Vinyl of the week
Demon Fuzz – Afreaka!
I remember the first time I saw this Afreaka! album. Instinctively, I thought it was a hip-hop record with a super-cool cover – modern, raw, and carrying a slightly aggressive edge. As I usually do, I slid the record out of its sleeve to check the condition and noticed it said 1970! The album moves freely between the driving rhythms of funk, the rich vocals of soul, the improvisational spirit of jazz, and the atmospheric excursions of psychedelic rock. African rhythms, hard-hitting rock and free-flowing jazz merge into something entirely its own. The mighty horn arrangements and lengthy instrumental passages constantly shift in tempo and mood, leaving you wanting more while each twist and turn sparks curiosity about where the music will take you next. Here we have a band that completely lets loose and, in the most genuine way imaginable, demonstrates a desire to explore new musical landscapes. At the time of its release, this LP was a bold experiment that never quite won over the masses. Over the years, however, it has proved itself remarkably timeless – a rarity that still sounds fresh and relevant today, and one that has become one of the most sought-after and exciting records of its kind. Once you've spun this record, it will return to your thoughts again and again, not like an irritating summer hit that you can't escape, but as an LP that rewards every listen with new discoveries and fresh surprises. And if you're even slightly sceptical about jazz fusion, there's a good chance this record will convert you into a full-throttle believer.
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Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime
Operation: Mindcrime is a fantastic LP with clear ingredients of Whitesnake, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne, but also with a razor-thin edge of Pink Floyd hovering over the entire experience. This is a concept album and, in many ways, a fully realised rock opera, with a continuous narrative running throughout the record. Among metal -fans, the album is held in extremely high regard, yet it somehow seems to linger far in the background of mainstream consciousness. The record explores themes of drug addiction, revolution, political leaders and manipulation. The main character, Niki, struggles with his dependency whilst being drawn deeper into a maelstrom of political games, paranoia, betrayal and desperate cries for change. Musically, the band experiments with progressive song structures and electronic elements blended with choirs, heavy guitar riffs and thunderous drumming. Between the heavier passages, the intensity is suddenly broken by quiet, almost haunting sequences that demand the listener’s full attention. Voices whisper commands such as “kill Mary”, whilst the rumble of thunder and the image of a dark, granite-grey sky create an atmosphere of doom and unease. When it finally dawned on me that the songs were in fact connected as part of a larger story, I found myself listening to the album again and again in order to fully immerse myself in the narrative. Eventually, the record became almost like a thriller in musical form, with each song serving as another chapter in Niki’s tragic journey.
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LOOPTROOP - THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
The Struggle Continues by Looptroop was a door opening for me. For the first time, hip hop felt like something more than just a genre, a new favourite carrying weight, direction, and meaning. The Struggle Continues and Fort Europa became a window into a broader view of the world, where the words cut through the noise and actually meant something. Raw, conscious, and uncompromising, with huge dynamics, infectious groove, and rhythm. A kind of boom bap paoow that didn’t just ask to be heard, it demanded to be listened to. Highly recommend this pride of Västerås.
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Beggars Opera — Act One
Beggars Opera was a Scottish progressive rock band formed in Glasgow in 1969. Act One (1970) was their debut studio album and has since become something of an overlooked gem among progressive rock enthusiasts. Some critics have described the album as a technical showcase designed mainly to impress, but I’ve felt there is much more to it than that. To me, it carries an early prog and slightly krautrock-inspired atmosphere, driven by rich Hammond organ textures, analog warmth, and a subtle blues-infused undertone that gives the music both character and soul. It may never have achieved the legendary status of the major prog classics, but perhaps that is also part of its charm. The album feels personal, organic, and refreshingly genuine—a record I truly enjoy and find myself returning to time and time again.
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The Travel Agency – The Travel Agency
The Travel Agency by The Travel Agency is a psychedelic pop/rock record from Los Angeles, a band formed in 1966. This, the band’s only album, produced by James Griffin, was released in December 1968. This is a criminally overlooked masterpiece — a raw, slightly punk-tinged psychedelic trip that stands out not only for its music but also for its striking visual presentation. The sleeve artwork, created by John Van Hamersveld, is without question one of the finest pieces of sixties album art in my collection. The music is engaging, dynamic and experimental, yet still melodic and thoughtfully written throughout. Some tracks carry a distinctly British folk influence, such as “So Much Love”, while others feel more urgent and hazy, fuelled by swirling psychedelic energy, like “What’s a Man” and “Make Love”. The variation across the album keeps it consistently fresh and unpredictable. If you ever get the chance to pick up this record, do not hesitate — it may well surprise you. Sadly, the band dissolved soon afterward and left no further classics behind. The album was largely overlooked upon release and remains seriously underrated to this day.
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GORILLAZ – पर्वत (The Mountain)
Gorillaz was founded in 1998 by Damon Albarn (Blur) and visual artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz has always existed beyond the boundaries of a traditional band — an anti-celebrity project where music, art, and storytelling take center stage. On The Mountain (2026), the band dives deep into a blend of Art Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, and Synthpop, crafting a soundscape that feels worldly and in the same time intimate. The album unfolds like a journey — layered, immersive, and constantly revealing new textures with every listen. There’s something almost meditative at its core — hypnotic rhythms, hazy synths, and unexpected turns that keep the experience alive from start to finish. This is an album you hear — it’s one you return to, again and again, discovering something new every time the record spins.
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TYGER of PAN TANG - Spellbound
Tygers of Pan Tang were a British heavy metal band from Whitley Bay, formed in 1978. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and emerged in the late 1970s alongside bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Def Leppard. The movement was characterised by a raw, energetic sound that bridged classic hard rock with a faster, heavier style that would go on to shape modern metal. Tygers of Pan Tang stood out for their melodic yet punchy approach, particularly on albums like Spellbound (1981)—an album that, in my opinion, deserves some extra attention.
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LOVE-Forever Changes
LOVE was an American psychedelic rock band formed in Los Angeles by the eccentric and artistic Arthur Lee. Forever Changes is their third studio album, released in November 1967 by Elektra Records, and the final album recorded by the original lineup. Although it achieved only moderate commercial success upon release, it has since influenced countless artists and developed a devoted following. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest psychedelic rock albums of the 1960s and is considered essential listening for anyone interested in the genre.
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