Back in stock: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz/Nu Soul

Review: This compilation has been curated by members of Nomark's online community, The Nomark Club, and it brings together rare and previously unavailable tracks from Amon Tobin's various musical personas, including Two Fingers and the return of his early alias, Cujo. With selections from Tobin's multifaceted discography, the album offers a deep dive into his distinct genre-blending worlds. Tracks like Two Fingers' 'Golden' pulse with gritty bass and frenetic energy, while Cujo's 'Early for Clink Street' and 'Nine Bars Back' provide a moody, jazz-infused atmosphere. Tobin's darker tracks 'In Long Dark Grass' and 'Deep in Time' close the album on a hauntingly hopeful note.

Review: Paper Can't Wrap Fire is the third album from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori, and it is a rich mix of jazz, soul, funk and R&B, but also marks a bold evolution in the artist's own songwriting. The title is based on a Chinese proverb about truth and underpins reflective tracks like the soulful 'Brown Eyes,' satirical 'Disaster,' and introspective 'Flicker' Recorded in Naarm with friends and past bandmates, these sparkling sounds are brimful of the sort of life-affirming harmonies and dynamic musical interplay that makes you smile broadly, while the heartfelt lyrics make this town mark. Influences from the likes Azymuth, SAULT, and Jordan Rakei are all clear, but Don Glori crafts his own take on those sounds that speaks to both emotion and intellect.

Review: In December 2022, British soul and dance sound system favourites Soul II Soul returned to the iconic Roundhouse for a sold-out show and duly stepped up to deliver a masterclass in groove. Now captured on a limited-edition gold-coated double vinyl, this live recording celebrates 35 years since their seminal Club Classics Vol. 1 reshaped music. Featuring powerhouse vocals from Charlotte Kelly and Nadine Ceaser, the album radiates the signature Funki Dreds vibe that made the group legendary and has standout singles like 'Get a Life' and 'Jazzie's Groove' all sounding wonderful, raw and direct in a way that only live music does. It's a front-row experience of their timeless rhythms and positive vibes.

Review: Glasgow's Rebecca Vasmant is back with a sophomore album that comes through a new partnership between Women In Jazz, New Soil, and Marathon Music Group. Building on the acclaim of With Love From Glasgow, the bold Who We Are Becoming is another expansive vision for contemporary jazz in which Vasmant leads a 25-piece ensemble. Across the music, she explores themes of identity, growth and femininity and brings traditional jazz tropes up to date with modern textures. Featuring returning collaborators and new voices like Repeat Beat Poet and flautist GOkU, this record marks the first time Vasmant has included her own vocals, which deepens the personal resonance of the powerful sounds.