Ramp
The Old One, Two / Paint Me Any Color

Ultra-positive consciousness from Afro-Caribbean London, circa 1979. Members of the legendary 20th Century Steel Band (one of Grand Master Flash's favourites) sailing Trinidad-wise over gratifyingly intricate African ritual rhythms. Strong vocals compliment reggae, funk, disco and soul influences to form a relentless groove machine.Steel an' Skin, a unit composed of young nightclub musicians born in Ghana, Nigeria, St. Kitts, Trinidad and the U.K., who once performed with Ginger Johnson's Afrikan Drummers, a highlife band under the tutelage of the late Ginger Johnson and played at Johnson's Iroko Country Club in Hampstead, London. Steel an' Skin began activities giving concerts and workshops in London schools, expanding nationwide to schools, prisons, psychiatric hospitals and summer festivals, including the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. The group combined an admirably brave, open and unironic mix of musical forms with community outreach, non-cynical and untainted by preachiness or "social work." Good feelings from good hearts.This EM reissue consists of Steel an' Skin's 1979 debut 12 inch single "Reggae is Here Once Again", featuring "Afro Punk Reggae (Dub)", a fine disco-dub workout, plus some tracks from their 1984 recordings, as well as one unissued track for CD version. Also CD version includes a documentary DVD by Steve Shaw featuring perceptive commentary from Steel an' Skin's founder Peter Blackman, killer live and rehearsal footage of the band, workshop scenes (check out the 1970s suits and parkas!) and devastating views of inner-city Liverpool. Steel an' Skin soars above the 1970s ruins!

P-Vine: ..."Vibraphone" double cider, of course, super rare, which combines the finest mellowness of Roy Ayers and the local jazz-funk manners of Billy Wooten, and is quietly left in the rare groove important area = New Jersey! !!Rare groove important area = New Jersey-based vibraphonist Ted Coleman released in 1980, a phantom debut album that is also called the highest peak of hidden rare groove! "Maestro" Roy Ayers' vibes touch is softer and mellow, and Ted's unbearable play is a masterpiece of all songs original! Especially the vocal songs are wonderful, and it is convincing that the soft vibes and tight drums associated with Ted's tasty singing have captivated top collectors around the world who are aiming for the local unexplored board of US minor jazz. Probably the correct rare groove manners! "Jake is sober"? No, heaven will come only to those who sniff out this rare groove odor and pick it up, and if they pass by, they will regret it for the rest of their lives. That's what the diggers road is all about!

Singing Dust: ...One of Australia’s most mysterious jazz long players, the eponymous creation of Queensland pianist Robert Welsh. Originally released in 1986, Singing Dust offers a dynamic collection of songs rich in expressive performance and compositional fluidity. Inspired by the sounds of Indian devotional song, the jazz piano styles of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, English folk music and Debussey’s tonal impressions, this is a work of true dedication and posterity that will appeal to many serious music lovers. Restored from original master tapes by Fresh Hold Releases & @efficientspace.Singing Dust - Singing DustRobert Welsh - Vocals, Vocal Harmonies, Bosendorfer, Grand Piano, Rhodes Electric Piano, Korg Synthesizer, Recorders, Percussion, Conga Drum and Xylophone.Raine Mormon - Vocals and Vocal Harmonies.Ewan McKenzie - Guitar.

After more than three decades as a lost classic, the debut album by Washington DC soul/gospel outfit Enlightment is finally receiving a proper release.Founded by ordained bishop Larry H. Jordan and his brother-in-law Frank Tinsley in the early 1980s, Enlightment was among the first groups to fuse modern R&B production with gospel themes. Unfortunately, the independent release of their 1984 debut album Faith Is The Key was torpedoed when both their distributor and pressing plant went out of business. "We knew we were getting airplay across the country, but we couldn't get the product in the stores at the time", explains Tinsley of the missed opportunity. Only a handful of Faith Is the Key LPs ever made it into the public's hands.