Reissues continue to shine a fresh spotlight on records that were either overlooked when they first surfaced or were so limited that they instantly became sought-after. In 2024, we can look back on a great year of outstanding reissue albums, lovingly re-issued and repressed, saving us from those Discogs sharks or listening to these records only on YouTube. The number of quality reissue albums doesn't seem to be abating despite the high cost of vinyl manufacturing and still seem to span across many genres.
Top of the pile in 2024 (and a no-brainer as to what would be our No.1 reissue album) is Aphex Twin's 'Selected Ambient Works Part 2' - originally released in 1994 and has been in-demnd ever since - now re=issued in an extended edition with brand new unreleased tracks. Classic! And for those of a funkier persuasion, and out of press for a few years, was one of the best hip-hop albums of all time - 'The Low End Theory'. A Tribe Called Quest's 1991 opus - stands as a cornerstone of hip hop, blending minimalist jazz-inspired production with sharp lyricism to create an album that redefined the genre. 'The Low End Theory' remains a defining moment in hip hop, solidifying A Tribe Called Quest as true innovators.
There were also many classic back catalogues released this year - all of Sade's back catalogue got a much-needed repress, Orbital's iconic 'Green Album' (the album that gave us both 'Chime' and 'Belfast') was available again to us mere mortals who couldn't afford those hefty Discogs prices and Wolfgang Voight's Gas albums got a much needed re-issue too.
For lesser-known gems, we are huge fans of the magnificent & beautiful Golden Ivy repress - two gems reissued together as a double album and the stunning ambient lo-fi of Albinos' Bamboo Night (although technically a reissue, it was only on a cassette run of 25 copies previously!) Feast your ears on this little lot......
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