Back catalogue: Library/Archive

Review: Music for Shape-Shifters: Field Recordings from the Amazonian Lowlands, 1981-1985 offers an extraordinary glimpse into the rich musical heritage of the Wakuenai (Curripaco) people. These recordings, left behind by anthropologist Jonathan Hill, are an incredible 12 hours of diverse local genres, including sacred chants, spirit languages and the excellent sounds of trumpet and flute ensembles. Captured during all-night sessions, canoe paddling on the river and deep within the forests, these tapes serve as vital artifacts of indigenous ethnomusicology, illustrating the deep connection between sound and the animistic beliefs of Wakuenai society. Listeners will encounter the enchanting range of Wakuenai wind ensembles, from the deep bass drones of handmade trumpets to the piercing dissonance of flutes. The music often embodies rhythmic and melodic patterns that evoke the natural worldirepresenting jaguars, spawning fish and the calls of various spirits and animals. At times, these instruments unite in cacophonous displays, evoking the primordial chaos of creation. Presented here for the first time, these recordings not only honor the cultural legacy of the Wakuenai but also celebrate the cosmic sound that they believe opened the world. Produced by Radio Is A Foreign Country, this collection is essential for anyone interested in the profound relationship between music and culture.

Review: Italy's TAVA TAVA Rare label has become quite the hotspot for all manner of weird and wonderful Japanese Anime and soundtrack albums. This latest one looks to the much-loved Great Mazinger series which was composed by M. Watanabe. This super-limited, autographed and hand-numbered Mazinger Z TV BGM Best Collection is a mix of scores and thees from the show which first aired in the 1970s. It is steeped in heavy jazz and library-style music with majestic cover art to boot. Only 100 copies of this real collector's item exist so move quickly to snap up yours.

Review: Not to be confused with Klaus WeiB, the East Germany-born handball hero of the Summer Olympics 1972, although born in the same era, this Klaus Weiss is in fact the man who started out as a jazz drummer before expanding his remit to other instruments and genres, winding up pretty prolific in the world of movie and TV scores. As can be heard here.

While not directly linked to, taken from, or inspired by screen work, Open Space underscores (ahem) many of the same totems. It's un-rushed, yet tracks are relatively brief, not much more than interludes. Each feels similar to the next, but they clearly invoke very different emotional responses. Somewhere between synth-laden fantasy soundtracks of yore, and medieval court music, it's like going into the future only to realise civilisation has gone backwards while retaining some of its tech prowess.

Review: U.S. Cinematic outfit Whatitdo Archive Group returns to explore the worlds of mid-Century exotica and library music with Palace of a Thousand Sounds, out on May 5th. This is a rare case of a contemporary "library music" or "archival" record released commercially. Rather than being library music outright, the band, Whatitdo Archive Group, instead aim to reinterpret the many sounds that waft from its esoteric world - from exotica to lounge to 'world'. This album hears them dive into the connotations we might find from 1970s adventure movies, critiquing genres like Spaghetti Westerns and exotic murder mysteries through ironic analog vintagism, chase-scene funk tension, and all-out skill.

Review: Over three decades of musical exploration and innovation have cemented German guitarist and bandleader JJ Whitefield as a stalwart in the realm of authentic, timeless music. As a founding member of the Poets Of Rhythm in the early 90s, Whitefield pioneered a hard-edged take on 70s street funk, setting the stage for the Deep Funk scene to come. His subsequent ventures under various pseudonyms, including Karl Hector, showcased his versatility and eclectic influences, drawing from Ethiopian Jazz, West African funk, Kraut-rock, and ambient sounds. With his latest album, The Infinity Of Nothingness, Whitefield delves into the astral realms of spiritual jazz, paying homage to influences like Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders while forging his own path. The album's mature, delicate orchestrations evoke a trance-like atmosphere, with subtle accents of hip-hop, library and avant garde seamlessly integrated. Tracks like the sparse opener 'Nothingness' and the expansive 'Infinity Suite' demonstrate Whitefield's ability to create music that not only honors his influences but also stands the test of time. The Infinity Of Nothingness represents a culmination of Whitefield's lifelong musical journey, showcasing his unwavering dedication to authenticity and innovation.