Coming soon, pre-order here. ‘Unofficial’ Britain is made up of the places that are often left behind. This is a journey into the forgotten spaces that really tell the modern story of our island. There is a Britain that exists outside of the official histories and guidebooks – places that lie on the margins, left behind. This is the Britain of industrial estates, and tower blocks, of motorway service stations and haunted council houses, of roundabouts and flyovers. Places where modern life speeds past but where people and stories nevertheless collect. Places where human dramas play out: stories of love, violence, fear, boredom and artistic expression. Places of ghost sightings, first kisses, experiments with drugs, refuges for the homeless, hangouts for the outcasts.

Struck by the power of these stories and experiences, Gareth Rees set out to explore these spaces and the essential … More

Federal Records is generally considered to be responsible for birthing Rocksteady in the 1960’s, but Jamaica’s first recording studio also had a nice little side-thing going for jazz records at the same time. New Dub Store compilation Jamaica Jazz from Federal Records: Carib Roots, Jazz, Mento, Latin, Merengue & Rhumba 1960-1968 collates some crucial cuts from the period. Features Ernest Ranglin, Count Owen & His Calypsonians, Cecil Lloyd and many more.

2 x vinyl LP available in store and online.

Soon come. Preorder here. Originally scheduled for release in 1966, ‘The Ska (From Jamaica)’ album remained lost for well over half a century before the ” master tape was finally discovered in the Trojan archives in 2019. Comprising a dozen top-quality tracks, the collection features numerous musical talents now widely regarded as Jamaican legends, their number including the Maytals, Ken Boothe, Clancy Eccles and Derrick Harriott.

Originally scheduled for release in 1966, ‘The Ska (From Jamaica)’ album remained lost for well over half a century before … More

Capitalist Blues, ex-Carolina Chocolate Drop Leyla’s McCalla’s third album, shows a more physical, danceable side to her music. The title track is a swinging blues, and it’s easy to hear the classic New Orleans R&B in Me and My Baby, and the calypso in Money is King.

The album was produced by Jimmy Horn of New Orleans R&B band King James and the Special Men and features … More

The Ethiopians was one of Jamaica’s most popular bands during the late ska, rocksteady, and early reggae periods. As a much-loved harmony group. After a series of major ska and rock steady hits, the group began working with producer, Karl ‘J.J.’ Johnson, with whom they subsequently enjoyed some of the biggest reggae sellers of the late sixties and early seventies, most notably ‘Everything Crash’, ‘What A Fire’, ‘Feel The Spirit’, ‘Hong Kong Flu’ and ‘Woman Capture Man’.

The Reggae Power album is chock-full of these tasty melodies and rhythms and comes wrapped in a cool sleeve photo … More

The Hammond organ was first manufactured in 1935. In 1954, the now famous Hammond B3 model was introduced with additional harmonic percussion feature. When the company went out of business in 1985, around two million of various models of the Hammond organ have been produced. The Hammond B3 was originally marketed to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ. It quickly became popular with professional jazz musicians in organ trios. Jimmy Smith’s use of the Hammond B3 inspired a generation of organ players, and its use became more widespread in the 1960s and 1970s in rhythm and blues, rock, reggae, and progressive rock.

This collection is centered on the exciting and dynamic sounds of the Hammond B3 organ! Coming soon, pre-order here.

The Scarfolk Annual is the facsimile of a book discovered in a charity shop in the north west of England in August 2018. The shop, and indeed town, do not wish to be identified as they are keen to “discourage the ‘occult-totalitarian tourism’ that as afflicted other areas of Britain” as people hunt for further socio-archaeological traces of the mysterious, missing town of Scarfolk – Britain’s own Brutalist Atlantis.

Apart from the archive of Scarfolk materials which was sent anonymously to the late Dr Ben Motte and formed the … More

1720. Blue Mountains, windward Jamaica. In the sweltering heat Captain Shettlewood leads a troop of British soldiers through the thick trees towards the river. They are hunting slaves who have escaped from the brutal plantations. Their mission: to find them, and kill them. But up ahead, hidden among the rocks above the water, a group of men with cutlasses and muskets wait patiently for the instructions of their leader.

Queen Nanny is a ‘wise woman’ with a reputation for ancient obeah magic, and a guerilla fighter with a genius … More

The Colony of Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. In Jamaica, this date is celebrated as Independence Day, a national holiday. Having dominated the rock steady era, Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid was searching for a way to build upon his standing as one of Jamaica’s premiere record producers following the arrival of the new reggae sound towards the close of the Sixties. By releasing Gay Jamaica Independence Time he proved that he still released high-quality tracks.

Some of the most talented musicians from that period are featured on this record, like U-Roy, The Ethiopians, Alton Ellis, … More

Why stories make us human and how to tell them better. There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story – but few have used a scientific approach.

In this incisive, thought-provoking book, award-winning writer Will Storr demonstrates how master storytellers manipulate and compel us. Applying dazzling psychological … More