Unlimited Touch - Self Titled. 
I discovered this album via the sample on Bon Rock & Rhythm Rebellion track Searching Rap. This album wins the title of both worst album cover font and being an absolute banger. We've got what looks like a bridal party photo. The guy in the middle looks like he has a terrible hangover or second thoughts about being in the band. The guy on the far left looks like he is thinking about how awful comic sans font is. This album is so underrated. I was watching Derrick Gee interviewing Thundercat the other week and a track from this album popped up. I was well pleased and inspired to dig it out. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #UnlimitedTouch

Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like a Wheel
I loathe having to do food shopping on my Sunday. But here we are. So after an irritating experience I needed a moment to recover. Say what you will about Linda Ronstadt, she's in every $5 bin, but she has a set of lungs. My dad was / is a Ronstadt fan and would put this on whilst cooking.
The Dark End of the Street is a heart breaking powerhouse tune and my favourite off the album.

* I got this from a $5 bin.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #LindaRonstadt #5dollarbin

Rick James – Come Get It
Rick James kind of freaked me out when I was kid. I didn’t understand or have any knowledge other then what was in pop culture and the news ie the Simpsons and 90’s era Rick (eeek). I didn’t grow up in a house that listened to funk and neither did any of my friends so I didn't have any reference to his earlier work. It was much later in life that I I started to listen to his music via my friend’s recommendation and learned his back story. I'm in the camp that Prince stole his shtick. Don't come at me. Despite being hugely problematic, the guy could write and play a hell of a tune.

I picked this up for cheep at one of the record fairs few years back.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #rickjames

Mr Bongo Compilation by Miche - With Love Vol 2
The other week we had to go to the urgent care vet. My cat was really sick. She’s 10 turning 11 this year and I was a wreck. I thought this was it and we’d be saying goodbye. She was indeed unwell but with twice daily meds and a chunk of my savings, she is improving. I decided I needed a pick me up and treated myself to an outing for fancy coffee and record browsing at the new Jewels of Thought in town. This album was blasting and I couldn’t stop swaying to it. It was an instant mood lifter. I went home and ordered a copy straight away. Packed full with rare soul independent gems this has been on high rotation in our house.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #MrBongo #WithLoveVol2 #soul

Sade – Diamond Life
I reckon it was about 5 years ago (?) Sade started having a moment. People were going back to discover the albums, the style and appreciate the talent. Now they have been inducted into the hall of fame. It took my awhile to appreciate Sade (and this style of UK soul/jazz) after years of having smooth operator saturated on my mums car radio. The tracks Hang On to Your Love from this album and The Sweetest Taboo from their following album Promises was what changed it for me. I always associate this album with the TV remake of High Fidelity where it featured heavily and the Derrick Gee radio show where he'd often say "Sade is a band."

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #Sade #HighFidelity

Gil Scott-Heron – Reflections

45 years later this album is as relevant today as it was in 1981. Not sure Mr Scott-Heron would appreciate being repressed for record store day and what it has become. I picked this one up because I wasn’t able to find an OG in the wild. This album has been my regular go to weekend morning spin.

* At the time of posting this, there was a tribute show to Gil Scott-Heron playing in my home town with Brian Jackson and Yasiin Bey.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #GilScottHeron #RSD2026

Blinky Bill – We Cut Keys 2
Kenyan rapper and DJ Blinky Bill (yes he took it from the Australian Koala) second album, self released. 6 years in the making, this album sounds rich and soulful with a mix of beats, uk grime, rhymes, soul, jazz, and afro sounds. He was such a highlight at Womad and hopefully this album gets a wider release!

#hiphop #rnb #BlinkyBil #Kenyanrapper #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music

CMAT – Euro-Country
I’d been struck down by the flu and watched a lot of Coachella. I was digging this album on streaming after my friend's recommendation and hit buy on the vinyl after watching her Coachella set. What a powerhouse! She deserves all the goodness and recognition that comes her way. I love the mix of tongue in cheek , pop, and politics of this album.
What a fucking great cover!

Also her her US tour videos reviewing Dolly Parton’s microwave meals are a hoot.

This vinyl is stunning. But sigh two LP’s!?! Can we jut go back to 1 LP please?

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #CMAT #country #ireland #irish

Minnie Riperton - Stay in Love
I’ve eaten too many hot cross buns, feeling under the weather (not realising I was getting the flu) and on call which I hate so I was in need of a pick me up. Minnie always lifts the spirits. I think this album and Adventures in Paradise are woefully underrated.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #Minnieriperton #stayinlove

David Bowie - Scary Monsters

I spun this on the cusp of coming down with the April Flu that ripped through my work.

I’m ashamed to admit I thought I knew this album. On further listen I don’t think I had really listened to it properly before despite owning it for years. It wasn’t until last year through this blog I discovered via my friend that the Japanese vocals on It’s No Game, are by Michi Hirota who features on the album cover of Sparks Kimono My House.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #DavidBowie #Scarymonsters #MichiHirota

Roberto Angleró - Self Titled

* almost a month later…

I’ve been on a real salsa tip of late.

Roberto Angleró was a Puerto Rican composer and singer. I read he took drumming lessons from Max Roach! With the current political climate and popularity of Bad Bunny I’ve noticed a bit of an upswing in salsa / Puerto Rican music which in my books is not a bad thing. Here he is repping the union of the International Longshoremen’s Association. Brilliant cover. Great album. ✊

When I tried to add this to discogs, I couldn't tell if it's a boot, a full album or comp. Anyway I found this randomly when browsing and was happy to drop 20 bucks on it.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #RobertoAnglero #salsa #ILA #PuertoRican #PuertoRico

Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos ( I should have taken more photos)

*it’s been a busy birthday month and I am very behind.

Whilst not a Super Bowl fan, that performance was iconic and will go down in history with Kendrick’s the year prior as some powerful political art at a time when the need for resistance is high. The messaging on this record also packs a punch with themes of decolonisation and loss of cultural identity through gentrification. This album is more complex and varied then perhaps I had appreciated when I saw it floating around last year.

#nowlistening #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #BadBunny

Instant Funk - Self Titled
We stopped briefly at the record fair Saturday afternoon. One of the sellers had bought a DJ collection which had been meticulously but irritatingly catalogued by a V Russo. My brief detective work notes it was the collection of an 80’s Gold Coast DJ Vince Russo who ran a club called the Penthouse. Which led me to the very politically incorrect abc headline article from 2020. Now if I’d known this PRIOR I would have gone early in the day. I assume most of the collection was picked over and I’d already spent a bunch of my record budget earlier in the day but I did pick this one up. Famous for the opening track sampled by De La Soul for A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays".

This one is so much fun, I played it twice.

#nowspinning #music #vinyl #vincerusso #goaldcoast #australiadj #salsoul #instant funk

Angela Caporaso – Sincera

I popped into Lenny’s for a bit of a pick me up. The shop looked like something out of high fidelity after a massive 2000+ record collection had come through. Most hadn’t been put out yet. But he gabbed a pile of 80’s Italian that he'd just priced from under the counter. This was only the tip of the collectors collection apparently. Lots of weird local presses. Anyway I took a punt on Angela and her big hair. Winner. Like 80’s Italian Madonna. She’s an Adelaide local, and I can’t really find anything more then that. Other that this was her only record.

#italian #80sitalian #80spop #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #adelaide #AngelaCaporaso

The Battering Ram – A Collection Of Irish Rebel Songs

I was looking for some more Planxty when I came across this for $10. It’s brilliant. This appears to be their only vinyl release. Comes with a detailed booklet too. I listened to it twice whilst my partner battled fixing our electric blind.

#irishfolk #irish #IrishRebelSongs #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music 

Minnie Riperton – Perfect Angel

Whoops. I forgot to finish this post

It wasn’t until recently I learned Stevie Wonder wrote two songs on this album and produced it. I'm not sure how I missed that fact. Iconic album and cover (by Barry Feinstein). It’s not my fave Minnie album but I do enjoy it. I often wonder if the ice cream melting on her hand was intentional or due to the duration of the shoot. I really hate getting icecream like that on my hands. Anyway, another reference and Doechii inspiration on this – thanking someone for driving “through the swamp to find me.”

Minnie is my go to weekend afternoon spin. Minnie forever!

#records #vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #music #MinnieRiperton #StevieWonder #BarryFeinstein #soull

Richard Dawson – Peasant

It’s scorchio today and I have the house to myself so more tunes. I find this album is best spent appreciating from the couch and doing little else or headphones. Although this album is from 2017, it nestles in well along side the early 2000’s experimental folk sounds I enjoyed at the time – think Josephine Forester/Faun Fables/Phil Elverum. A friend introduced me to Richard Dawson. He took a few listens to appreciate at first with each album experimenting with different sounds. However I'm glad I got there in the end. What a talented musician, lyrical genius, and totally underrated!

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #folk #contempoaryfolk #experimentalfolk #RichardDawson #ukfolk

Tip-Top (AKA Jarvis Cocker) – Chansons D'Ennui

Here we have the beloved Jarvis Cocker doing french pop song covers for the Wes Anderson film The French Dispatch. Jarvis does like a good cover. I was sceptical on release, but was oddly impressed. Was it necessary? Probably not. But is it fun? Yes! Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier also makes an appearance.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music 
#tiptop #JarvisCocker #ChansonsD'Ennui #wesanderson #TheFrenchDispatch #stereolab #LætitiaSadier

Noura Mint Seymali - Tzenni

This was a gift from my partner some years ago when I was getting into Tuareg guitar music. It's been awhile since I dug it out.

Noura Mint Seymali is a Mauritanian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. She plays the ardine- a 9 string harp for women. Together with her husband and guitarist Jeiche Ould Chighalya and others, this album is raw and shreds. Not gonna lie, it's not one I can spin often. It's not bad. There is just a lot going on. This would be incredible live.

#NouraMintSeymali #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #music #Mauritanian #JeicheOuldChighalya

Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 x Tim Shiel – Nervous Energy 一 触即发

One of my favourite releases from 2021 out on independent not for profit Australian label Music in Exile. Wang is a Chinese/Australian composer and guzheng player (sounds like a harp). Her solo works have a more minimal sounds, however in this collaboration with electronic artist Tim Shiel the works build with lush layers to the beats. It’s quite an underrated release IMHO. Music in Exile not only give back to the community, and develop artists, but their packaging and design is always on point – including this stunning cover.

#records #vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #music #musicinexile #mindywang #chinese #guzheng #TimShiel

Sparks – In Outer Space

This is my partner's favourite Sparks album and contains some of my favourite Sparks tracks, including collaboration with Mael’s then girlfriend Jane Wiedlin from the Go Go’s. My copy is a tad rough bought cheep thinking it might be a bit warped from the shrink left on but opened all those years but it plays well. I had never paid attention to the back until today with them and their guest musicians looking like Steve Jobs with turtle necks, in these awkward 80’s portrait poses.

#records #vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #music #Sparks #janeWiedlin #thegogo’s

David Byrne - Who Is the Sky?

I wasn’t sure if I’d like this album after my friend who is a massive Byrne/talking heads fan raised an eyebrow and commented it’s saccharine in positivity. Despite me sharing my love for their latest Tiny Desk Concert they continued to look sceptical. However after a few listens in the car I couldn't stop thinking about this album and how it made me feel. I decided to pick up a copy.

With the bleak 2026 world events, this album brings some welcome relief. Byrne finds joy and beauty in the mundane. He loves his apartment, his wife giving him anti ageing moisturiser that turned his skin into a toddler, and a budda eating pastries. It’s hilarious, instantly joyus, and a new fave in our house.

I can't wait to see him live later this month.

#records #vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #music #DavidByrne

Ripple – Self Titled

If I only saw the front cover of this, I’d assume it would be some 80’s thrash band until you look at the back. I have my friend to thank for putting me on to this. Some of the pubs would do casual vinyl afternoons and you could bring some records and spin a set. My friend dropped the 7” aptly titled “I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky” which is exactly what people commented when it played. I picked this up at Port Hole. My copy is a bit thrashed and the mixing on this is hit and miss but the stand out tunes are killer.

#records #vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #music #funk #soul #ripple

Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food

I'm a bit behind on posts with all the holiday festivities. 

Talking Heads are one of the few bands from my early punk / new wave collecting that I still listen to and hear something new with each listen. Not that I don't like the other stuff. I just thrashed it to death when I was younger. 

I have half of my Talking Heads collection on cd. I attempted to go pick up some more second-hand albums recently but they are now too popular, often not sitting in shops for very long and with a hefty tag. It must if been a Talking Heads Christmas this year cos there was nothing to be found. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #talkingheads #music

This Are Two Tone – Compilation

I didn’t really know Ska until uni when I went to the Crown and Anchor. I’d go upstairs and they would have a DJ later at night and all the ska punks would be up there. That's where I first heard ska and realised it wasn't madness ballads from the Huggies add. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't really learn the politics and history until much later, but better late than never.

I was wondering why I don’t pull this out out often and then it started. The powerful but incredibly confronting track by Rhoda Dakar about being raped. Vibe over.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #twotone #ska

Angkanang Kunchai -  Never Forget Me

Debuting at 15 in 1971, with a hit to a soundtrack the following year, and stirring some controversy with the fusion of molam and luk thung, Angkanang Kunchai became a star in Thailand at only 16. Her 1979 release features her interest in bass, drums and percussion.

I bought this from Transition Records in 2017 initially on the back of the cover alone, and then via the tracks on the B side You're So Cold and the title track. I had hoped the whole album carried the b side grove. The first half sounds more traditional until you get to Promise of My Love and you hear a synth.

I use to play this on our radio show a lot. It's not an album I can listen to often but I enjoyed giving it a spin this morning and reappreciating it.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #AngkanangKunchai #thai #molam #lukthung

Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s - Damn Right I Am Somebody

Last night I watched the We Want the Funk doco. Overall it was pretty good. But there were some interesting editing decisions. No New Orleans? Elton John...did we need that? No Rick James? Weird...

Anyway it inspired me to did this out. 

I bought this shortly after seeing J-Rock on Crate Diggers sharing this album. I mean the cover alone is telling you they are not here to fuck around! I happened to find a copy in my local a few weeks later for only $20. Bargain! I see it's since been repressed. This album really sounds like a proto hip hop record with samples and studio outtakes between the grooves.

This heavy funk reminds me of dancing late at night at Supermild back in the day. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #Fredwesley #TheJBs #WeWantthefunk #funk

Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Popped this on before heading to friendsmas to defrag from the Christmas festivities whilst also trying to order some new kallaxes for my records. There was something quite ironic about listening to Stereolab whilst buying my capitalist modular furniture. Well I somehow ended up paying twice thanks to Ikea's shit website and then spent my boxing day morning arranging a refund. It all felt a bit like a Stereolab film clip really. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #stereolab