Back catalogue: All genres

Review: We're yet to get our ears around a compilation from US label Numero Group that isn't absolutely brilliant. This latest one isn't going to change that, either. Eccentric Soul: The Linco Label dives deep into Civil Rights-era Greensboro, where Black excellence and raw musical talent converged at North Carolina A&T. Local label head Walter Grady tapped a vibrant cast of "townies, homecoming queens, and big men on campus" to craft a revolutionary soul sound rooted in community and resistance. This collection captures the pivotal moment with hometown pride and boundary-pushing grooves coming thick and fast. From basement studios to protest marches, these tracks reflect a powerful cultural awakening and make for a great document of soul's grassroots history.

Review: Heavyweight champions of the compilation world, Numero Group, defend their undisputed title once more with this collection of greats from San Antonio mogul Abe Epstein's Dynamic label. In its heyday, it became a hub for soulful music with its flagship band the Commands scoring a hit in 1966 with 'No Time For You.' Their success led to 20 more singles over 30 months and Epstein's inclusive studio welcomed a diverse racial mix of Texas talent which in turn created a melting pot of sound. This collection reflects that across 28 gems from groups like the Tonettes, Little Jr. Jesse & the Tear Drops and Bobby Blackmon & His Soul Express all exploring different soul niches.

Review: Notoriously elusive, sophisti-thereal pop/post-punk collective Vazz answer to almost no-one. Emerging from the same late 70s/early 80s mutant formaldehyde mists that spawned This Mortal Coil and Crepuscule, yet bringing the dream pop sound to Glasgow, Hugh Small and Anna Howson are still going strong as a boutique bringing-together of mindful, magnetic musicians, pedigreed for the seemly discotheque. First released on Cathexis Records, we are indeed much cathected to both EPs in this collection. In sloshing but somehow still self-contained fashion, 'Your Final Word' swims in reverb nearly to the point of drowning its own harmonies, yet breathability is somehow still retained. 'Bleached White Skin' is the perfect storm of wavy wash, operatic doublings and ditzy drum machine, and 'Breath' brings spring-verb coldwave stylings to a languorous, pitchy closer. Then 'Feverpitch' and 'For A Reason' hear the compilation sprawl further into arpeggiating tumult, as we move on to material from the 1987 'Feverpitch' EP. This 40th anniversary edition collates both EPs and adds a handful of unissued minimal wave pearls.

Review: Returning to vinyl for a 40th-anniversary edition, the Glasgow duo's singular approach to post-punk and coldwave is sure find a larger fan base with its fantastic vintage sound. Originally released in 1986 and formed by Hugh Small and Anna Howson, Vazz carved out a distinctive space in the mid-80s. Their soundia fusion of skeletal electronics, atmospheric guitar and hushed yet striking vocalsimelds the austerity of coldwave with the melodic sensibility of synth-pop. Drum machines pulse beneath shimmering textures, while Howson's spectral delivery drifts through the mix, lending an eerie, romantic detachment. Key moments highlight their range: 'Your Final Word' bathes in cavernous reverb, 'Bleached White Skin' sways with layered vocals and murky waves and 'Breath' lingers in icy, stretched-out melancholia. More rhythmically urgent, 'Feverpitch' and 'For A Reason' build on cascading arpeggios and taut structures. Vazz's work has grown in stature over time, finding a home in the post-punk imagination for its ghostly charm and understated allure.