BE WITH RECORDS - Forced Exposure

$29.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 12/4/2020

Ocean Moon is a solo project from Jon Tye of Seahawks. A long-time explorer of the sounds of spaciousness, having released the ambient classic LP iO in 1994 as MLO, Crystal Harmonics is a document of Jon's latest discoveries. Island Visions (BEWITH 077LP), the recent collection of music from Seahawks for KPM, touched on the deeper, more spatial side of music and led to Jon exploring this territory in greater depth, again for KPM, under his Ocean Moon alter ego. This time he brought along some of today's most visionary musicians: Jon Brooks (The Advisory Circle, Ghostbox) for his intuitive melodic mastery, Seaming To (Graham Massey's Toolshed) for her extraordinary vocal talents, Steve Moore (Zombi) for his sophisticated and inventive rhythmic sensibility, and Richard Norris (The Grid) for his sensitive and deeply resonant ambience. The initial recordings were made at The Centre Of Sound in Cornwall, with the collaborators various contributions coming from London, Derbyshire and the US. The supremely serene electronic flute and bells of "Crystal Drift" ease you into the journey and you take the next steps with "Rainbow Ripples" as it gently folds space with arpeggiated synth swells and delicate machine beats. Light vocal tones, bells, and breath FX on "And Breathe" keep you going, accompanied by synth drones and billows of electric piano. You travel through the synth-space-surf haze of "Lost Oceans", with soft bass and warm ambience, to reach the "New Infinity" of revolving melody, spacious pads, and light electronic beats. The celestial tone floats of "White Mirror" close out the first side. Temple bells ring out to running water flowing together with deep resonant vocal tones as the second side opens with "Peace Bells". "Revolving and Evolving" follows, a tranquil electronic meadow of lush pastoral synth tones where you rest for a while for "Mountain Dreaming", a light rhythmic dance of zither and birdsong. The undulating "Forest Motion" ripples with synth arpeggios, dreamy Solina strings and percussive modular electronics before allowing the crackling ambience and Cantonese whispers of "Sleep Golden" to wash over you. Finally, you find yourself on "The Long Path", its warm temple ambience of drones and chants guiding you home. Crystal Harmonics is inspired by four particular albums from KPM's catalog: There's The Electronic Light Orchestra by Adrian Wagner (1975) and then Temple Of The Stars, Breath Of Life, and finally Keith Mansfield's Circles, these last three coming from KPM's mid-1980s run of modern classical/new age gems. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by the legendary Pete Norman.

$29.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 10/16/2020

Be With Records reissue Caiphus Semenya's Streams Today... Rivers Tomorrow, originally released in 1984. Caiphus Semenya, AKA Mr Letta Mbulu, is a South African legend, and Listen To The Wind, his second solo album, is perfect. Now a revered composer, musician, and arranger, Caiphus left apartheid South Africa in the '60s for self-imposed exile in Southern California together with his wife, Letta Mbulu. Settling in Los Angeles he started working with the likes of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and other exiled and semi-exiled South African artists, as well as, of course, his wife Letta. Caiphus also found himself working with and composing for a broad range of jazz and pop artists, including Lou Rawls, Nina Simone, and Cannonball Adderley. His facility with both jazz and African forms served him well. His LA stay was also the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with Quincy Jones, the fruits of which can be tasted in Caiphus's African compositions for the scores to Roots (1977) and Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple (1985). Streams Today... Rivers Tomorrow is not just a musical masterpiece, it is also the soundtrack to the life of many South Africans. It fuses US-heavy sounds of boogie, disco, and funk with Afrobeat and traditional African elements. Jabu Nkosi handles keyboards on the album, with synths by Caiphus and Craig Harris. Sipho Gumede is on bass and Condry Ziqubu is on guitars. The Afro-Cuban grooves of "Mamase" continues where Listen To The Wind (BEWITH 084LP) left off, another horn-heavy call-and-response ode to a positive life. It's followed by "Aida," with gleeful, dayglow keys and synths on the right side of mid-80s sleaze are accompanied by a killer bassline, slick, skipping drums, and proud horns. The tempo is taken down a few notches for the powerful "Nomalanga" and the lamentations of a heartbroken man who must leave his wife Nomalanga and their children to join the fight against apartheid. Breezy drums and contemplative keys act as a backdrop for the stunning backing vocal harmonies in the intro of "Moshanyana". "Dial Your Number" is an up-tempo English-language boogie-funk workout, complete with mid-song cutaway to a random telephone call. The brilliant "Matswale" was a hit in South Africa in the mid-80s -- it is some damn fine breezy, beautiful, emotional pop. The ferocious "Ndi-Kulindile," with hard-edged, electro-influenced drum patterns and a bouncing, elastic bassline is something of a departure from the album's sound. Mastered by Simon Francis.

$29.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 10/16/2020

Be With Records present a reissue of Junie's Suzie Super Groupie, originally released in 1976. Walter "Junie" Morrison released his third solo LP, Suzie Super Groupie, in 1976. A slick, smooth and soulful record, it's a genre-melting tour de force with rich elements of proto-boogie, funk, and jazz. The sublime "Suzie Thundertussy" was brilliantly sampled by Madlib for Kanye West's "No More Parties In LA". The track opens with a sinuous synth and combines Junie's storytelling abilities with an emphatic vocal style and funky arrangements. The powerful bass and sinister chords create an undeniable groove, and the explosive chorus is full of ambition and joy. "If You Love Him" is a great, mid-tempo soul song. With a swinging jazz-infused middle-eight, it demonstrates Junie was much more than a mercurial funkateer. The laconic groove of "What Am I Gonna Do" recalls Fresh-era Sly Stone, whilst the frantic "Super Groupie" showcases his sharp imagination and sense of fun. The lyrics range from humorous to dirty, all fueled by an infectious groove and tight horn arrangements. The P-Funk of B-side opener "Surrender" bounces and sparkles, with a strutting Junie backed by great harmony vocals and joyous horns. "Suzie" is a sleek, softer affair albeit with a disco pulse; a beautiful combination of bright, funky horns, fluid basslines and vigorous rhythms. "Stone Face Joe" is another character song, this time one that chugs along on a sweet boogie rhythm. The closing piece, "Spirit", is an extended funk-rock jam. A nod to Jimi Hendrix, it creates a live concert sound, complete with screaming crowd and fuzzy vocals. Junie made his name as the lead singer and keyboardist of the Ohio Players. As the mastermind behind "Pain", "Pleasure", "Ecstasy", and the oft-sampled "Funky Worm", he was beloved by countless musicians, not least Prince. As co-writer of some of Funkadelic's seminal works -- "One Nation Under A Groove", "(Not Just) Knee Deep" -- his standing as one of the structural fathers of funk is undisputed. In late 2016, Solange's A Seat At The Table featured a track called "Junie", a tribute to the freedom he created in music. In February 2017, Junie died, aged just 62. With records as mighty as Suzie Super Groupie, his legacy will live forever.

$29.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 10/16/2020

Be With Records present a reissue of JR Bailey's Just Me 'N' You, originally released in 1974. A dramatic, string-drenched epic, James Ralph Bailey's Just Me 'N' You has been a sought-after soul masterpiece for decades. A lush suite of beautiful songs, it was conceived as a concept album; a sophisticated paean to love. Originally released by MAM Records in 1974, Just Me 'N' You is a breathtaking jazzy soul album. It's similar in style to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (1971) -- particularly the performances, orchestrations, and chord progressions -- but dealing with a different universal subject matter. If What's Going On was about romance instead of politics, it would sound like this. Fans of Marvin, Leon Ware, Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, and Willie Hutch will love this record. An underrated gem -- it's got to be one of the best soul albums of all time. The original productions were made on a basic home tape machine and enhanced with strings, rhythmic overdubs, and a variety of other instrumentation. These are beautiful arrangements of strings and jazzy horns. Rhythm guitars and bouncy bass serve as the groove foundation, congas provide a Latin feel whilst the vibraphone and harmonica add color. And then of course there's JR's voice. His style recalls Hathaway, with a delivery akin to Marvin at the time. As he scats and sings, accompanying himself in sweet harmonies, there is still a rawness of pain and longing in his voice, the rawness familiar to all deep soul. Just Me 'N' You is no mere collection of songs. The tender, smooth tunes flow perfectly together into a fluid, single artistic statement. This is one where it's hard to pick out any standouts. You may have heard the soaring title track before, maybe on Gilles Peterson's Digs America compilation. The opening track "After Hours" sounds as fresh now as it ever was and segues beautifully into the majestic "Heaven On Earth". Recorded by Hathaway the previous year, Bailey's original of "Love Love Love" is incredible and arguably the definitive version. The powerful, dreamy, sax-and-harmony-laced "All Strung Out Over You" has echoes of the Chi-Lites, it's that good. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman.

$29.00 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 10/16/2020

Be With Records reissue Caiphus Semenya's Listen To The Wind, originally released in 1982. Caiphus Semenya, AKA Mr Letta Mbulu, is a South African legend, and Listen To The Wind, his iconic debut album, is simply a superb modern-soul/boogie album. Now a revered composer, musician, and arranger, Caiphus left apartheid South Africa in the '60s for self-imposed exile in Southern California together with his wife, Letta Mbulu. Settling in Los Angeles he started working with the likes of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and other exiled and semi-exiled South African artists, as well as, of course, his wife Letta. Caiphus also found himself working with and composing for a broad range of jazz and pop artists, including Lou Rawls, Nina Simone, and Cannonball Adderley. His facility with both jazz and African forms served him well. His LA stay was also the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with Quincy Jones, the fruits of which can be tasted in Caiphus's African compositions for the scores to Roots (1977) and Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple (1985). Listen To The Wind is a deeply impressive synthesis of early '80s US production and instrumentation together with his traditional South African musical roots. There are elements of boogie, soul, funk, and jazz, all shot through with pan-African flavor, and moving effortlessly from up-tempo floor fillers to more meditative, slower soulful tracks. Produced by Caiphus himself, he makes full use of a stellar line-up of session musicians including Nathan East, Michael Stanton, Sonny Burke, and Paulinho DaCosta. And of course, there are Letta's show-stopping vocals. Opener "Angelina" is a breezy, feel-good SA boogie-funk classic, harmonic and horn heavy. It's followed by the gentle reggae lilt of "Play With Fire". A real melodic slo-mo delight, carried by the tropical vibes and, above all else, by the extraordinary performance of Caiphus himself and his backing singers. Closing out side one, the spectacular "Umoya" is driven by triumphant horns and slick bass, with proto-Graceland vibes. Caiphus trades verses with the unmistakable tones of Letta, and it sounds divine. Elegantly firing up side two is perhaps the album's best-known track. "Without You" is a heavenly slice of modern soul, smooth strutting, disco-fied funk with that unmistakably South African sound. "Ziph'inkomo" is a soul-soothing, swooning epic. The irresistible groove of frantic, percussive workout "Gumba Boogie" closes out what must surely be one of the greatest artistic statements of the 1980s. Mastered by Simon Francis. Faithfully restored cover art.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Be With Records present a reissue of Fuzzy Duck's self-titled album, originally released in 1971. A memorable name with an outstanding cover, Fuzzy Duck is a classic slice of underground London art rock and melodic psychedelia. Originally released on MAM in 1971, it's truly a musical force of infectious riffs and fiery solos, sharp tempo changes, a tight rhythm section, and heavy, Hammond-drenched grooves. With echoes of Spencer Davis Group, early Grand Funk, and Vanilla Fudge, it comes on like a heavier Soft Machine or Caravan. No wonder Fuzzy Duck's cult appeal has endured. The album features Mick Hawksworth (Five Day Week Straw People, Andromeda) on bass, acoustic 12-string, electric cello, and some of the vocal duties, and also Roy "Daze" Sharland (Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Spice) on organ and electric piano. Accompanying those two were Paul Francis on drums and percussion, and Grahame White on guitars and the rest of the vocals. Originally released in an edition of 500, Fuzzy Duck became legendary all over the world through a holy trinity of scarcity, personnel, and its sheer brilliance. The album kicks off with a heavy, bass-fueled, Hammond rocker titled "Time Will Be Your Doctor". This is pure hard-edged blues rock, brilliantly played. Its drum break intro was sampled by DJ Premier for Gang Starr's "Mostly Tha Voice" on 1994's legendary Hard To Earn. At nearly seven minutes long, "Mrs. Prout" follows incorporating more psych-leaning guitar and drawn-out keyboards à la Ray Manzarek. "Just Look Around You" is propulsive folk-rock with a soaring, proto power-pop chorus, backed by frenetic organ and heavy bass. Back comes the heavy, strung-out psych to both close out side one with "Afternoon Out" and kick off side two with "More Than I Am". "Country Boy" quenches the thirst for rhythm and melody, only the lyrics and vibe are wonderfully creepy. The groove suddenly cuts and drops into a more sinister tempo before the band pick up speed and toss you back again into the opening jam, this time with organ. The final, fully fleshed out track is the majestic "In Our Time", which oscillates between endless organ-driven boogie and heavenly, genuinely moving vocals. Infamous instrumental cut "A Word from Big D" rounds out the album. Yes, that's the band jamming with duck quack sound effects accompanying the music. Mastered by Simon Francis; cut by Pete Norman. Remastered from the original analog tapes.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Be With Records present a reissue of Linda "Babe" Majika's Don't Treat Me So Bad, originally released in 1988. Linda "Babe" Majika's insanely brilliant Don't Treat Me So Bad is a tight six tracks of blistering electro-flavored bubblegum and synth-drizzled solar-powered machine-funk. Once of the Hot Soul Singers, Don't Treat Me So Bad was Linda's debut LP as a solo artist. It was produced by Ace Mbuyisa of boogie-funk maestros Freeway and was originally released on Umkhonto Records in South Africa in 1988. The enormous "Let's Make A Deal" is probably the best-known track here, and it's definitely could be considered the best. Linda's vocals drip with attitude over warm, breezy synths and an urgent, edgy electro beat to create a timeless club-ready bomb that sounds as fresh as ever. But the rest of the album is far from filler. Opening track "Kunzima (Tabalaza Mjita)" instantly brings the sunshine vibes, strutting out the gate with that unmistakable South African steppers groove. It's a deceptively simple song, with multiple instrumental elements arriving and taking leave with admirable restraint. "It's Our Home" is a powerful showcase for Linda's vocals, enhanced by some life-affirming call-and-response backing vocals throughout. In fact, they're a joyous presence on the whole album. The insistent pipes and swirling, bubbling synths of title track "Don't Treat Me So Bad" follow. A spacious proto-piano house banger that closes out the first side in phenomenal fashion. Arriving as track two on the second side, "Unga B'Omthemba Umuntu" has the unenviable task of following the huge "Let's Make A Deal". It does the job with class, bringing the tempo down to a mid-paced tropical bounce with lilting harmonies and welcome traces of hi-life guitar. Wonderful stuff. "Playboy" is another unbeatable head-nod groover rounds out the set wonderfully. That bassline high in the mix is to die for, and the chorus will make any dancefloor smile. Mastered by Simon Francis. The memorable cover art, in which Linda appears straight out of the 1950s with her polka dot skirt and butter-wouldn't-melt pose, has been faithfully restored. Don't Treat Me So Bad is the work of one badass woman who can hold her own, and then some. Remastered from the original tapes.

$17.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

TLC's "Creep" and "Waterfalls" are both stone cold killers from the golden age of American R&B. Here they are again, back to back on a jukebox 7", just as they appeared back in 1996. Name a more iconic duo. As far as Be With Records is concerned, the mid-90s remains a high point for this supreme musical expression, and these two tunes from T-Boz, Left-Eye, and Chilli sit pretty much at the summit. A pair of canonical guaranteed party starters if ever we heard them. The achingly cool funk of "Creep" was the lead single from TLC's second album CrazySexyCool. Released in 1994 it was the R&B trio's first worldwide smash, and hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100. This is a sophisticated head-nod gem. A breezy horn refrain, speaker smashing beats and the Slick Rick samples blend sumptuously with the defiant lyrics to create an eternal sun-drenched classic. Written from inside the head of a woman who's cheating on her shitbag boyfriend just to feel wanted, Dallas Austin penned the lyrics for "Creep" after talking with lead singer, T-Boz. On the flip, "Waterfalls", also off CrazySexyCool, was no mere follow-up single. This was TLC's version of alternative music, a song with a strong message: "the idea that pursuing anything that's self-destructive, that's chasing a waterfall." To the three of them, this meant "unprotected sex, being promiscuous, and hanging out in the wrong crowd." The message hits home hard, now as much as ever, and it's probably why "Waterfalls" remains their biggest track. But the mighty Organized Noize also deserve some credit. They produced "Waterfalls" after working with Outkast and Goodie Mob and brought along that same in-the-pocket funk, that soulful sound that was their signature. It's maybe easy to forget now, 25 years on, but the track was regarded as groundbreaking when it was released in 1995. Musically, the future-retro sound appealed to deep heads across the board, turning TLC into the mainstream R&B group it was hip for the indie cognoscenti to reference, and those bracing lyrics moved them beyond "just a fun girl group." From then on, TLC were seen as the real deal. Remastered for this vinyl reissue (that turntable crackle is pure, authentic '90s sampling), Be With Records present this essential double-sider as a dinked 7" perfect for every record bag.

$19.50 IN STOCK

Billy Paul's "Let The Dollar Circulate" and "East" have never appeared on a legit 12" before. They do now. "Let The Dollar Circulate" is inextricably linked to one of J Dilla's greatest ever deep productions, whilst the massive "East" has long been a big Harvey tune. Both make full use of the incredible MFSB, the regular group of crack musicians that acted as the house band for the Philadelphia International Sound label at Sigma Sound Studios. Causing glorious damage to discerning dancefloors until this very day, Billy Paul's "Let The Dollar Circulate" was first released in 1975 on the album When Love Is New. It has the upbeat, dramatic proto-disco sound of classic Philadelphia soul. Taut, urgent verses of evergreen lyrics that preach the evils of capitalism and environmental destruction, to a thumping, menacing bassline. A gospel-infused chorus releases the tension in an explosion of strings and horns. Dynamite. A richly textured and enduring soul hit, "Let The Dollar Circulate" received a second wind when it was sampled by Dilla for Spacek's 2005 underground gem "Dollar". "East" is a fascinating, genre-blending track; a magical, widescreen soul-jazz masterpiece. Mystical and powerful, it's a pulsating mini-epic with a potent spiritual dimension. "East" was written by Philly bassist and baritone Tyrone-William Brown and appears on 1971's Going East LP. Lenny Pakula's atmospheric arrangements are complex but deeply funky, perfectly suited to Paul's fervent vocals. Gamble and Huff's production is a brilliant demonstration of their balancing Paul's jazz roots with the funky soul of the day, and seeking to innovate and push musical boundaries. A first-person rumination on slavery, Paul's thoughtful, deeply moving spoken word introduction unravels as the track reveals its secrets. Against the jazzy backdrop Paul's delivery is heartfelt, welling up with emotion. Strings cascade and winds howl while the bass prowls along the arrangement. Stunning. Remastered to stunning effect, Be With Records present this vital double-sider from the man ?uestlove called "one of the criminally unmentioned proprietors of socially conscious post-revolution '60s civil rights music."

$19.50 IN STOCK

Be With Records presents hen's teeth extended cuts of two glorious Breakwater classics: "No Limit" and "Do It Till The Fluid Gets Hot". These super-rare Arista promo-only 12" versions from 1978 have never been commercially available until now. Originals have regularly sold for upwards of £400 in the past 10-20 years so you know how vital this is. Breakwater's futuristic boogie-funk glider "No Limit" is six and a half minutes of slickness on wax. It's almost AOR. Like an infinite masterpiece, the chilled opening chords of the intro could go on forever -- and they almost do -- but when they give way to the power-funk groove, the track just slaps. It sounds so fresh today, over 40 years on, thanks to the smooth, smooth mixing of Jimmy Simpson. In no uncertain terms this is a monster, written by the great Grey and Hanks. That bassline, those keys, the horn section... all the ingredients are there. Ahead of its time by a good three or four years, some regard "No Limit" as the first '80s groove ever recorded in funk/soul history. A neat trick, given its year of production. On the flip, the six-minute version of "Do It Till The Fluid Gets Hot" is an original Philly party jam. A showcase for Breakwater's phenomenal intensity, this sounds like Parliament's "Flashlight" on steroids. Acidic synths bleep and warp, blending with triumphant horns, in-the-pocket drums and bumping bass to conjure a truly deep funk groove. Laying deep in the cut, the salacious vocal delivery only adds to the brilliant sleaze. Breakwater had a sonic aesthetic beamed in from the future and these two tracks are just more proof of that. Remastered and cut loud for devastating dance floor dynamite, this vinyl reissue arrives just in time for all those (perhaps imagined) BBQ boogie throwdowns. This is a true modern soul double-sider, essential in every way.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Frank Maston's Tulips is a sample-ready film score to the best '70s movie never made. Originally a super-limited self-release on his Phonoscope label in late 2017. Be With Records were introduced to Maston by mutual friends Aquarium Drunkard and it didn't take long before the label decided this modern classic deserved a reissue. Inspired by the deep-grooving soundtracks of Italian cinema -- think Morricone, Umiliani, and Alessandroni -- Maston conceived the entire Tulips project as a continuation of these revered works. Frank designed the artwork and made two 16mm films to accompany the music. There's a distinct library music feel too, with wiry organ, spacey keyboards and loping '60s guitar hinting at KPM and DeWolfe. Like the best library music, Tulips creates a cinematic universe through sound alone, evoking moving images in the listener's technicolor imagination. Tulips was recorded between 2015 and 2017 in a small studio in a village called Zwaag in Holland, during downtime from Frank's touring duties with Jacco Gardner's band. With some very European influences in mind, Frank wanted to eschew any American influences. But you can still feel the studio wizardry of the likes of Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson in there somewhere. A psychedelic bedroom-pop song-cycle, full of hypnotic hooks and dusty drums, Tulips manages to sound charmingly homemade yet wholly widescreen. Dreamy opener "Swans" is an exquisite soul instrumental and recalls the soft-psych of Koushik. Tropicalia influences abound in the cool and breezy "New Danger" and the KPM-references are loud and proud on the lush organ pop of "Old Habits". Fast-paced "Chase Theme No. 1" manages to be both tense and laid back, decorated by acid-drenched spaghetti Western guitars. The glorious Gainsbourg-esque melancholia of "Infinite Bliss" is all gauzy flutes and happy-sad vocalizing and the title is almost perfect. Side A closes with "Evening", a subtle bossa nova beat thing. Side B opens with the heat-shimmer guitars of "Rain Dance", evoking an unreleased Byrds or Buffalo Springfield backing track. "Sure Thing" is music to accompany an elevator ride you never want to end, but in a good way! The ornate "Garçon Manqué" is as beautiful as the instrumentals on Pet Sounds and the wistful "Turning In" starts like a stroll in the park before Maston introduces a scorched-Earth guitar solo. "Chase Theme No. 2" is a briefer, more keening counterpart to what is on side A. The head-nod bass-drums-keys funk of "Hues" rounds out this staggeringly assured set. Mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Alternative burnt orange artwork from Maston. 140 gram vinyl; can be played at 33rpm or 45rpm.

$36.50 IN STOCK

Coastlines is the self-titled long player from the new Japanese production unit of DJ and producer Masanori Ikeda and solo artist, session musician, and Cro-Magnon keyboard player, Takumi Kaneko. Masanori and Takumi have been part of the Japanese dance music scene for years and Coastlines was born out of their working together on soundtracks for video projects. The pair wanted to make laid-back listening music for now, laying Takumi's playful keys over Masanori's widescreen Balearic jazz-fusion to conjure beautiful and breathtaking "coastlines". A couple of two-track 7"s put out in late 2018 and early 2019 on Japanese house music label Flower Records soon sold out. Those four tracks were expanded to a full album of music, "a joyous, relaxing, summery soundtrack for everyone's after hours wind down" that was released just in time for summer. The album opens in the horizontal with the sophisticated, cocktails-by-the-pool groove of "Sunset Reflection". Their re-imagining of Ralph MacDonald's "East Dry River" removes all the original's bells and whistles (quite literally) and re-gears it with a subtle Balearic chug -- a percussive gem. "Coastline" is a beach-jazz noodle. "Drifting Ice" is as chilled and glacial as its title would suggest, yet Masanori's head-nod slo-mo house beats throb not far below the surface. "My Fire" is another soft killer, all swelling, swirling organ over muted kicks and snares. A pair of insistent tunes of the deeply Balearic variety raise the tempo, but not by too much of course. On "Woods And My Guitar" a half-heard vocal refrain breathes life into the synthetic xylophone and guitar. Deft piano-work turns "Half Moon Shadow" into lounge-house for the sophisticated beach bum. The self-assured re-work of Azymuth's "Last Summer In Rio" is arguably the album's centerpiece. Ten minutes of casually propulsive slapped bass, steel pans, and slick '80s soul beats. Cue the steel drum interlude of "Maracas Bay" before album closer "Down Town" transitions one with a shuffling, string-hinted hit of ethereal, euphoric piano bliss. Gentle disco for the new decade. Among the nods to revered Japanese artists like Hiroshi Sato, Sakamoto, and Casiopea, there are also hints of Marcos Valle and Mtume, of the aforementioned Azymuth. "The production though is very much now, not then. Not retro, just proper". Coastlines was originally a CD release only available in Japan, with HMV putting out a super-limited, Japanese Record Store Day vinyl version. Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman, Edition of 500, pressed at Record Industry.

$17.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

In answer to the question, "who put the dance into Factory Records?" Be With would like to refer to FAC 59. Working with founding member Tony Henry, the label is honored to present a reissue of 52nd Street's crucial debut single Look Into My Eyes/Express. Originally released on Factory Records in summer 1982, this 12" is a double-sider in the truest sense -- unrivalled Manchester jazz-funk-boogie-soul. Both "Look Into My Eyes" and "Express" came out of a five-day recording session in the spring of 1982 at Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme, just outside Manchester. Rob Gretton had just signed the band to Factory, snatching them from under the noses of RCA and WEA Records, who had been sniffing around and seemingly ignoring Tony Wilson's concerns that Factory might not be the right home for a black soul act. The band, were put in the studio with A Certain Ratio's drummer Donald Johnson producing the sessions. The band also found themselves with an interesting new member; the finished record credits synth and F/X to a mysterious "Be Music". Turns out that's Bernard Sumner. Henry explains that bringing Bernard in was another part of Gretton's plan, "Barney was a real soul boy at heart and had always wanted to produce and work with black artists -- with 52nd Street, he was an honorary member". "Look Into My Eyes" is a strutting, rich, soul-gliding piece of funk with bass and guitar high in the mix above twisted, bubbling synths, like Nile and Barney drenched outside the Haçienda that first summer. The hypnotic, naïve-cum-insouciant vocals from Beverley McDonald only add to the track's charm. On the flip, "Express" is sheer drama on wax -- all bold keys, synth brass blasts, insistent bells, and a galloping groove giving *that rush* atop a bassline to die for -- blistering heat. The 12" was Paul Morley's single of the week in the NME but his approval did little to get daytime radio play or to sell the record when it was released. "Look Into My Eyes" and "Express" come from a chapter of the history of Factory Records that no-one seems to have gotten around to writing. Working with Tony to reissue the original 12" is the start of putting that right; the story of 52nd Street is more than just a footnote.

$17.50 LOW STOCK LEVEL

Be With hereby presents aural perfection in the form of Much Too Much by Sass. This 12" has just the right amount of everything, whether talking about the vocal or the instrumental. And that's as true now as it was when it was originally released, back in 1982. In 1981 The Jack Sass Band, as they were known, were still working the NYC club circuit. Produced by the band's vocalist Mic Murphy, who also wrote the track along with fellow band member LaForrest Cope, the band needed just one session to capture "Much Too Much". The recording studio just so happened to be run by Silvio Tancredi; when the tracks were finished, he offered to put them out on his 25 West label. The vocal version and an instrumental mix were released as a 12" the following year. Mic tells us this meant Sass "were one of the few bands to have a record release while still playing on the club circuit; the reaction exceeded our expectations at the time". According to Mic Much Too Much was something a little different from the band's live sound at the time, "it was more R&B/smoothed out than the funk/rock we usually leaned into". Indeed, the track glides with grace, poise, and patience. The elegant, easy tempo, combined with the magnificent melody and Mic's signature sublime vocal, conjures magic. The blend of deep boogie-funk power and heavenly sweetness is both infectious and goosebump-inducing. On the flip-side, the instrumental slaps harder; without Mic's vocal it's just pure groove, with nothing to stop vibing all night: the bassline, the drums, and the melody still connect. Hard. Pick a side, there's no losing. Working directly with Mic Murphy means that the audio for the re-issue of the classic 12" comes from the original tapes. Cut at 45 RPM and released in a plain sleeve, this record is well up to the job of having a permanent place in every DJ's bag; this is essential stuff. Mic on how much it means to him to have "Much To Much" re-issued: "It's an amazing feeling to have something you created almost 40 years ago still have relevance and even more amazing to be considered among the Northern Soul boogie anthems. And it's especially important to me that we're available again on vinyl."

$29.00 IN STOCK

Be With Records work with Ian Willson to reissue his self-released, West Coast classic Straight From The Heart, privately pressed and originally released in 1985. This is the only album Ian ever put out. A magical blend of AOR/sophisticated funk/synth-boogie/spiritual jazz and modern soul, it's a spellbinding record of many colors. You might already know Straight From The Heart for the dubby-disco paranoid-Balearic anthem "Four In The Morning", and it's easy to assume this is probably just another one of those one-track LPs. But this is an impressively slick record from start to finish. Album opener "Think About It" is all sorts of right. It's emotional. It's tops-off. It's funk in its purest form. And take the proto-modern-funk of the title track (half Dâm-Funk/half Dâd-Funk). The shimmering, spiritual bossa-jazz of "If I Were You" serves as the album's soaring centerpiece. A gorgeous suite of cosmic vibes to get Gilles frothing, it sounds like nothing else on the record which makes sense given that it was recorded a couple of years earlier, and is the only track on the LP that wasn't recorded in Ian's own studio. Side B opens with the propulsive ode to love that is "Two Is Better Than One". Wonderfully sparse when it needs to be, it's also richly percussive and that special kind of California-warm. Frenetic, speaker smashing synth and horn workout "Funk Invasion" dares you not to dance and "A Game Called Love" is heavily indebted to Prince with its lush, deep funk stylings. The sweeping sax-drenched instrumental "Song For Katelyn" is head-nod, beat-heavy AOR for that melancholic magic hour. It all adds up to the ultimate BBQ record. Almost all of Straight From The Heart was recorded over a few months between 1983 and 1984 on Ian's brand new Otari 8 track in the Oakland, California studio he built just the year before. Only "If I Were You" was recorded elsewhere, at Bay Sound in 1982. Ian produced the album himself and played all of the instruments, except for the guitar of his longtime friend, Peter Fujii. Tower Of Power, Average White Band, Earth Wind & Fire, and Stevie Wonder was the list of influences Ian gave when asked. Why did he put the record out himself? Simple, he had no idea how to go about getting a record deal. The original tapes have long since been lost. This reissue was remastered from Ian's one-and-only pristine copy.

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Jon Tye and Pete Fowler have been making music as Seahawks for a decade now. Given the sounds they've been exploring over those ten years it was a cosmic inevitability that they would be asked to contribute to the catalog of the legendary library label KPM. They replied with Island Visions, an exploration of sound for vision where they construct "audio micro-worlds to explore and inhabit," a way to transport the listener away from the everyday without the bother of getting on an airplane. Mostly recorded at The Centre Of Sound in Cornwall, with additional recording at Studio 34 in London, Jon and Pete's travelling companions on this particular trip were boogie wunderkind Sven Atterton on fretless bass and keys, Nick Mackrory on percussion, and the Seahawks live team of Dan Hillman and Alik Peters-Deacon. From the grooves of Brian Bennett to the moog vibrations of Mike Vickers, the lush textures of Les Baxter to the experimental sounds of Delia Derbyshire and David Vorhaus, this new music channels sounds and moods from across the KPM universe. Like many KPM suites, this is a record of two distinct sides. The sunrise of side A brings a deep meditation, a journey within to renew the jaded self. Side B refreshes with cocktails by the pool and a chance to groove away the evening at some sunset beach party before dancing under the stars in the house of dreams. Pete's cover for the LP is part map, part postcard; the track descriptions on the back help guide the way. 2020 marks ten years since Ocean Trippin', the first Seahawks release, and Island Visions is the perfect distillation of the sounds, sights, textures, and moods that Jon and Pete have been exploring over the last decade -- sunrise to sunset condensed to two sides of an LP. The normal rules of space and time don't apply here. This is the first time Be With has worked with Seahawks, but individually Jon and Pete have been members of the extended Be With family since forever (Pete did those posters for our Ned Doheny tour and worked with Jon on the vinyl version of Hatchback's Colors Of The Sun). Mastered by Balearic engineer of choice Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry, the sonic frequencies of these Island Visions have been precision tuned and encoded for optimum traveling conditions.

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Be With Records present a reissue of Victor Cavini's Japan, originally released in 1983. The first Be With foray into the archives of revered German library institution Selected Sound is one of Be With's favorites on the label. Rare and sought-after for many years now, this is one of those cult library LPs that never turn up. With Daibutsu the giant Buddha of Kamakura's presence gracing the hefty front cover, this is a record bursting with dope samples for adventurous producers: it's koto-funk madness! Victor Cavini was the library music pseudonym of prolific German composer and musician Gerhard Trede. He was known for exploring instruments and styles from around the world (he played over 50 different instruments himself) and Japan is his collection of 14 musical sketches painted with traditional Japanese wind and string instruments. These are the sounds of traditional Japanese folk music re-interpreted through Western ears, with the occasional contemporary twist. Contemporary for 1983, of course. These "Pictures Of Japan" are hypnotic, sometimes frantic, but always beautiful. The first twelve tracks offer airy explorations of koto and flute, with other strings and percussion being added and then given their own space. Indeed "Pictures Of Japan XII" is just drums. And then "Pictures Of Japan XIII" seems to come out of nowhere. But the subtle sleaze of its full band sound still doesn't quite prepare you for the towering climax of "Pictures Of Japan XIV". This is Japan's undoubted standout piece, completely and wonderfully at odds with the rest of the album. It's the reason this has become such a must-have record. It keeps the traditional Japanese instruments but combines them with shuffling funk breaks, electric bass high in the mix and a Godzilla-sized psychedelic fuzz guitar sound that might actually be a traditional reed flute pushed to its limits. Recalling both Rino de Filippi's 1973 album Oriente Oggi (CNLP 042LP) and Giancarlo Barigozzi's Oriente also from 1973, the track's a real head-nod groove for b-boys and b-girls alike that sounds straight out of a late-70s Yakuza film. Indeed, if you were told The RZA or Onra had cooked this up in the lab this century, you'd be convinced. It's crazy that this dates from 1983. Audio remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. Richard Robinson has handled the careful restoration of the original Selected Sound sleeve.

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Reissue of The All American Powerhouse (Themes), originally released in 1976. They say: "Driving brass and sax ensemble over funky rhythm section, playing tracks of various feel and style". Be With Records say: From the Lincoln Continental that memorably adorns the cover to the tranquil funk contained within, this glowing ode to the grooving force of 70s American soul music is ice cool all over. With brilliant contributions from the Three Key Alans (Hawkshaw, Parker, Tew) as well as Mike Moran, Les Hurdle, and Keith Roberts, this is driving music for only the vibeiest cats. Originally released in 1976, The All American Powerhouse is one of the very best of the Themes library releases. It's killer. A feast of dramatic jazz, horizontal, melodic funk, and bouncing sunshine-y West-Coast feels throughout, there also lurks an intense injection of the Blaxploitation sound. Understandable, given the subject matter and year it was released. Highlights include Alan Parker's confident, horn-heavy wah-wah-fueled album-opener "Sweeny Todd", Hawkshaw's graceful "Getaway" glide and dramatic, breathless "Speed Run", Mike Moran's loose, organ-driven propulsive B-Boy classic "The Pick-Up" and Keith Roberts's percussive tour de force "Overide" that closes out the LP. Yet, perhaps the most significant track here is Les Hurdle's long-adored "Soul Train". A grooving, bass-heavy library classic, it's all swirling strings, stabbing horns, heavy open drums and melodic funk-rock guitars. Add in the funky clavinet, and the combination works beautifully. As with all of Be With Records' other Themes reissues, the audio for The All American Powerhouse comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Sleeve reproduction duties over by Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.

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Reissue of The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story, originally released in 1975. They say: "Composite themes and incidental cues for dramatic application". Be With Records say: Well, it's definitely dramatic. No wonder this LP was mined by a multitude of '70s and '80s crime shows. Much like Beat Incidental, this true gem includes a raft of enjoyable sub-ten second incidental cues alongside satisfyingly stretched out, hard-knocking sleuth-funk. The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story is a real library-head's library album. You'll be treated to some of the best works of no less than five different heavyweights of the genre: drummer Brian Bennett, guitarist Clive Hicks (of The Gentle Rain), saxophonist Duncan Lamont, rock bassist Dave Richmond, and keyboard session giant Steve Gray. Something of a dream line-up, they each contributed stellar efforts to create one of the most sought-after of the legendary KPM albums. Both sides of this LP are dripping with insidious grooves and dramatic spy-score themes, bursting with heavy guitars, swirling flutes, creeping piano-funk, and drum breaks galore. Originally released in 1975, it's clear that these library heroes were heavily influenced by the tough funk and street soul sonics emerging from the cutting-edge Blaxploitation soundtracks. Dave Richmond's taut swagger and wah-wah guitar licks of "Nightwatch", Steve Gray's sleazy horn and clav-funk on the A-side opener "Theme For A Hunter" and Brian Bennett's rolling strut of "The Investigator" are just three of the highlights here. That last one being sampled by Jeff Jank under his Captain Funkaho guise on "My 2600" for Stones Throw back in 1999. As with all of Be With Records' KPM re-issues, the audio for The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered by Simon Francis. Sleeve reproduction duties by Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.

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Reissue of Visual Impact, originally released at 1976. They say: "Descriptive scores for scenes of visual impact". Be With Records say: Arguably the single greatest album in KPM history. An ensemble piece of staggeringly heavy works from none other than Brian Bennett, John Scott, Steve Gray, Jim Lawless, and Johnny Pearson. Visual Impact includes the insanely ace "Nuplex" by Brian Bennett, a nagging, sweeping, punchy funk piece that exists in a world of its own. If you don't know, get to know -- the record's worth getting for this track alone. The same goes for the beautifully paced, string-drenched, horn-fed LP opener "Canaveral Scape", courtesy of John Scott. Truly sublime. Other highlights on the A-side include Bennett's easy, bass-heavy jazz groover "Sequence Of Events" and the spare, building, undercover funk of Steve Gray's aptly-named "Low Profile". The B-side is straight-up fantastic. The percussive, vibey exotica of Jim Lawless's "Keeping Pace" is followed by five tracks of slick, weighty funk breaks from Johnny Pearson. Check the pure groove of "Jaguar" with its head-nod drum break intro, the creeping piano-strings combo and... er... giant neck-snapping breaks of "Giant's Causeway", the speaker-smashing progressive bass groove of "Fugitive", the tense "Rock Climb" and the sheer heft of "Heavy Load". Library largeness. If that isn't enough, John Scott's incessant "Flight Of The Phoenix" ends the session, brilliantly pilfered by M.O.P. for their much-loved "We Run New York". Originally released in 1976 but wonderfully timeless, Visual Impact is a rare example of a library record that's genuinely great listen from start to finish. As with all of Be With Records' KPM reissues, the audio for Visual Impact comes from the original analog tape and has been remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Sleeve reproduction duties by Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.

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Reissue of Peter Lüdemann and Pit Troja's The Now Generation (Percussive Underscores), originally released in 1983. They say: "Documentary and industrial underlays for current themes of modern life". Be With Records say: Mind-blowing, percussion-heavy, Afro-tinged, cosmic-disco library bomb. An absolutely outstanding record from 1983 and definitely one of the hardest to find on the collectable German library label, Coloursound. The Now Generation (Percussive Underscores) is comfortably one of the very best library records full stop. The record comes galloping out the gate with a pair of rapid synthy-Euro disco bombs -- the title-track and "Panama" -- before slowing down to a woozy pace on "Inorganic Matter". "African Nightclub" sounds like it reads, and is a particular favorite of Prins Thomas. Indeed, it was used to great effect on his seminal "Cosmo Galactic Prism" mix for Eskimo back in 2007. It's followed by the dark, druggy, slow motion industrial groove of "Grease Plant" before "Southerly" lifts the tempo to close out side A with its Latin funk strut of bells and melancholic keys. For some listeners, though, it'll be all about the opener to side B: "Mechanical Heart". Seven minutes of building, mid-tempo disco-funk joy, deceptively explosive, club-ready gear for body and soul. The back cover dryly describes the track as "Guitar and percussion, light industrial underlay". Hmmm. How about, "after finally emerging from a particularly heavy week jamming in a sunless, lawless German warehouse, Chic warily press record on a wayward, illicit instrumental for basement gatherings". Just wait for those drums at the three-minute mark... The beatless ambience and menacing stabs of the proto-electro "Chemical Threat" follows, before the open drums and incredible fills of the metronomic "Steady Going" and fantastically monotonous funk breaks of "Nepal Trek" round out this sensational set. This is a library masterpiece in no uncertain terms, full of synth funk, Afro beats, exotica, leftfield madness, dancefloor dynamite, and all-around greatness. As with Be With Records' KPM and Themes reissues, the audio for The Now Generation comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Richard Robinson has brought the original Coloursound sleeve back to life in all its metallic silver glory. 140 gram vinyl.

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Reissue of Breath Of Danger (Themes), originally released in 1974. They say: "A selection of suspense underscores and drama blackcloths which vary in intensity and cover a wide range of suspense and drama situations". Be With Records say: A breaky, funky library great masquerading as a horror score. Oh, and the cover art is amazing. Breath Of Danger was originally released in 1974, and rounded up a killer ensemble cast of library legends including Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, Alan Parker, David Lindup, Kenny Salmon, Barry Morgan, and Ray Cooper. Lindup's opener "Cold Sweat" sounds like hip-hop-friendly mode Axelrod and, indeed, was brilliantly sampled by Kool Keith for his Dr. Dooom project. Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett's "The Manipulator" sounds like it arrived straight out of the same sessions as their legendary Synthesizer & Percussion LP from the same year. Over on the B-side Alan Parker's "Psychosis" is a moving and beautifully restrained funk-guitar/cello/harp workout. Stunning. Kenny Salmon's "Flying Squad" is a sleazy, flute-enhanced gem and the album closes with "Voodoo", a seventy-second riot of sound and color from the dynamic drumming-percussion duo of Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper. Sonically, there's a widescreen vitality in all these tracks thanks to the driving rhythms, vibrant horn sections and blazing guitar work. It renders Breath Of Danger -- 45 years old -- truly ageless. The Themes series is known for having particularly striking sleeves, which was unusual for library records at the time, and Breath Of Danger's scraps of comic-book crazy make for one of the most eye-catching. As with all of Be With Records' other Themes reissues, the audio for Breath Of Danger comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Sleeve reproduction duties by Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.

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Be With Records present a reissue of Samuel Jonathan Johnson's My Music, originally released in 1978. My Music is a stellar spiritual soul/jazz-funk gem, recorded by keyboardist-singer Samuel Jonathan Johnson in 1978. The epitome of a cult classic, it didn't do much upon its release but steadily found an audience over the decades that followed. This is music that shares the jazzy R&B DNA of contemporaries like Roy Ayers and is an intoxicating blend of mellow moments and more groove-heavy tracks. Spacey keys and lush production give it a luxurious, enveloping warmth. My Music opens with the gorgeous title track: an indulgent slow jam opus. Introducing you to Johnson's compelling musical vision, it features a rich mélange of production techniques. Dripping in strings, horns, backing singers, popping funk bass lines and swooshing synth waves, it's an unusually structured cosmic two-stepper that has an irrepressible groove. Accordingly, it's been a favorite with the diggers and it was sampled by The Alchemist for Jadakiss's "We Gonna Make It". The up-tempo "Sweet Love" bubbles over with joy, its uplifting lyrics backed by infectious bass and jazzy Fender Rhodes lines. It follows a cover of "What The World Need's Now Is Love", taken at a funereal pace that transforms it into a heartfelt plea for love and understanding. After a full-minute-long opening of lush cinematic strings and horns, "Because I Love You" makes space for Samuel's voice, accompanied by some keys and just a sprinkle of guitar. It builds back up and then mellows its way out to a jazz lounge finish (in all the right ways). The feel-good ebullience of the Stevie Wonder-esque "It Ain't Easy" closes out the LP's first side. The second side bursts open with the heavy bounce and disco-funk basslines of "You", a slightly off-beat string-laden dancer with insistent horns and a piano-assisted groove. Next up is "Just Us", a legendary steppers track that could be heard oozing out of deep soul radios and funk sound systems back in the late '80s. "Yesterdays and Tomorrow" is a moving original ballad that is followed by an exquisite high-stepping paean to mom in the form of "Thank You Mother Dear". The thumping easy-glide of "Reason For The Reason" brings the album to a close. Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. Sleeve artwork restored by Be With Records. 140 gram vinyl.

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Be With Records present a reissue of Ceasar Frazier's 75, originally released in 1975. Funky soul-jazz organist Caesar Frazier crafted superior Hammond funk. 75, his second LP, is a rare gem. It's comfortably his greatest artistic statement. The follow-up to Hail Ceasar! (1972), it's a taut, grooving set that expands his sound and, put simply, it's got better songs. The key elements of his debut album are all there -- production from maestro Bob Porter, accompaniment from hip players (Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Cornell Dupree, John Tropea) and arrangement from Horace Ott -- but the overall sound is elevated. The tightly jamming, expressive jazz-funk makes for a richer, fuller, more satisfying experience. 75 is a mixture of hard-driving originals, deeply beautiful slower numbers to vary the tempo and a couple of classy covers. The crazy bombastic "Mighty Mouse" -- a riot of horns, organ and in the pocket drums -- became an acid jazz classic at Dingwalls and it's easy to see (hear?) how. A blissed-out, lushly instrumental take on Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze" follows, perfect for those sunshine sets. Side A closes with the heavenly "Sweet Children". A loping, funky jazz masterpiece famously sampled by Kanye West for Common's "Real People" from Be (2005). It opens beautifully, with soaring sax and a funky horn section combining with weightless keyboard tones atop snapping drums. Unsurprisingly, the excellence endures right through to the end. The B side opens with perhaps the album's most famous track. "Funk It Down" contains the familiar "I can feel the funk" vocal refrain throughout. But it's the gorgeous, insouciant bridge that you should all know and love, having been used as the hook for Gang Starr's "Ex-Girl To Next Girl". A great cover of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" comes next, with an unforgettable bass-line which anchors the entire heavy rhythm section workout. Dizzying organ, triumphant horns and sun-dappled guitar grooves combine to create "Walking On The Side", rounding out a pretty smoking set. This is one of those rare '70s funk-soul-jazz LPs on which a bad track cannot be found. It's all essential. So of course finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been tough for years. Reproduced artwork by the Be With Records. Mastered by Simon Francis; cut by Pete Norman.

$36.50 IN STOCK

2019 repress; remastered on 180 gram vinyl, expanded to double-LP, gatefold sleeve. One cannot hear a Tommy Guerrero song without immediately recognizing it as his -- and his only. The cult skater from San Francisco is globally renowned as one of the original members of the legendary "Bones Brigade" team. And as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, his laid-back soul is beloved by all who've basked in its blissful glow. A Little Bit Of Somethin' is a quietly majestic gem. Brimming with Guerrero's horizontal "loose grooves", these brief but innovative instrumentals demonstrate a rich variety and, as such, comprise an LP that is aptly titled. An enchanting start-to-finish listen, it was instantly regarded as essential upon release via Mo Wax in 2000. It has aged remarkably well. Throughout this inspired collection, simplicity is key. In deploying it, Guerrero presents a beautifully crafted melodic soundscape. The distinctive, mellifluous approach of his guitar style, blending Brazilian, Cuban, Mexican, soul, and jazz motifs, is at once startlingly new and tantalizingly familiar. Set against unrushed percussion, the music releases a crystal-clear stream of healing frequencies to create a fragile, hypnotic atmosphere. Each track clocks in at around three minutes and, with a lack of studio polish or commitment to traditional song structure, it's a wonder how this enigmatic record demands your attention. However, through its gentle dynamism and impressive playing, it does just that. Whilst resolutely low-key, this lo-fi aesthetic feels genuinely organic and remarkably personal; its powerful intimacy truly connects. It's what makes this album so beloved of those lucky enough to be already familiar with it. From Margaret Kilgallen's truly iconic cover artwork to the music contained within, it's all brilliantly effortless. Guerrero's musical ideas are consistently compelling throughout, making it impossible to select highlights. The album's laconic drift touches upon jazz-fusion workouts and slow-mo hip-hop drums, Tortoise-style experimental post-rock, and cinematic sound textures. It's at once hazy, light and bouncy yet somber and bluesy. The Latin soul of El Chicano blends with the breezy jazz of Grant Green. By employing guitars and drum machines to create a stripped-down rhythmic tapestry of spellbinding, addictive songs, there are even traces of The Durutti Column. A little bit of country, a little bit of rock n' roll. A Little Bit Of Somethin', indeed.