Back catalogue: Library/Archive

Review: Something's Up! is a masterful compilation that features the eclectic brilliance of John Barry's film scores. Curated by Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley, this collection highlights Barry's transition from a British arranger to a pop icon, renowned for defining the sound of the Cold War spy movie era. Focusing on music from 1964 to 1967, this album features Barry's iconic work on James Bond classics like Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice, cementing his influence on the spy genre. Beyond Bond, Barry's contributions to films such as The Ipcress File and The Quiller Memorandum exemplify his ability to blend tension with sophistication. The collection also includes less-celebrated but notable scores like those for King Rat, The Chase and Seance on a Wet Afternoon, reflecting Barry's diverse range and ability to craft memorable themes beyond the mainstream. Barry's music, characterised by its lush orchestration and emotive power, extended its reach from the silver screen to the vinyl, resonating with listeners even if they hadn't seen the films - and his exceptional talent and enduring legacy in film music is on full display here,

Review: The Globeflower Masters Vol 1 is a new Mr Bongo release that has been put together with classic soundtracks, 70s library music and cinematic compositions in mind. It was assembled in summer 2020 by Brightonian musicians Glenn Fallows and Mark Treffel who drew on their arsenal of vintage synths, pianos, 'other fun toys' and all manner of drums, guitars and bass. The result is a soothing album that will work in the dead of winter as well as the light of the summer thanks to its warm sounds, lush productions and luxuriant arrangements. A fine piece of wax, for sure.

Review: Since its release way back in 1968, The Perfumed Garden has become a much-discussed cult classic. It's certainly a unique offering, with the whole thing built around Indian vocalist and poet Chitra Neogy's sultry and expressive spoken word interpretation of a centuries-old erotic text that has been likened to the better-known Karma-Sutra. Neogy's spoken word vocals, which often come drenched in reverb, are simply sublime, with some tracks consisting merely of these inspired readings. Where the album really comes alive, though, is when her words are given musical accompaniment - think sitar, tabla, strings and more - from an ensemble of experienced Indian musicians. An oddball gem that's well worth further investigation.

Review: This 17xCD set is a sprawling testament to Lalo Schifrin's genius, charting his journey as a composer who brought jazz, Latin rhythms, and classical grandeur into the heart of Hollywood. 'Mission: Impossible' still brims with tension, its taut rhythm as sharp as ever, while 'Bullitt' is all about brooding jazz-fusion cool. Then there's 'Enter the Dragon', where Eastern motifs meet cinematic swagger. Even lesser-known gems like the haunting 'Kelly's Heroes' theme reveal his knack for blending intricate orchestration with emotional pull. A deep dive into these discs is less a passive listen and more a front-row seat to cinematic history being redefined.

Review: Sun Ra's 1971 U.C. Berkeley lecture, "The Black Man in the Cosmos," has been officially released for the first time, revealing a previously unknown half-hour of cosmic insight from the visionary musician. In this newly unearthed session, Ra guides his students through thought-provoking ideas, underscored by the sound of chalk on the board, creating an almost meditative atmosphere. His soft-spoken yet powerful delivery touches on themes of space, existence, and identity. The lecture closes with two rare musical performancesia serene piano rendition of 'Love In Outer Space' and an electrifying 16-minute Moog synthesizer solo. These performances capture the boundless creativity that defined Ra's work during this pivotal time in his career. The audio, sourced from the Creative Audio Archive, has been carefully restored and transferred by Todd Carter, with Alex Inglizian handling the mastering. The release includes images of the original tape box and reel, featuring Ra's handwritten notes. Produced by John Corbett and packaged with care, this CD offers a rare glimpse into both the intellectual and musical genius of Sun Ra during a defining era of his artistic journey.

Review: Vittoria Totale is a genuinely unique creative: a self-styled 'independent curator, language researcher and writer' who divides her time between stints in London, Berlin and Rome. Solo Voice, her debut album, is a similarly unusual proposition - a collection of written and improvised 'sound poetry' that alternates between impactfully recited poems, layered vocal experiments (see 'Sometimes', where Totale cuts and pastes phrases, the effects-laden poetic collage that is 'The Messenger Messes With The Masses', the vocalisations and spoken phrases of 'Text Me Next', and the Steve Reich-esque 'Bitte'). With Totale variously musing on sexuality, fantasy, life in the city and much more, it's an intriguing and ultimately fascinating listen.

Review: For the first time, Piero Umiliani's entire Liuto label production is collected together in a remarkable 19-CD box set. This set includes 18 albums (with the final album being a double CD), each housed in a replica of its original sleeve. Accompanied by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photos, essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a detailed discography, this release is fully endorsed by the Umiliani family. Umiliani's contributions were pivotal in shaping the Italian sound in jazz, film, and library music. His ability to merge creativity with production and publishing made him a true modern musician who was integral to Italy's rich musical heritage, as this collection proves beyond doubt.

Review: The Complete Sound Work Shop Heritage box set is an extraordinary tribute to Piero Umiliani's prolific career, gathering his entire output on the Sound Work Shop label into an unparalleled 17-CD collection. Housed in faithful reproductions of the original album covers, this set is complemented by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photographs, insightful essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a comprehensive discography and tracklist. For the first time, Umiliani's extensive contributions to Italian jazz, film scores, and library music are showcased in one collection. His work at the Sound Work Shop studio, which he opened in 1968, played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Italian popular music. The studio was a hub of creativity where Umiliani explored a vast array of genres, from funk and psychedelic rock to avant-garde and electronic music. This collection reveals Umiliani's genius not just as a composer, but as a producer and visionary who controlled every aspect of his music's creation and distribution. The box set is a comprehensive portrait of a modern musician whose influence on Italian music during the 1970s remains indelible, making this collection essential for historical reasons.

Review: Since launching way back in 1996, Trunk Records has become one of the world's most reliable outlets for odd, interesting and overlooked gems from across the musical spectrum, with Jonny Trunk doing a terrific job in curating a catalogue packed to the rafters with bizarre-but-brilliant library music, oddball British film soundtracks, early electronica, exotica and much more besides. This 25th anniversary collection offers a small snapshot of the label's story so far and features a mixture of back catalogue favourites and previously unheard cuts. Equal parts Radiophonic Workshop style electronic experiments, library music oddities, quirky TV theme tunes and smile-inducing easy listening jazz, it's a fittingly quirky and entertaining affair that should make newcomers want to dig deeper into Trunk's eccentric and esoteric catalogue.

Review: In the 70s and 80s, nothing was as revolutionary as the synthesiser. Electronic sounds became essential for forward-thinking adverts, with TV producers and advertisers seeking music akin to 'Tubular Bells,' Tomita, and Jean Michel Jarre. Music libraries like De Wolfe, Bruton, Parry, and Chappell swiftly adapted. Bob Stanley's new album, 'Tomorrow's Fashions,' compiles advertising jingles, TV themes, and space exploration tracks with ambient beats from that era. Despite being 40-50 years old, the music feels fresh, featuring jazz veterans like Brian Bennett and John Cameron embracing synthesizers. This electronica predated new age and ambient music, influenced pop, early Human League, Warp Records, and has been sampled by MF Doom and Kendrick Lamar.

Review: German guitarist and bandleader JJ Whitefield, known for his authentic, timeless sound, delves into 'spiritual jazz' on his latest album, The Infinity Of Nothingness. With a career spanning over three decades, Whitefield's journey began in the early 90s with Poets Of Rhythm, pioneers of the Deep Funk scene. Since then, he has explored various musical styles, including funk with Karl Hector and Ethiopian Jazz, West African highlife, Kraut-rock, and ambient music under his Rodinia moniker. The Infinity Of Nothingness is a set of mature, meditative orchestrations, drawing inspiration from Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders without becoming mere tributes. The album weaves subtle elements of hip-hop, library music, and avant-garde into its sound, creating a unified, trance-like feel. From the sparse opener 'Nothingness' to the three-part 'Infinity Suite' - 'Time', 'Space' and 'Energy' - the album reflects Whitefield's exceptional ability to craft music that resonates deeply with its influences while standing the test of time. As with his early work, Whitefield's latest project continues to set a high standard in musical exploration.