The thing that impresses me most about Far Out is their commitment to new music. With a market place who`s thirst for reissues seems unquenchable, it would be easy for them to fall back on their vast knowledge – and contacts – cash-in and stick with only archival releases. But instead they seek out young artists and producers. Plough label profits back into recording sessions. Jake`s selections here are a clear reflection of that commitment. 

So as not to be boring and self aggrandising, I haven’t chosen any Far Out releases for this…

Three Tracks For Dancing

Joe – Tail Lift – Hessle Audio

Straight up banger from the elusive Hessle Audioean. It samples Barely Breaking Even too!

Dego & Kaidi – Treasure Beach – Sound Signature

Two of the very best at their very best on Theo Parrish’s label. I`m not even close to taking this one off regular rotation yet.

Deoke – Kamby Version – Tiffs Joints

A scorcher from Born Cheating’s new imprint that gets the best out of an Idris Muhammed tune I can’t remember the name of.

Three Tracks For Chilling

Duval Timothy – Ibs pt2 – Carrying Colour

Beautiful track from a very talented and exciting young pianist / composer. Hope ‘ibs’ doesn’t stand for what I think it does though.

Carlos Nino & Friends – Organic Self – Leaving Records

Standout track from a brilliant new LP by the LA impresario.

Visible Cloaks – Terrazzo – Rvng Intl.

2017 was another great year for ambient music and this was a particular highlight.

Three Long Players

Vibration Black Finger – Blackism – Enid Records

Self described as ‘Spiritual Jazz with a Post-Punk attitude’ but there’s way more than that going on in this record as well. In Rhythm is one of the freshest and most buoyantly funky tracks we’ve heard this year.

Lord Echo – Harmonies – Soundway

The Kiwi multi-instrumentalist drums up another glorious LP of dubbed up soul. It’s impossible not to love Lord Echo.

Ruby Rushton – Trudi`s Songbook: Volume One – 22a

22a are on fire right now, Volume Two of this was just as great.

Three Re-issues

Raw Soul Express – Best Kept Secret – Athens Of The North

A flawless rare Soul LP. AOTN doing what they do best.

The Other People Place – Lifestyles Of The Laptop Cafe – Warp

The first ever reissue campaigned for by a change.org petition was finally reissued and for some reason I haven’t seen it in any other end-of-year charts so far???

Pastor T. L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir  – Like A Ship (Without A Sail) – Light in The Attic

Gospel like absolutely nothing else. Stunning.

 Three Compilations 

Ron Trent – Prescription – Rush Hour

Loads of amazing and bangin’ House from the legend Ron Trent. An investment but well worth it.

Various – Musica Per L’Immagine – Fly By Night Music

A deep delve into the wonders of Italian Library Music.

Various – Funky Chimes Part 1: Belgian Grooves From The 70’s – Sdban

Like Musica Per L’Immagine, this highlights a little known world of music that is just fantastic.