Night Train: Transcontinental Landscapes 1968–2019

Compiled by Ben Jones of Two-Piers - the label that has so far guided us through ‘Music for the Stars’, ‘Pop Psychedelique’, ‘Wig out! Freak out!’ and other exquisite, boundary-blind musical trips - this brilliant collection traverses the last 50 years! It’s a masterclass in the art of assembling a sinuous but engaging and cohesive set that no algorithm would conjure.

Seamlessly switching between genres, sounds and eras, ‘Night Train’ prevails because there are many stations at which to board. Folk fans can hop on with Bonnie Dobson’s poetic folk-rocker, ‘Milk & Honey’ (if you dig this, do hunt down her 1969 self-titled album). Or jump on a little later at the Linda Perhacs beauty, ‘Hey, Who Really Cares’, from her unearthed 1970 ‘Parallelograms' wonder. Gems from Tangerine Dream and Chris & Cosey will sate electronica heads whilst, for soul hounds, there’s the excellent Menahan Street Band (whose 2008 debut is a modern soul/funk classic) and the R&B infused rock & roll of ‘Glowin’, from The Rationals’ oft-overlooked self-titled record, to ride along with. Our final destination is down the hard road back to 1972 with Leon Russell’s superb ‘Out In The Woods’, a track that has been on obsessively heavy solo rotation.

We play it a lot. And people listen, ask questions and feel compelled to buy it on the spot. ‘Nuff said.

“‘Night Train’ rattles through the darkness, shifting styles on the cool breeze yet always maintaining the impeccable mood” - Jon