Parlophone Vinyl & CDs

Review: This special reissue of David Bowie's Young Americans album drops on the exact day of its Golden Jubilee. It was the late, great creative maverick's nine studio album and as always found him broadening his musical horizons. He embraced what he described "plastic soul" and it worked as this album gave him his first ever number one in the US with 'Fame' which was co-written with John Lennon and Carlos Alomar, who at the time played guitar with Bowie. It has been remastered for this reissue and cut at half speed so you can really luxuriate in the details.

Review: Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this pivotal moment in Bowie's career emerged from his fascination with Philadelphia International Records and the disco-infused sounds dominating dance clubs. Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios mid-tour, Bowie's pivot to "plastic soul" was both a bold departure and a reflection of his adaptability as he morphed out of the Ziggy Stardust persona. The album features collaborations with important figures like guitarist Carlos Alomar, whose funk riff would anchor 'Fame', and a then-unknown Luther Vandross, who contributed backup vocals and songwriting. 'Fame' and the title tracks became standouts, blending funk, soul and Bowie's unique flair. The reimagined 'Fascination' and dreamy 'Win' showed the album's versatility, while covers like Lennon's 'Across the Universe' help balance out the album while highlighting Bowie's willingness to experiment. Though the album is daring as Diamond Dogs or Station to Station, it holds its own with a mix of hits and enjoyable fillers, solidifying Bowie as a trailblaser in blending genres. This half-speed mastered reissue revitalises the sound, bringing clarity and depth to an album that remains a iconic album in Bowie's catalogue.

Review: This is Coldplay’s tenth studio album and delivers in being an album that can help lift you when you’re feeling down in the dumps. Chris Martin and band have tapped into something that helps listeners transcend and feel connected on a higher level. There’s an array of top-tier collaborators involved, including the mighty Jon Hopkins and Louis Cole, so it goes on a spectacular journey sonically. ‘We Pray’ (featuring Little Simz and Burna Boy among others) taps into Afrobeats and is one of the most cutting-edge major pop singles. And 'AETERNA’ lifts its backbeat from Brainfeeder signee Louis Cole’s ‘Weird Part Of The Night’, which is a great touch and indicative of an expertly A&R’d album that lifts up so many great contemporary musicians.

Review: Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes, receives a well-deserved reissue on vinyl, marking its enduring significance in the band's discography and modern rock history. Originally released in 2000, this album propelled Coldplay to international acclaim with its introspective lyrics, melodic guitar lines, and Chris Martin's emotive vocals. The vinyl reissue maintains the album's original warmth and intimacy while enhancing the listening experience with the format's rich sound quality. Tracks like 'Yellow,' 'Trouble,' and 'Shiver' were instrumental in showing Coldplay's ability to blend alternative rock with heartfelt songwriting, capturing themes of love, longing, and self-discovery. The album's timeless appeal lies in its ability to evoke both nostalgia and contemporary relevance, appealing to longtime fans rediscovering its magic and new listeners with its raw emotional depth. Whether experienced as a journey through youthful introspection or a melodic exploration of human connections, Parachutes remains a poignant debut that solidified Coldplay as a force in the music industry.

Review: The 50th anniversary edition of Kraftwerk's Autobahn finally completes its decennial German interstate journey and lands in our drool-covered laps. With founding Kraftwerk member Ralf Hutter revisiting the record's original 16-track master tapes with engineer Fritz Hilpert, the group not only made a brand new Dolby Atmos mix for the CD edition, but have also reissued the original record in the never-seen-before picture disc form you see here. A cosmic pop overland journey, the vinyl remaster also lends the record an extra-dimensionality we didn't know possible; recumbent across it, and brought out to swelling prominence, are its tweezed, filter-cutoff sine chords, evoking the continual movement of rustic landscapes streaming past our eyes. Though at first received only to mixed acclaim, Kraftwerk's fourth LP was rightly hailed in hindsight for its simple automotive theme and change in sound, away from the Robots' emergent kosmische and into self-reflexive electropop. All this emboldened Kraftwerk as a band that could somehow cruise in the fast lane, accelerating with ease through the shifting stylistic sands of the mid 1970s.

Review: An expanded version of Nonetheless, the legendary electronic pop duo's first release in over a decade. This expanded version of their 15th studio album features not only demos of the original tracks but also four new recordings, including three fresh songs and a cover of 'All The Young Dudes'. Teaming up with producer James Ford, the album combines the straightforward charm of their 1986 debut, Please, with the rich orchestration reminiscent of Behaviour. Opening with the lead single 'Loneliness', Tennant delivers an empowering message to shed isolation and embrace connection. This theme continues in 'Why Am I Dancing?', which reflects on finding joy amid life's chaos. The romantic track 'A New Bohemia' nostalgically yearns for past ideals while advocating for equality and transparency in 'New London Boy'. Overall, Nonetheless celebrates a diverse range of emotions, blending infectious dance tracks with introspective ballads. The result is a compelling album that reinvigorates the Pet Shop Boys' legacy while exploring contemporary themes of hope and connection - and the definitive version is here.

Review: Few bands have undergone as profound a transformation as this British group, and this collection carefully traces that evolution. Spanning five albums, it highlights both their early synth-pop success and their later, more expansive sound. The journey begins with 'Talk Talk', a defining moment of the early 80s, followed by the powerful 'Today' and the reflective 'Have You Heard The News?'. 'It's My Life' remains a landmark, its reputation only growing over time, while 'Such A Shame' solidifies its status as an essential deep cut and cult favorite. The second half of the set balances the band's shift toward a richer, more organic approach. 'Life's What You Make It' bridges the transition, blending anthemic hooks with a more intricate sonic landscape. 'Living In Another World' and 'Give It Up' further explore this textured sound. By the time the collection reaches 'April 5th' and 'Time It's Time', the songwriting has taken on a deeper, more atmospheric quality. 'I Believe In You' stands as one of the band's most emotionally powerful moments, reflecting their ability to craft songs with immense depth. The final stretch features 'Eden' and 'Wealth', leading into 'New Grass'ia stunning closer from their final album, widely regarded as a masterpiece. Thoughtfully sequenced, this compilation works as both an introduction and a celebration. A perfect update to their best of - Natural History - from way back in 1990.

Review: The always innovative Emma-Jean Thackray's second album continues her tradition of exploring the edges of standard genres with a bold exploration of grief, selfhood and resilience. Created entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, it meshes jazz, pop, soul, p-funk and grunge into a personal journey in which tracks like 'Wanna Die' contrast frenetic beats with raw emotion while tackling mental health with humour and vulnerability. Featuring collaborations with Reggie Watts and Kassa Overall, the album honours individuality and neurodivergence while processing profound loss and results in Thackray's most intimate and daring work to date-an honest, chaotic, and cathartic celebration of surviving and thriving through pain.

Review: Jamaican reggae don Winston Hubert 'Peter Tosh' McIntosh was a core member of the Wailers alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, but he also had a successful solo career. This Greatest Hits compilation spans his entire Parlophone catalogue with iconic tracks from albums like Johnny B. Goode, Wanted Dread and Alive and Bush Doctor. Originally released in 1987 exclusively in Brazil, this reissue marks its global availability for the first time and it comes on striking red, green, and yellow tri-colour vinyl that helps showcase his powerful blend of reggae, rock and political activism. Tosh's revolutionary spirit and musical mastery were second to none, as this collection proves.

Review: Bush Doctor is a groundbreaking studio album by reggae legend Peter Tosh that was released in 1978. Featuring a fusion of reggae rhythms and socially conscious lyrics, the album stands as a powerful statement on global issues that are as relevant today as they were back then. From human rights to the legalisation of marijuana those issues come thick and fast on tunes like 'I'm The Toughest', 'Nosos - The Prophet' and 'Dem Ha Fe Get A Beatin'. Produced with a polished sound, it brought reggae to a wider audience and solidified Tosh's legacy as one of the genre's most influential voices. A true classic.