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Privately recorded in the Detroit area between ’73 and ’78, and scarcely distributed since, the rare ‘Aged In Harmony’ 7”s have become highly sought after and much revered by soul enthusiasts around the world, mostly thanks to Floating Points (recently, at least). So, thanks to Sam Shepard, we get to have this lavish triple 7inch package on his newly launched Melodies label, which already gave us the classic Taxie reissue. All originally written, arranged and produced by Arnold Moore, the six recordings bring together strings, vocals, guitars, synths, horns and drums for the perfect marriage of textures - and that's why it became our favourite reissue this year!

Every so often, Athens of the North back a huge record, in 2014, it was Bileo's 'You Can Win' and this year it was the eagerly awaited gospel anthem that is the Spirit of Love! The AOTN boss heard Floating Points play 'The Power of Your Love' at the Plastic People closing party and having forgotten about the LP (credit where credit is due), he jumped into action, hit up Calvin Bridges who wrote and recorded the LP (and is still recording gospel to this day) and he was happy to help out, so here we have it, A now historic track and an old secret weapon, this will fly. 'Cause you're Worthy' indeed!!

Jago was the studio project of Michele Violante created in Milan, Italy in 1983. Thanks to the dedciated work of Josh Cheon from Dark Entries, this Italo disco gem finally sees a proper official release. The Frankie Knuckles mix got a lot of hype this year on its re-release but any listen will tell you its the original that is the killer mix here!! There were also other key italo represses from Dark Entries worth checking: Expansives & Wanexa!!!

The third release on the beautifully presented Firecracker label. Hard to choose between the repressed 10inches to be honest but we are plumping for this one as favourite. Originally released in 2007, Linkwood's 'Piece of Mind' takes a Leo's Sunshipp sample, adds a beefed-up groove, strings, added effects and creates a monster laidback anthem! And then there are two more from Linkwood & Fudge Fingaz too... These represses are 3 of the best things to come out of Scotland this year!

A rare Patrick Adams and Billy Nichols production, Mary Clark’s “Take me I’m Yours” has become an in-demand cult classic, in part thanks to Floating Points including it in his Essential Mix and final Plastic People set mix). All the elements of a timeless disco cut are here; a driving bass line, powerfully arranged strings and horns, but most importantly, an incredibly soulful performance by Mary Clark. Like many of Peter Brown’s “affliate” labels, little is known about them or the artists recorded. Originaly released in 1980 on ‘La Shawn’, it is rumored that no more than 200 records were originally pressed, making this one of the most sought 12 inches among collectors. However, leave it to someone like Dimitri from Paris who edited and included “Take me i’m yours” on his “The Kings Of Disco” compilation from 2004 to give this virtually unknown song a new life and a whole new audience.

The very first Firecracker release. A true event - and by that we mean the whole package is an event; the music, the artwork, the heaviness of the vinyl. The initial run was only 500 and since then copies have been shifting for silly money - if you could even find them - but now the rest of us can get down to three more of the deepest, warmest house and jazz-influenced grooves around with the profoundly-talented Linkwood and Fudge Fingas at the helm. Those Scots have really got it going on...

Isle Of Jura came to life this year with this highly sought after official reissue. Originally released in 1984, ‘Fire In My Heart’ fused elements of disco, funk and new wave to create a mystical masterpiece that slowly got attention in Balearic circles. ‘Won’t Be Your Fool’ has more obvious 80’s leanings and the 12” closes with the Instrumental Dub of ‘Fire In My Heart’, stripping back the vocals and letting the bassline work its magic.

Our favourite Music From Memory release this year focuses on the little known UK band The System. A project masterminded by Bob Lamb, a somewhat cult figure in Birmingham's music history; the short lived group released only one album ‘Logic' and a single in 1983 on the somewhat obscure French label ‘Romantic Records’. This distinctively forward thinking new wave/synth pop album met with poor distribution and with almost no promotion to speak of at the time and quickly dwindled into obscurity. The album's sense of technological exploration, outstanding production values coupled with the band’s gift for writing deeply emotive, yearning pop tunes, are perhaps what make it sound more relevant today than many other far more successful albums of it's time. With instrumental tracks ‘Vampirella’, sounding almost prophetic of Detroit techno tracks that would not be made until some 10 years later and ‘Pendy! You’re In Some Awful Danger’ a vaporous synth excursion and anthemic drum-heavy vocal track ‘Almost Grown’. This 12" also features the unreleased end of the night jam ‘Find It In Your Eyes’, a track which somehow never made it on to the original LP release.

This All-time classic Northern Soul anthem finally got a re-release this December. Dramatic production and a deadpan vocal as Lou promises his lady he is heading back home. Untypical Northern Soul but this Texas-made oddity fits in perfectly and just wait for the flip, a stunning instrumental with extra instrumentation!

Jaydee's 1992 release was an epic 10 minute long Hammond organ workout that hasn't really aged at all and is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the resurrected R&S!

This one off German studio project with spoken word and electronics embraces and experiments with elements of Ambient and New Wave. The four tracks selected here seem to take music and spoken word into an entirely unique musical realm. Varied and ethereal, odd but groovy, Music From Memory have licensed another gem here.

Timeless house music that is now 20 years old - Herbert's deep house classic gets a lovely repress with sik screen artwork and added strings on a new Linkwood remix!

Originally released in 1980, Raja Zahr's "Drum Sequence" is an experimental disco monster, utilizing Middle Eastern percussion and analog synthesisers, so mind boggling they would keep any dancefloor begging for more. Fortuna has been a very consistent label when it comes to quality reissues.

Amazing re-release of this 1978 classic from Funk records, thanks to Cultures of Soul. The mysterious Evans Pyramid has garnered acclaim from record collectors and DJs alike all over the world including Floating Points, Gilles Peterson, Kon, Soul Clap, Dimitri from Paris, and many others. "Never Gonna Leave You" is a sublime disco masterpiece inspired by an emotional break up, wine, and Marvin Gaye.

Detroit holy grail! As Cybotron co-founder Richard Davis's Methane Sea got a repress this year in both pink & black vinyl. The 1978 record, which did go for up to $800 on the collector's market, comes with a lore all its own. As the liner notes explain, at the time of its recording, Davis was suffering from "personal turmoil and a head full of memories from the Vietnam War." The resulting electronic score would garner attention from a certain Motor City radio DJ - Electrifying Mojo.

One of three represses featured here, the second release on the frankly awesome Firecracker label straight outta Scotland. Once again it's that man Linkwood who steals the show with the jazz house stepper 'What's Up With The Underground' which is a killer in its original and beats forms, but don't overlook Fudge Fingas's 'Escape' which more than holds its own. Bristolian-voxed fuzz funk finishes the whole thing off on The Complainers' 'Bacon Rolls'. Stunning artwork, real attention to detail, great music! Thank you Lindsay!

Huge seller here at the shop as Motor City Drum Ensemble re-introduces this 1995 gem from Manchester's Rainy City label - a huge secret weapon for Theo Parrish, Jeremy Underground and the like...arguably one of the finest house music 12-inches to ever come out of the UK.

Never really a huge record at the time (1988!) but slowly gained cult status and thankfully repressed this year!! The sound of 80s New York , Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage with some Italian / European flavour thrown in. Excellent!

A masterpiece of classic Italian house, released originally in 1991 and produced by Carlo Troja aka Don Carlos who was active during Italy's golden days of cosmic disco. Although he was an influential DJ as far back as the 1970s, Troja only released his first EP in 1991, the beautiful Alone.

Literally translated as 'Washer Woman Song', Roberto De Simone's 1976 field-recorded stomper went for over 300 EUR before the good people at Archeo stepped in. These Neapolitan divas knew what techno was before Juan Atkins knew his times tables.