Good Together, Lake Street Dive embraces a renewed sense of purpose and focus on unity amidst social divisions. Described as "joyful rebellion", the album blends energetic, danceable sounds with a defiant, principled message that makes a long-lasting impression. "There's so much pain and division but living in anger isn't sustainable," drummer Mike Calabrese explains adding, "Joy is a powerful way to sustain yourself, and we wanted to remind people of that." The album he has made with his bandmates was produced by Grammy-winner Mike Elizondo and is the first time they collaborated on songwriting from the start. In turn, this expanded their creative range and has brought a new depth to their sound.

Review: While nowhere near his most celebrated work, 'I Need You' is undoubtedly one of sadly departed San Francisco disco star Sylvester's most potent dancefloor workouts - a typically driving mood-enhancing cover that transformed a gospel song into a soaring, surging, tops-off hymn to sexual desire. This reissue pairs the Harvey Fuqua-produced original 12" version (1980) with what appears to be a previously unreleased re-edit by Chicago house originator Ron Hardy. The latter's take is more rhythmically sturdy and lightly percussive, with vocal and full instrumental sections (often drenched in effects) sitting side by side with extended drum workouts. It's a fine alternative take of a disco record that should be in everyone's record collection.

Review: The music from Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize and 12-Oscar-winning film encompasses the original score by Gabriel Yared with the haunting vocals of Marta Sebestyen and Fred Astaire. It is a story which has successfully made its mark on every medium that counts a - a classic to beat all classics. It's a cathartic journey that explores identity, fidelity, and fate amid the chaos of World War II. Shot against the majestic backdrop of the Northern Sahara and Italy, Yared's score blends Hungarian folk tunes, baroque themes, and romantic orchestration and mirrors the emotion of the film's characters without relying on visuals. Period tracks by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman complement the emotional depth of the story.