Best Of 2019: Reissue Albums & Collections
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The 50 Best Albums of 2016

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Best Of 2019: Reissue Albums & Collections
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    We are back with another collection of outstanding albums, lovingly re-issued and repressed, saving us from those Discogs sharks or listening to these records on YouTube. The number of quality reissue albums and collections seems not to be abating across all genres - this list features everything from Japanese ambient, jazz, long lost dub albums (the unreleased dub version of Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine') to deep house and techno.

    Just for the record, a 'collection' is a one artist compilation and not a straight up album reissue such as Claro Intelecto's 'In Vitro' which, luckily for us, collects most of his singles on two doublepacks or Patrick Cowley's 'Mechanical Fantasy Box' lovingly restored from long-lost cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes!

    We've tried to choose those albums that have been introduced to most of us for the first time thanks to this reissue. Previously obscure and known only to a select few, we would like to thanks Chuggy at Emotional Rescue for their hard work in securing a re-issue of such delights as Michael Sterns' 'Planetary Unfolding' and Ernest Ranglin, Kay Suzuki and Ken Hidaka for the amazing Bill Laswell's Gigi project (the Time Capsule label is consistently one to watch!) and Ed Isar and Musique Pour La Danse for their excellent TV soundtrack obscurity that is Coil's 'Theme from the Gay Man's Guide to Safe Sex'.

    We look forward to more forgotten gems in 2020!

    40 - 21  20 - 1 

    1

    michael-stearns-planetary-unfolding-lp-emotional-rescue-cover

    MICHAEL STEARNS

    Planetary Unfolding LP

    EMOTIONAL RESCUE

    Buy Movement 1 - In The Beginning Movement 2 - "Toto, I've A Feeling We're Not In Kansas Anymore Movement 3 - Wherever Two Or More Are Gathered Movement 4 - Life In The Gravity Well Movement 5 - As The Earth Kissed The Moon

    Out of press on vinyl for over 30 years, Stearns masterful electronic symphony in 6 movements, recorded using his Serge modular synthesizer at the Continuum Studio in 1981 finally gets a full release thanks to Emotional Response. Involved in music since his teens, he graduated from guitar bands in the late 60s to an increasing interest in the principles of electronic music synthesis and the physics of musical instruments. With Planetary Unfolding, the musical ideas that Michael performed on the Serge developed into this 52-minute masterpiece of music, six movements, three on each side of the LP. Based on the idea that the universe is made of sound held together through resonance, where atoms, cells, oceans, plants, animals and humans, all are part of a complex orchestration - the Earth as a being of sound. With the label first approaching Michael in 2013, he was uncertain if the album could be rereleased in a way that the music would be given justice. however, finally he agreed and this vinyl issue saw the light of day! And what an awe-inspiring record!

    2

    coil-theme-from-the-gay-mans-guide-to-safer-sex-lp-musique-pour-la-danse-cover

    COIL

    Theme From The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex LP

    MUSIQUE POUR LA DANSE

    Buy Alternative Theme From Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex (End Version) Exploding Frogs Nasa Arab 2 Nasa Arab Omlagus Garfungiloops Theme From The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex

    Musique Pour La Danse gave us Coil's unreleased soundtrack for the VHS only, pre-internet, sexual education documentary entitled 'The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex', originally released in 1992. This killer album features six Balearic, jazz and ambient house masterpieces, true to Coil’s signature style. Simply amazing!

    3

    mort-garson-mother-earths-plantasia-lp-green-vinyl-sacred-bones-records-cover

    MORT GARSON

    Mother Earth's Plantasia LP (Green Vinyl)

    SACRED BONES RECORDS

    Buy Plantasia Symphony For The Spider Plant Baby's Tears Blues Ode To An African Violet Concerto For Philodendron & Pothos Rhapsody In Green Singin' Spathiphyllums

    Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, Mort Garson’s biologically inspired album 'Mother Earth’s Plantasia' from 1976 is a short yet transformative Moog-led trip. Its a beautifully crafted, cosmic and emotive masterpiece!

    4

    gigi-illuminated-audio-lp-time-capsule-cover

    GIGI

    Illuminated Audio LP

    TIME CAPSULE

    Buy Abay Tew Ante Sew Mengedegna Kahn Sew Argen Nafekeñ Abet Wubet Guramayle Gud Fella

    Bill Laswell’s dub reinterpretations of Ethiopian singer Gigi’s debut album 'Illuminated Audio’ received a stunning reissue via Kay Suzuki’s Time Capsule label in 2019. This absolute gem of a record features guest appearances from Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and more. Utterly essential!

    5

    callisto-guidance-is-internal-part-1-lp-guidance-cover

    CALLISTO

    Guidance Is Internal : Part 1 LP

    GUIDANCE

    Buy Breezin' - Original Mix Can't Wait - Original Mix Bellisimo - Original Mix The Power - Original Mix Never Again - Original Mix Elektribes - Original Mix Junkle I V3-01 Need Ur Love - Stalagmite Mix

    This was the first in a three part compilation series celebrating the life and music of legendary US house producer Dana Kelley aka Callisto. Eight exquisitely deep and soulful tracks feature on this stunning 2x12", each touching on elements of house, techno, ambient and jungle. Proper!

    6

    maleem-mahmoud-ghania-pharaoh-sanders-the-trance-of-seven-colors-lp-zehra-cover

    MALEEM MAHMOUD GHANIA & PHARAOH SANDERS

    The Trance Of Seven Colors LP

    ZEHRA

    Buy La Allah Dayim Moulenah Bala Moussaka Hamdouchi Peace In Essaouira (For Sonny Sharrock) Boulandi Samawi Moussa Berkiyo / Koubaliy Beriah La'Foh Salat Anbi Casa Casa Atougra Mahraba

    Such an incredible meeting of minds - legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders teamed up with famed gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania and American musician and producer Bill Laswell to create this mind-blowing and deeply hypnotic jazz album back in 1994. Originally it was released on Laswell’s own label, Axiom, although it was only in 2019 that it got its first ever vinyl release. We thank Zehra Records for this one!

    7

    rupa-disco-jazz-lp-standard-version-numero-group-cover

    RUPA

    Disco Jazz LP (Standard Version)

    NUMERO GROUP

    Buy Aaj Shanibar Moja Bhari Moja East West Shuffle Ayee Morshume

    Originally recorded in Canada in 1982, this obscure Indian / Hindi-pop five track album from Rupa was a rare gathering of Eastern and Western musicians combining powerful vocals, traditional Indian instruments with the driving sounds of electric guitars, drums, space-age synthesiser keyboards and haunting melodies. For us its all about the incredible 'Aaj Shanibar’. Amazing!

    8

    brian-eno-apollo-atmospheres-and-soundtracks-extended-edition-lp-universal-cover

    BRIAN ENO

    Apollo: Atmospheres And Soundtracks (Extended Edition) LP

    UNIVERSAL

    Buy Under Stars The Secret Place Matta Signals An Ending (Ascent) Under Stars II Drift Silver Morning Deep Blue Day Weightless Always Returning Stars

    Talk about a timely reissue! released on July 19 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This very special anniversary edition – Apollo: Soundtracks & Atmospheres Extended Edition features the original album remastered by Abbey Road’s Miles Showell as well as an accompanying album comprising of 11 new instrumental compositions reimagining the soundtrack to For All Mankind. An incredibly popular album, tracks from it have been streamed in excess of 300 million times. Since its release many of the songs from Apollo have found a life of their own, making their way into any number of films, television shows and commercials, most notably Trainspotting, Traffic, 28 Days Later, Drive and Love. “An Ending (Ascent)” was also used in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony.

    9

    burial-tunes-2011-2019-cd-hyperdub-cover

    BURIAL

    Tunes 2011-2019 CD

    HYPERDUB

    Buy State Forest Beachfires Subtemple Young Death Nightmarket Hiders Come Down To Us Claustro Rival Dealer

    The genius Burial and nearly every track he's made spread across 2 CDs, what more could we ask for? Burial arguably changed the face of UK music this decade and it's easy to hear exactly why when it's all put together in a single package.

    10

    ernest-ranglin-be-what-you-want-to-be-lp-emotional-rescue-cover

    ERNEST RANGLIN

    Be What You Want To Be LP

    EMOTIONAL RESCUE

    Buy Soft Touch Keep On Dancing In The Rain Be What You Want Be Papa 'Doo' Why Not

    Ernest Ranglin and Noel Williams aka King Sporty’s collaborative six track mini-LP ‘Be What You Want To Be’ from 1983 receives its first ever reissue via Emotional Rescue. This reggae/disco masterpiece is truly magnificent!

    11

    claro-intelecto-in-vitro-volume-one-lp-delsin-cover

    CLARO INTELECTO

    In Vitro - Volume One LP

    DELSIN

    Buy Peace Of Mind (Electrosoul) Second Blood It's Getting Late When The Time Is Right Two Thousand Heart (Warehouse Mix) Beautiful Death Contact Chadderton You Not Me

    Delsin Records kindly pieced together this stunning two part series, showcasing a collection of Claro Intelecto’s finest works to date. Claro’s deep and atmospheric techno classics ‘Peace Of Mind (Electrosoul)' and 'Chicago' feature on these excellent 2xLPs. Very nice indeed!

    12

    fela-kuti-roy-ayers-music-of-many-colours-lp-knitting-factory-records-cover

    FELA KUTI & ROY AYERS

    Music Of Many Colours LP

    KNITTING FACTORY RECORDS

    Buy Roy Ayers - 2000 Blacks For To Be Free Fela Anikulapo Kuti - Africa-Centre Of The World

    Knitting Factory Records dished up the stunning reissue of Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti’s joint album 'Music of Many Colours’ earlier this year. The album was recorded after a three week tour of Nigeria's major cities in 1979, during which Roy Ayers performed as the opening act for Fela's band. Truly magical stuff!

    13

    patrick-cowley-mechanical-fantasy-box-lp-dark-entries-cover

    PATRICK COWLEY

    Mechanical Fantasy Box LP

    DARK ENTRIES

    Buy Out Of Body (intro) Right Here, Right Now Broken Dishes Breakdown Moving Bodies 1 Grisha's Tune Sensitivity Shrouds

    Dark Entries Records also dished up ‘Mechanical Fantasy Box’ in 2019 - a spectacular collection of Patrick Cowley's previously unreleased songs, recorded between 1973-1980 to coincide with his homoerotic journal of the same title (sold separately). This mind-blowing album features thirteen tracks in total, each taking inspiration from funk, kraut and psychedelic ambient electronics, with heavy Tomita and Kraftwerk influences. Simply amazing!

    14

    satoshi-ashikawa-still-way-wave-notation-2-lp-wrwtfww-records-cover

    SATOSHI ASHIKAWA

    Still Way (Wave Notation 2) LP

    WRWTFWW RECORDS

    Buy Prelude Landscape Of Wheels Still Park - EnsembleStill Park Still Park (Piano Solo) Still Sky Image Under The Tree

    Satoshi Ashikawa’s 1982 environmental/ambient album Still Way (Wave Notation 2) was reissued for the first time thanks to WRWTFWW Records. Midori Takada, Masami Ashikawa, Yuki Utsumi, Tomoko Sono and Junko Arase all feature in his incredible band. Essential Japanese ambient!

    15

    emerson-if-you-need-me-call-me-kalita-cover

    EMERSON

    If You Need Me, Call Me

    KALITA

    Buy Why Are You So Cold? Sending All My Love Out Nosey Neighbours Raw Deal Cocaine Kills If You Need Me, Call Me Sound Track Sending All My Love Out (Demo Version) Raw Deal Cocaine Kills (Demo Verison)

    This near mythical electro-boogie album by Emerson was finally reissued for Record Store Day 2019. Super funky and soulful synthesiser business from the late ‘80s that was originally only released as a limited private-press 7”. So good!

    16

    alice-clark-alice-clark-lp-2023-repress-wewantsounds-cover

    ALICE CLARK

    Alice Clark LP (2023 Repress)

    WEWANTSOUNDS

    Buy I Keep It Hid Looking At Life Don't Wonder Why Maybe This Time Never Did I Stop Loving You Charms Of The Arms Of Love Don't You Care It Takes Too Long To Learn To Live Alone Hard Hard Promises Hey Girl

    Featuring the classics 'Don't You Care' and 'Never Did I Stop Loving You’, Alice Clark’s sought-after self-titled album from 1972 was given a top-quality reissue via Wewantsounds in 2019. This powerful record is widely acknowledged as one of the best soul albums of all-time... and its easy to see why!

    17

    patrice-rushen-do-not-use-remind-me-the-classic-elektra-recordings-1976-1984-lp-strut-cover

    PATRICE RUSHEN

    DO NOT USE Remind Me - The Classic Elektra Recordings 1976-1984 LP

    STRUT

    Buy "Music Of The Earth" "Let's Sing A Song Of Love" "Haven't You Heard" (12' version) "Givin' It Up Is Givin Up" (with DJ Rogers) "When I Found You" "Forget Me Nots" (12" version) "Look Up!" (long version) "Number One" (12' version) "Where There Is Love" "Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be)" (long version)

    Patrice Rushen’s legendary R&B, disco and jazz songs have been famously sampled by everyone from Will Smith to J Dilla to Prince Paul over the years. This compilation showcases her glorious original works, including the big hits ‘Forget Me Nots’, ‘Music Of The Earth’ and ‘Let’s Sing A Song Of Love’. What a voice!

    18

    mappa-mundi-musaics-lp-midnight-drive-cover

    MAPPA MUNDI

    Musaics LP

    Midnight Drive

    Buy Urbi Et Orbi Sexafari Serendipity (Take 1) The Oracle Wolfli Trance Fusion

    Mappa Mundi's only-ever release 'Musaics' was released on Belgium's legendary USA Import label in 1990, riding on the wave of early trance and ambient house sounds and exploring the same sonic terrain and worlds as The Orb, The KLF, Sun Electric and other like minded outfits. A big shout out to Brian Not Brian for reissuing this leftfield / new beat / downtempo belter via his Midnight Drive label!

    19

    newworldaquarium-the-dead-bears-lp-nwaqape-cover

    NEWWORLDAQUARIUM

    The Dead Bears LP

    NWAQAPE

    Buy The Force Star Power Noworldbutu Avon Sparkle Trespassers The Tide You Can't Feel The Dead Bears Shine Eyed NY Kirana's Lament Kemo Sabe

    This epic 3xLP from Newworldaquarium was arguably one of the finest techno and house albums to be released in the last fifteen or so years. A well-deserved and well-loved reissue!

    20

    massive-attack-v-mad-professor-massive-attack-v-mad-professor-part-ii-mezzanine-remix-tapes-98-lp-virgin-cover

    MASSIVE ATTACK V MAD PROFESSOR

    Massive Attack V Mad Professor Part II (Mezzanine Remix Tapes ’98) LP

    VIRGIN

    Buy Metal Banshee (Mad Professor Mix One) Angel (Angel Dust) Teardrop (Mazaruni Dub One) Risingsong (Setting Sun Dub Two) Inertia Creeps (Floating On Dubwise) Exchange (Mountain Steppers Dub) Wire (Leaping Dub) Group Four (Security Forces Dub)

    Originally created in 1998, Mad Professor’s previously unreleased, radical remixes and dub mixes of Massive Attack’s all-time classic album ‘Mezzanine' are now finally available courtesy of UMC / Virgin. A wonderful meeting of minds!

    40 - 21  20 - 1 

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