D'Angelo The Vanguard
Black Messiah

A long overdue official compilation of Nigeria's hottest Afro-Funk outfit by Soundway Records! Forming originally as an Army band, The Funkees went on to record the grooviest rock music Nigeria had ever seen. 16 tracks spanning their five biggest mid-70s years are offered here plus a full interview with original member Sonny Akpan, who still lives in Nigeria. Essential Afro music!

Over the years Athens of the North founder Euan Fryer has heard a lot of incredible music, so when he says that LaRombe is the best singer/songwriter he's heard, you know you need to sit up and take notice. Fryer trawled all the way back to archived recordings from 1979 to give us this phenomenal retrospective, touching on soul, disco and 80s rhythm and blues. All killer, no filler!

The dominant 80s & 90s UK genre 'Street Soul' is having a real moment of late, and Heels & Souls continue to contribute with this standalone album from Secret Touch. 29 years on, this largely forgotten album is as warm as ever, full of lo-fi charm, unashamedly positive messages and a nice mix of low-slung grooves and upbeat shufflers. TIP!

Meanjin's own producer + DJ extraordinaire Sampology AKA Sam Poggioli returns with this must-have LP! A culmination of the ideas previously heard on his last two EPs 'Natural Selections' & 'Mt Glorious', Sampo almost entirely pivoted away from a heavy sampled-based production into a largely live affair - with string quartets, woodwinds, 20-piece choirs, vibraphones, double bass, various pianos and synths... Like lots of Sampo's work, it's joyful, bouncy, textural and gorgeous front-to-back listening. Recorded from scratch in either his home studio or on his travels over the past four years, 'Regrowth' is the perfect album to sink into, thanks to its rich and colourful production. HUGE TIP!