When Acid Jazz was in its mid-1990s pomp, it released a lot of great records. Sometimes they flew past at such a pace, we had moved on to something else before we realised how good they truly were. ‘Lovesick’ by the Night Trains is one such record.

A phenomenal mixture of a distinctive sample turned into a un-ignorable groove, an unforgettable melody (and the soulful vocal from Marcia Johnson), weaved around a Miles-like trumpet. It should have been a hit. But it wasn’t. Instead, it is a cult classic, which we are being fully indulgent in releasing on a 7-inch single.

Night Trains were the brain child of Hugh Brooker, and they released the first ever acid jazz single in 'Open Channel D’, appearing on early groundbreaking Acid Jazz compilations. It resurfaced on the label in 1993 with the ‘Sleazeball’ album, from which Lovesick was the lead single. Hugh has in many forms kept the group going until the present day. A testament to persistence and good taste, in the face of industry indifference. Hugh is one of the originals and we are proud to still work with him to this day.

This is the first time that ‘Lovesick’ has appeared on a 7", and it is flipped with the previously-unreleased on vinyl ‘Only Know About Love' on the B-side.

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A year on from the release of his critically acclaimed album ‘Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth’ released in collaboration between Flying Dutchman and Acid Jazz Records, Billy returns with a brand new take on a classic of conscious soul. Returning to the studio with Bob Thiele Jr and the band that is made up Larry Goldings, Pino Paladino, Jeff Parker, James Gadson and John Philip Shenale, he has recorded three new numbers for release on the deluxe version of the album. The first to be released is his take on Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘Lady Day & John Coltrane’ which held audiences in rapt attention when performed live over the last year.

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‘The Big AC’ - a cornerstone of the New Street sound from their debut album ‘No Hard Feelings’ - will be reissued, with the first-time vinyl release of the original version, produced by the brilliant late Noel McKoy, on the reverse side. It will be housed in a beautiful version of the new Acid Jazz house bag, in colours echoing the ‘No Hard Feelings’ sleeve, and will be limited to 500 copies.

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A reissue of two historic, important cuts by The Ballistic Brothers. 'Blacker' and 'Cufabro Con Amigos' helped define the transitional crossover between early 90s funk and breaksy electronica in the UK. The Ballistic Brothers were the sonic thesis, antithesis and synthesis of Ashley Beedle and David Hill, both of whom later went on to work behind the scenes in the music industry, but whose earlier contributions are still duly noted. 'Blacker' appeared on their earliest album, The Balistic Brothers vs. The Eccentric Afros Volume 1, and was symptomatic of the sonic stirrings of breakbeat, acid jazz and broken beat at the time, channelling a string-laden suspense, and a wise, sampled vocal snippet from Gil Scott Heron. Heron's wisdom undercuts the track, and hears his musings on race and moral superiority.

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The Kevin Fingier Collective is back with a brand new 7" single release, featuring Diane Ward, on our group label Fingier Records. An explosive side for the club dance floor, 'I Really Care' is a hybrid of R&B and Northern Soul with funky guitar, driving piano and killer horns.

The B-side, 'The Great Akerman', is exclusive to the 7" - a flute and organ flavoured Bossa/Mod Jazz instrumental, with the Fingier signature touch. Another dynamite release from Latin America produced by Kevin Fingier, offering shades of what is to come from a full album due later this year, hot-on-the-heels of the recent comp 'El Sonido de Fingier Records'. Fingier 45s are known to sell out fast, so don't sleep - order now!

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Over the past couple of years Acid Jazz have been re-issuing releases from the enigmatic 'Albarika Store' label, a goldmine in Afro cuts from Benin, West Africa. The latest instalment is the ultra-rare 'Ogassa Original (Vol. 1), the first LP from obscure but ultimately brilliant Porto Novo group, Ogassa from 1978. Like many Albarika releases, it was recorded at EMI Lagos, giving a depth and fidelity that stands out in the realm of Afro rarities. Reissued in full with the original artwork for the very first time, a must have for Afro collectors and completists alike. Pre-order now!

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The latest instalment from Acid Jazz’s Albarika Store series, ‘Afro Funk’ compiles the very best of the legendary T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo’s funk cuts.

Formed in 1968 by leader Clément Mélomé, T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo became the leading group in Benin and the cornerstone of the Albarika Store label and legacy.

This collection brings together highlights from their extensive career, including tracks as ‘Gbeti Ma Djro’, ‘Segla’ and the collectable ‘It’s A Vanity’: wall-to-wall some of the finest Afro-Funk ever made.

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Eddie Piller & Dean Rudland present Acid Jazz (Not Jazz)

Back in the early 1990s as Acid Jazz began a period of extraordinary commercial success where acts like the Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai sold millions of records, and US groups such as A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots and Digable Planets were actively influenced by what was being played in London, the whole scene was being fuelled by a small number of clubs, led by Gilles Peterson’s Sunday afternoons at Dingwalls but taking in nights in Leeds, Bari, Munich, Tokyo, Stockholm and New York. In those clubs funky jazz, latin boogaloo and 70s soul soundracks competed for time on the dance floor with import records from New York, and the latest sounds coming out of bedrooms and makeshift basement studios that created contemporary sounds out of the past.

Acid Jazz’s Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland have put together this compilation of the sort of sounds that we were playing at the time. They are releases on Acid Jazz and other label’s that surrounded the scene and they were mainly made by people we knew from either around the club scene, behind the counters of our favourite record shops, or from trips to New York or Europe. They range from The Ballistic Brother anthem ‘Blacker’ to the jazz house of A-Zel - a Roger Sanchez mix that still sounds fresh today. We have the Humble Soul’s instrumental version of ‘Beads Things And Flowers’ which at the time was only available as a DJ special on Acetate. There is the presence of A Man Called Adam before they went to Ibiza, and the early Mo’ Wax (before they went Trip Hop) single by Marden Hill ‘Come On’.

These records could fill a dance floor in seconds and we feel that they are today largely forgotten, as they were non-album, underground club records. It’s time to celebrate them!

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Acid Jazz are delighted to present: Soul Revivers – Grove Dub!

Soul Revivers continue onwards from their earlier 2022 release ‘On The Grove’ with the hotly anticipated dub version ‘Grove Dub’

An ambitious, collaborative project, producers David Hill and Nick Manasseh bring together reggae legends, including Ken Boothe and Ernest Ranglin, with the hottest UK musical talent, in what has become the standout reggae project of the year. The Dub version continues in the same vein – another installment in the rich history of West London reggae and dub.

Soul Revivers ‘On The Grove’ has already featured prominently on JazzFM, BBC Radio 1 Xtra, BBC 6 Music, as well as print reviews in Uncut, Mojo, and The Wire, among others.

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Repress!

On The Grove’ is an ambitious and passionate collaboration project, it features musicians spanning seven decades, including Jamaican legends: Ernest Ranglin, Ken Boothe, Earl 16 and Devon Russell; alongside contemporary artists, including jazz trumpeter Ms. Maurice (known for her work with Afro—Jazz Ensemble Kokoroko and Nubya Garcia), and vocalist Alexia Coley.

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Our Albarika Stores 7-inch series returns with one of the masterpieces of lo-fi Afro-funk: 'It's A Vanity' by Gabo Brown and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.

Originally released in the early '70s, it is a fine example of the way that Benin's premier group could perfectly nail a James Brown-style groove and then twist it to make it uniquely their own thing.

'It's A Vanity' is one of the masterpieces of low-fi Afro-Funk, and has been widely sought after (and become extremely valuable) since it was comped in 2008. We've paired it with the first reissue of 'Nougbo Vehou (La Verité Blesse)' - licensed directly from bandleader Clement Melomé's family - for a must-have double-sider!

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Recorded for Benin’s Communist revolution, ‘Rhythm Revolution’ is a rare and truly unique Afrobeat record – it’s rumoured only 200 copies of the original release survived.

Ferry Djimmy was a schoolteacher, former boxer, and a personal friend of Muhammad Ali and Fela Kuti. He was later Jacques Chirac’s personal bodyguard.

Recorded at the Satel Studio in Cotonou, the album is one of the toughest, wildest and deepest slices of Afro-Funk cut – with raw African rhythms, distortion, energy and wit. Alongside nods to Hendrix, Kuti and James Brown, there is something truly unique about Ferry Djimmy’s musical legacy.

A must-have for Afrobeat, Afro Funk and Psych collectors.

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'How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)' is a new advance single on the album. It’s an instrumental cover of Marvin Gaye's 1964 Motown classic. This reading of the song has a shuffle groove and features uber rhythms from Brand New Heavies' guitarist Simon Bartholomew. As Bangs put it, "we wanted to put a different slant on the tune, small combo vibe with a Wurlitzer piano lead. We were thinking of getting a vocalist to sing the tune but it's been done that way so many times."

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Acid Jazz proudly presents: Orchestre Les Volcans Du Benin - Vol. 1!

Originally released in 1980 on the Albarika label, 'Orchestre Les Volcans Du Benin Vol. 1' has long been a holy-grail LP for Afro-Cuban music aficionados.

It now sees its first official reissue through Acid Jazz and is available for the first time with four infections tracks, including 'Oya Ka Jojo': Latin dancefloor dynamite, and a DJ must-have.

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The Aloof formed in 1990 and forged a reputation as one of the hardest working bands around. While other acts incorporated an electronica into a general rock sound in the early ‘90s, The Aloof were always a pioneering electronic act. Touring alongside the likes of Massive Attack and Leftfield, they released three albums with Warner’s EastWest label: Cover The Crime (1994), Sinking (1996) and Seeking Pleasure (1998). After parting ways with Warner, they were in charge of their own destiny, and formed their own ‘Screaming Target’ label as they set about making a new record.

The resultant album ‘This Constant Chase For Thrills’ has established a reputation as a cult classic, but internal struggles and the wider pressure of the industry meant it didn’t get the coverage it deserved. Despite this, ‘So Good’ became a radio hit after featuring on the US version of Queer As Folk, and remains a fan-favourite. In anticipation of the release, it has finally issued as a single, setting the tone for the full reissue of the LP on Acid Jazz Records.

Defined by a positive DIY spirit as the band moved on their own, This Constant Chase For Thrills, has an Ibiza and Balearic feel, alongside its dark, moody and atmospheric moments. Aside from ‘So Good’ – described as ‘a dark cloud being lifted’ by founding member Dean Thatcher – there is the late night intensity of ‘Doing It For Money’, describing the need to make ends meet in difficult circumstances, which gained attraction when first released. Meanwhile, closing tune ‘Painted Face’ is arguably the album’s standout, infused with wide-eyed psychadelia and open adventure.

“I think ‘Constant Chase For Thrills’ was a return to form for The Aloof and I’m really chuffed this album is going to see the light of day properly and finally get the exposure it deserves” - Dean Thatcher, The Aloof.

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Tracklist:
a1.Matt Berry ft Emma Noble - Beatmaker
b1. Beatmaker (Instrumental)

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With 'Why Don't You Go Home' Fingier produces a monster Rhythm & Blues tune that will take you straight to the King and Federal R&B sound, and for the B side, 'Cocktail De Medianoche' is the perfect mix of Boogaloo and Northern Soul. Percussion, flute and horns will make this a Fingier favourite for lovers of Latin grooves and Uptempo Soul.

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Four of the freshest Blaze remixes come together on wax for the first time on Slip ‘N’ Slide, ‘Blaze Remixed’. The West London label is home to some of the best house music that crossed the Atlantic from the 90s onwards, and today the imprint continues to refresh Blaze’s legendary catalogue with remixes from leading industry figures. Up first, British producer Atjazz takes the cool feel of ‘So In Love’ from the minds of Kevin Hedge & Josh Milan as Black Rascals, adding his signature genre-crossing style. Jimpster’s take on ‘Wonderland’, featuring Josh Milan on vocals as Alexander Hope, stabilises the track while allowing the free-flowing feel of the OG to shine through. Brooklyn native DJ Spinna’s remix of ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ capitalises on Hope’s powerful vocals, supported by impeccable synth-laden production, before vinyl aficiando Natasha Diggs closes out this Blaze collection with her remix of ‘Breathe’; Diggs stays faithful to the original’s iconic saxophone and trumpet-led sound, sprinkling in her tasteful flair for smooth grooves and delicious synthwork at every turn.

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Repress!
Rick Wade makes his return to PoE with a brilliant 4-tracker entitled "To the People Pt.2".

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Barcelona's Move On Up Collective launches its own label, Move On Up Records.
In this debut release, you'll find a revamped 2024 version of "Oh Crazy Baby," a late 90s House style track guaranteed to ignite the dancefloor. The package also includes a remix by LTJ Xperience, a legendary DJ from the Italian club scene. Adding to the lineup is "Music Love Dance," featuring vocals by Okuali, delivering a House track infused with vibrant Boogie Disco and funk elements.

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REPRESS!
Extremely sought after and supported by the likes of DERRICK MAY, TIMMY REGISFORD, THEO PARRISH, DANNY KRIVIT and BOO WILLIAMS, the next SJU MUZIC release GU'S JAZ COLLECTIVE's "AFRO GENTE" and "FUEGO DE SANGRE" are 2 powerful percussive modern Latin fusion classics! Red hot so don't sleep!

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Repress!

Radio Slave drops ‘Strobe Queen’ this June, complete with Eric Kupper and Kirk Degiorgio Remixes. following a string of massive singles over the course of 2022 and 2023, in tandem with the continued success of his acclaimed Rekids and RSPX imprints, Radio Slave prepares his latest single ‘Strobe Queen’, a 12-minute, slow-burning house epic landing this March. Eric Kupper and Kirk Degiorgio remix Radio Slave’s ‘Strobe Queen’ this June. Heard in clubs courtesy of Honey Dijon, Laurent Garnier, and Sean Johnston, amongst others, and on the airwaves via the likes of BBC Radio 1, Radio Slave now recruits two legendary remixers for thw remixes of ‘Strobe Queen’. Requiring little introduction, Eric Kupper and Kirk Degiorgio both turn in exceptional versions of the original, while Radio Slave contributes a stunning reprise of his own, continuing to explore his love of slower tempos and long arrangements of golden era NYC, as seen in subsequent singles ‘Wild Life’ and ‘Wake Up’. Radio Slave aka Matt Edwards is one of dance music’s undisputed heavyweights. Having made his name as a DJ in the 90s, he went on to become the king of edits, twisting pop, R&B and indie cuts into essential versions that consistently set clubs alight. Since the mid-2000s, Edwards’ originals have helped define modern dance music, tackling techno, house, breakbeat, minimal and disco whilst exploring dub, balearic sounds and ambient across the myriad of other aliases and projects.

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Tracklist
A1 Felipe Gordon - Analog Only
A2 Felipe Gordon - Continuous Develop
B1 Felipe Gordon - Keepin' It Jazz
B2 Felipe Gordon - Looking Your Reflection In The Water
B3 Felipe Gordon - What You Say?

Release Note
Established and loved member of the Shall Not Fade Family, Felipe Gordon turns up the jazz influence on a fresh new EP for the label. The producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Colombia is known for his complex compositions and infectious beats, and Keepin' It Jazz does not disappoint.

The record kicks off with "Analog Only" - a highly textural beat forms the core of this bass-heavy groover that cruises along at a laid back pace, drawing the listener further in. Similarly gentle but hypnotic, "Continuous Develop" has the heady ambience of the chillout room, but Gordon brings in his intricate dreamy instrumentation and acid hints to great effect.

The second half centres a tasty bass solo that will get all heads nodding along. The title track is the chunkiest of house rhythms paired with delicate jazzy piano, a gliding summer party anthem. "Looking Your Reflection In The Water" is artful, perfectly emotive and gently rising like a tide from poolside piano into a hip-moving danceable pulse. The record closes out to "What You Say?"; funky house with attitude, a rude bassline and heavy swagger.

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GU returns with another volume in his VAULTS series of rare and unreleased secret weapons. After years of fan requests GLENN is finally giving "WHAT'S NEXT" & "PLATINUM" a proper vinyl release. More techy and experimental than much of the SJU catalog this 12"is sure to be an instant classic

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A year on from the release of his critically acclaimed album ‘Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth’ released in collaboration between Flying Dutchman and Acid Jazz Records, Billy returns with a brand new take on a classic of conscious soul. Returning to the studio with Bob Thiele Jr and the band that is made up Larry Goldings, Pino Paladino, Jeff Parker, James Gadson and John Philip Shenale, he has recorded three new numbers for release on the deluxe version of the album. The first to be released is his take on Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘Lady Day & John Coltrane’ which held audiences in rapt attention when performed live over the last year.

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