Back catalogue: Psych/Garage Rock

Review: The latest addition to Echo Edits keeps the funk coming courtesy of Break Character who delivers two powerful tracks that are indicative of his unique approach, names to enhance each edit with extra layers of FX and beats. 'Cosmic Freaks' takes a 60s go-go rock groove and infuses it with Moog and Space Echo effects while paying homage to the psychedelic club sounds of Pierre Henry and JJ Perrey. 'Cherie Boca' then transports you in an instant to the funky samba rhythms of 70s Brazil with an extended edit and added beats to guide dancers from the favela to the beach. Two distinct styles, perfect for different vibes.

Review: Heavy Jazz Records has licensed this very welcome reissue of one of the most iconic Hammond Mod dancefloor bangers of all time. This limited edition new 45 rpm features Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity's 'Indian Rope Man' on one side, a track packed with driving chord work, vibrant guitar licks, and passionate, intense vocals. On the flip side, Mod enthusiasts will find another gem in the form of 'Black Cat.' This track races forward with raw brass, hard-edged vocals, scintillating drums and epic chord progressions. A true pair of heavy-hitting tracks from the vault, sure to thrill collectors and dancers enthusiasts alike.

Review: Spectral musical favourites Ghost Box return with the beautiful third album by Beautify Junkyards. Extending the idea that junkyards aren't already beautiful in their own scrappy sort of way, Nova is an exquisite selection of junk-larked tropicalia "finds", visually (album-cover-ally) building on the news cut-up assemblages of Dada and committing them to the beatific atmospheric siblings that are trip hop, psychedelia and what we'd trepidatiously deign to call cosmic lounge. With special guests Paul Weller, Dorothy Moskowitz (of United States of America) and Jesse Chandler (of Pneumatic Tubes & Midlake), this is a thoroughly far-flung metal detecting foray indeed, but it's not the inclusion of the canonic names of 60s psychedelic rock that makes this one special, more than it is its bright, refined, verging on impeccable recordings; despite much guitar echo and analogue anaphora, nothing gets lost in mire, despite this being a nominal junkyard. Best of among the shiny things has to be 'Sonora', the star prize in this magpie's nest. These acid folk have well and truly done it again.

Review: Ghost Box present the CD edition of their latest record by freakish scene-dazzlers Beautify Junkyards, Nova. Despite the record's immediate imagism bringing together news clipping collage, and connotations of scrapheaps and salvaging indicated by the band's name, the sound of the record is anything but adjacent to these themes. The six-piece psychedelia/acid folk band command a wide foundry of instruments, smoothening any rough edge into a shared, sonically doughy dream, beautifying a well-sifted haul of believably, formerly scrapped instruments into a pristine assemblage. Though it builds on motifs heard in 60s and 70s film soundtracks, echoing spaghetti Westerns and early sci-fi, the record's best moments are its seemingly impossible electronica syntheses, such as the unassailed critical mass of trickling drum machine, spring reverb, tonal murmur and near-atonal noise reached on 'Raridade De Contrastes'.

Review: Fandabidozi, the debut album from Bobbie Dazzle, led by singer Sian Greenway, is a joyful tribute to the glam rock of the 1970s. Drawing influence from icons like David Bowie, T. Rex, and The Sweet, the album manages to celebrate the past while still feeling fresh and vibrant. Opener 'Lightning Fantasy' kicks things off with a punch, featuring lyrics written by Greenway's father, offering a deeply personal touch. Tracks like 'Merry-Go-Round' and 'Revolution' channel the groovy, flamboyant spirit of glam rock, while 'Lady on Fire' delivers a heavier, guitar-driven edge reminiscent of 70s rock. The album is packed with energy, charisma, and a sense of fun, with 'Back to the City' and 'It's Electric' standing out as lively anthems. Greenway's powerful vocals and the band's tight instrumentation keep the momentum strong from start to finish. Fandabidozi is a bold and glittering ode to rock 'n' roll's most theatrical era, blending nostalgic charm with contemporary flair. It's an exciting introduction to Bobbie Dazzle's vibrant world.

Review: Brian Auger's fusion of jazz, funk, and rock in this 1973 release feels as bold today as it must have sounded then, with his expressive Hammond organ weaving effortlessly through complex arrangements that balance technical mastery with emotional depth. The interplay between soulful grooves and intricate rhythms gives the music a timeless quality, particularly in standout tracks where vocal lines and instrumental passages collide in unexpectedly powerful ways. The reissue brings renewed clarity to a release that remains a touchstone for anyone exploring the boundary-pushing potential of jazz fusion.

Review: As the title suggests, Broadcast have collected all their demo recordings made between 2000 and 2006 and compiled them onto a single 14-track record. But that's not the main piece of news: sadly, this one marks the end of releasing from the band, tying the bow on an game-changing career to say the least. Many of these tender tidbits were worked into finished productions appearing on Haha Sound, Tender Buttons and The Future Crayon; it's an impressive flex to be able to flaunt your one-offs and pack them onto a single recorded finale. What's more, the connotations aroused by form - demos - as well as the sonic content of these gems plays nicely up to Broadcast's now well-established aesthetic, which is one for the ages, to be sure. The album also includes two songs discovered by James after bandmate Trish's passing: 'Come Back To Me' and 'Please Call To Book' which was her response to Broadcast's 2006 'Let's Write A Song' project, where fans were asked to submit lyrics on a postcard which would then be worked into a finished song.

Review: Originally recorded in Rome with top-tier players like Giorgio Carnini and Giovanni Tommaso, this psychedelic library session bridges modal jazz, Latin percussion, and fuzzed-out funk. This reissue restores the 1970 cut in full, swirling through ghostly organ grooves and spiralling rhythm sections with a clarity that feels startlingly fresh. 'Psichefreelico (Sostenuto)' and 'Bacharachico' glide between dreamy lounge and scorched delay-drenched oddness, while 'Africaneidico' pulses with loose Afro-Latin syncopation. Mined from Italy's golden age of library music and remastered from mono tapes, it's a masterclass in instrumental storytellingivivid, woozy and totally transportive.

Review: A second joining of forces from two celebrated Chicago acts, blending deep, organic rhythms with a minimalistic electronic pulse. With the novel but logical addition of Jason Stein on bass clarinet, the collaboration stretches even further, pulling together the spiritual fluidity of Natural Information Society and the electronic minimalism of Bitchin Bajas. The first single, 'Clock no Clock,' is a deep dive into hypnotic rhythms, with guimbri grooves intertwining seamlessly with electronic bursts, flutes and organs. The other three tracks are equally compelling, the music unfolding like a living organism, constantly shifting but always grounded. Expansive, intricately woven sonic delights.