Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
ANGRY APPLE – CRISPIN.
Angry Apple – Crispin. Label: Cold Busted. Format: Vinyl. With the release of ‘Crispin’ on the legendary instrumental hip hop and downtempo label Cold Busted, the producer known as Angry Apple makes a major splash with his much-anticipated debut album. While Angry Apple has been quietly dropping atmospheric singles and EPs for years, ‘Crispin’ is …
LOS RETROS-ODISEA.
Los Retros-Odisea. Label: Stones Throw Records. Format: Double Vinyl. Mauri Tapia, operating under the moniker Los Retros, has officially broken past his bedroom-pop cocoon. Released in April 2026 on Stones Throw Records, ‘Odisea’ marked the 25-year-old Oxnard multi-instrumentalist’s highly anticipated debut full-length album. It represents a massive, intentional pivot away from his original dusty, lo-fi …
EL MICHELS AFFAIR – 24 HR SPORTS: (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION).
El Michels Affair – 24 Hr Sports: (Instrumental Version). Label: Big Crown Records. Format: Vinyl. When Leon Michels drops an instrumental version of an El Michels Affair record, it isn’t just a bonus disc for the crate-diggers – it’s an entirely new lens on his architectural mastery. In 2025, El Michels Affair released the vocal …
MARC MAC PRESENTS VISIONEERS – DIRTY OLD HIP HOP.
MARC MAC PRESENTS VISIONEERS – DIRTY OLD HIP HOP. Marc Mac Presents Visioneers – Dirty Old Hip Hop. Label: Omniverse. Format: 2 x LP. In 2006, Marc Mac, one of the founders of the celebrated and pioneering drum n bass and broken beat duo 4hero, released ‘Dirty Old Hip Hop’ the debut album by his …
DOCTOR BIONIC – ELECTRIC POLLEN.
Doctor Bionic – Electric Pollen. Label: Chiefdom Records. Format: Vinyl ‘Electric Pollen’ is the fourth transmission from Doctor Bionic’s Terrestrial Radio series. The album is an organic, genre-melting masterclass in mood and groove from Doctor Bionic that’s a mixture of hip hop, neo-soul, jazz-funk and soul-jazz. On ‘Electric Pollen’, Doctor Bionic delivers what’s best described …
THE BEST OF BLACK JAZZ RECORDS: 1971-76.
The Best Of Soul Jazz Records: 1971-76. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Format CD. During the late-sixties and early seventies, many small independent jazz labels were founded in towns and cities across America. Sadly, many were short-lived affairs with some releasing just one album and others closing their doors having released just a couple of albums. …
JNBO – & FRIENDS.
JNBO – & Friends. Label: College Of Knowledge Records. Format: Vinyl. Currently, Australia has a thriving and vibrant music scene. That has been the case for many years. All across the country there’s truly talented singers, songwriters, musicians and producers. This includes Melbourne and Naarm-based bassist, composer, engineer and producer, Henry Jenkins. For those unfamiliar …
WEDNESDAY MORNING 6AM RADIO HITS FROM THE SMALL HOURS 1970 – 1983.
Wednesday Morning 6am Radio Hits From The Small Hours 1970 – 1983. Label: Ace. Format: CD. ‘Wednesday Morning 6am Radio Hits From The Small Hours 1970 – 1983’ was recently released by Ace, and features twenty-two tracks that were heard on BBC Radio 2 and also on independent local radio. They were the type of …
JAKE MASON TRIO-THE MODERN ARK.
Jake Mason Trio-The Modern Ark. Label: Soul Messin’ Records. Format: CD. Eight years ago, in 2018, the Jake Mason Trio released their debut album critically acclaimed ‘The Stranger In The Mirror.’ It was nominated for an ARIA nomination for Best Jazz Album. By then, the Jake Mason Trio which features three of Australia’s most talented …
LITTLE BANGERS FROM RICHARD HAWLEY’S JUKEBOX VOL 2.
Little Bangers From Richard Hawley’s Jukebox Vol 2. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Every week, countless compilations are released by record labels worldwide. It’s an extremely competitive marketplace, with record labels hoping that their latest compilation will prove popular and profitable. As a result, many labels are risk averse. Rather than release compilations of innovative …
HIGHWAY OF DIAMONDS – BLACK AMERICA SINGS BOB DYLAN.
Highway Of Diamonds – Black America Sings Bob Dylan. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th January 2026. In 2010, Ace released the first in a new compilation series ‘How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan.’ Since then, six further instalments in the Black America Sings series have been released. On Friday ‘30th,’ January …
CULT CLASSIC: CANDI STATON-I’M JUST A PRISONER.
Cult Classic: Candi Staton-I’m Just A Prisoner. By 1968, Candi Staton was twenty-eight, and still hadn’t embarked upon a solo career. However, that would soon change when Clarence Carter introduced her to Rick Hall. He would transform the former gospel singer’s fortunes. Sixteen R&B hit singles were recorded at Rick Hall’s Fame Studios, in Muscle …
CULT CLASIC: JOHNNY LYTLE-THE LOOP.
Cult Classic: Johnny Lytle-The Loop. Johnny Dillard Lytle was born into a family of musicians on December October ’13th’, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio. His father was a drummer and his mother an organist. Influenced by both, the future vibes virtuoso grew up playing drums and piano. However, before studying music he was a successful boxer. …
NINA SIMONE-LET IT ALL OUT: SELECTED SINGLES 1961-1978.
Nina Simone-Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 31st October 2025. Nina Simone’s recording career began at Bethlehem Records in 1957 when she started recording tracks that would eventually feature on her debut album. The tracks were recorded during two sessions for a flat fee, with Simone not receiving …
RONNIE McNEIR-MAKES A MOVE.
Ronnie McNeir-Makes A Move. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. It’s always exciting to discover a lost album. I’ve discovered a number of lost albums over the years, and still, it’s exciting to listen to an album that was recorded forty or more years ago. It’s like going back in time, and eavesdropping on the session. …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 