The marvellous Art Ensemble Of Chicago drummer, solo and duetting with cornettist Olu Dara in 1977-8 — ‘with extreme intimacy, sometimes exploring the sonority of his kit, sometimes extrapolating on a beat… alongside Dara, one of the great figures of the loft era and a wonderfully polymath musician [and Nas’ dad to boot]... stretching all the way out on the three dedications to Lester Bowie.’

Crafted, outward-bound experiments in the improvisatory forms, modes, drones and rhythms of Iranian music, by guitarist Golfam Khayam and clarinetist Mona Matbou Riahi, both born in Teheran.

Unique improvised pop from 1974, by Jean-Jacques Birgé — one of the first French synthesizer players (ARP 2600) — and guitar virtuoso Francis Gorgé.
‘Have you ever imagined what a meeting between the Silver Apples and Sonny Sharrock would sound like?’

Ace kid funk, with coolly blunted singing by the little un, and a good old-fashioned break-and-a-half.

Terrific fun; full of life and invention.
‘This first exuberant wave of innocent, upbeat, ‘party on the block’ rap records re-created the sounds heard in community centres, block parties and street jams taking place in the Bronx in the mid-1970s. But where Flash, Kool Herc and Bambaataa were back-spinning, mixing and scratching together breakbeat records, these first rap sides were all made using live bands, often replaying current disco tunes, whilst MCs rapped over the top…’

An expert sampling of the original Studio One dub LPs, plus a couple of wild cards.

His first solo LP, from 1973, brilliantly produced by Willie Hutch. Highlights include three killers: the sublime, expansive, funky protest of Just My Soul Responding; the achingly beautiful Sweet Harmony; and The Family Song, a two-step classic.

‘We ended with those two versions of Cham, which are as often when I work with the Sex Tags man the result of live takes almost unedited. We also add some percussions from Shadi Khries and we recorded two versions of the same track within hours. One being bass driven with a lot of psychedelic noises and the other one more space-techno. Our adventures continues. Here is another slice of spaced out music. Hope you’ll enjoy.’

Ruff, mid-seventies Nairobi funk by Tanya Ria — aka Rachel Wanjiru — and the Trippers.
Althea & Donna, Lijadu Sisters vibes.

A deep, atmospheric, careering groover from Gerard Hanson, remixed by ERP into thrilling, futuristic electro. Ace.