Sonic Surprises

All-time favourites, daily finds and black & white art.

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Let The Good Times Roll - Shirley and Lee

1956

Pure New Orleans rhythm & blues fuel

Few records capture the joy of early r&b quite like this one.

Shirley & Lee turn a simple invitation to have fun into a timeless celebration.

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You're Pushing Too Hard (Alternate take) - The Seeds

1968

Rare alternate take of a garage rock masterpiece

I lreally like how the rhythm section holds down that hypnotic groove while Sky Saxon lets loose.

A masterclass in garage rock simplicity.

Though often mislabeled as a rehearsal track, this is actually the pristine, undubbed alternate studio version of "You're Pushing Too Hard."

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Srotoi Ye Mli - King Bruce & The Black Beats

50's

Ghanaian highlife heaven

A radiant slice of Accra magic from one of highlife's greatest pioneers.

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The Wailers - “Hang Up“ (1966)

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1966

Fresno garage gold

Fuzzy guitars and a propulsive beat make this a fine example of West Coast garage rock at its best.

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Arabian Rock – Augustus Pablo

This is Augustus Pablo. 

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1974 Eastern echoes, Jamaican heartbeat

One of Augustus Pablo's early masterpieces, drifting between roots reggae, dub, and a dreamlike Middle Eastern atmosphere.

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Jump For Joy - Big Joe Turner

1958

Pure jump blues excitement

Big Joe Turner turns the temperature up with this exuberant slice of late-'50s rhythm 'n'blues.

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Ahmed Abukar & the Sharero Band - Caashooy

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1974

A whirlwind of Somali funk and soul

Love this sparkling track packed with bright organ lines and boundless energy.

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Boredom - Jack Ketch and the Crowmen

1989

Fuzzed-up frustration at full volume

Billy Childish transforms this Buzzcocks classic into a stomping, riff-driven blast of garage mayhem.

The original was released in

1977

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She Left Me A Mule to Ride - Big Joe Williams

1960

A savage raw blues storm

Big Joe Williams turns this track into a masterclass in rhythm and attack, his guitar playing twisting and surging with incredible force throughout.

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Twist and Shout - The Shangri-Las

1964

A frantic spin on a rock’n’roll staple

This version doesn’t glide — it rushes forward breathlessly, turning a familiar classic into something messy, urgent, and exciting.

Don’t miss the wonderfully chaotic Mo-dettes take I posted a while back, either.

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1982

Sexy Terrorist - Sara Goes Pop

Pure underground pop mischief

Beneath the sugary melodies and playful electronics, there’s a strange nervous tension that gives the track its lasting charm.

Sadly, no photos of the band seem to exist — which somehow suits this wonderfully elusive piece of DIY synth-pop perfectly.

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Abanije Enia - Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band

60's The perfect blend of traditional Juju and highlife rhythms

Celebrating Dele Ojo, the legend who brought a unique flair to the Nigerian music scene.

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Shame And Scandal - Peter Tosh & The Wailers

1965

Warm Caribbean rhythms with a wicked little smile

Digging into the early Wailers years again, this one has such an easy, natural flow.

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The Alligator Pond Went Dry - Victoria Spivey

1927

A wonderfully sly blues gem

Dry humour, deep feeling, and that unmistakable early blues charm.

Victoria Spivey in fine form, with Lonnie Johnson on guitar.

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Less Of Me - Teenage Jesus and the Jerks

1979

Pure No Wave nihilism packed into a sonic assault

Welcome to the underground, where the noise does all the talking.

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Ezuku Buzo - Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats

70's

Dusty Lagos funk full of loose grooves

There's something almost trance-like about how effortlessly this piece drifts forward.

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Twistin' Postman - The Marvelettes

1961

Twisting straight through the mailroom

A sparkling bit of Motown joy with a playful twist and unstoppable bounce.