New Releases for July 1, 2022

Marketing Program/ Banner/ Listening Station Titles Promoted This Week:

Naima Bock – Giant Palm CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

The roots of Naima Bock’s music are far reaching. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth, and the handing down of music through generations. Naima’s debut album Giant Palm is undoubtedly infused with the Brazilian music of her youth and regular family visits. She found inspiration in “the percussion, the melodies, chords – and particularly the poetic juxtaposition of tragedy and beauty held within the lyrics”. [A limited-edition orange color vinyl pressing is available.]

Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)

Robin Pecknold brings light to the bleakest of winters with Fleet Foxes’ A Very Lonely Solstice, a 13-track career spanning collection recorded in December 2020, at Brooklyn, NY’s St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church. Now being released for the first time on CD and vinyl, A Very Lonely Solstice captures a poignant moment in time. The recording was originally broadcasted as a live-stream event on the winter solstice of 2020, just days after New York declared a state of emergency tightening restrictions again in response to increasing COVID-19 cases. Pecknold describes the set as “me by myself on the longest night of the year…honoring the loneliness of 2020 with a nylon string and some songs new and old.” [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Charlie Gabriel – Eighty Nine CD (Sub Pop)

Charlie Gabriel’s first professional gig dates to 1943, sitting in for his father in New Orleans’ Eureka Brass Band. As a teenager living in Detroit, Charlie played with Lionel Hampton, whose band then included a young Charles Mingus, later spending nine years with a group led by Cab Calloway drummer J.C. Heard. While he’s also fronted a bebop quintet, played and/or toured with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, Aretha Franklin and many more, this is the first time his name appears on the front of a record, as a bandleader. Since 2006, Gabriel has been a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Eighty Nine was different, and not simply due to a smaller ensemble. “We had no particular plan, or any particular insight on what we were gonna do. But we were enjoying what we were doing, jamming, having a musical conversation,” Charlie says, further musing, “Musical conversations cancel out complications.” Eighty Nine includes six standards and three newer pieces on which Gabriel is a writer [Vinyl edition due July 22.]

Grey Daze – The Phoenix CD/LP (Loma Vista)

Grey Daze, Chester Bennington’s pre-Linkin Park band, releases the new album, The Phoenix, the follow-up to 2020’s Amends, which featured newly recorded music with remastered vocals from the group’s long out-of-print and largely undiscovered catalog. “Amends was more emotional and reflective,” explains drummer and songwriter Sean Dowdell of the different mood and feel displayed on The Phoenix, which also sees contributions from Dave Navarro, Richard Patrick and Bennington’s daughters, Lily and Lila Bennington. “We felt sad when we were writing it. Now that we’re a couple of years removed, it’s very clear what we were going through. We were at a different stage of grief. We went through the shock and the sadness. Now, we’re back to gratitude. So, The Phoenix is more of a celebration of our friend, his talent, and the music. It captures Chester’s angst and energy that people fell in love with. It’s much more aggressive. If you love Chester’s scream, you’ll love this record.” [An indie store exclusive grey vinyl pressing is available.]

Shinedown – Planet Zero CD/2xLP (Atlantic)

Multi-platinum rock band Shinedown’s seventh studio album Planet Zero serves up an incisive look at the issues at hand: cancel culture run rampant, the corrosive effects of social media on mental health and society, and the increasingly toxic division among those of differing ideologies. Featuring Shinedown’s explosive yet artfully crafted sound and urgent lyrics, single “Planet Zero” rings the alarm on a dystopian warning of the dangerous consequences to come when it all goes too far, and we begin to lose our respect for those with differing opinions and our compassion for one another.

Σtella – Up And Away CD (Sub Pop)

Σtella makes her Sub Pop debut with the mesmerizing Up And Away, an old-school pop paean to the pangs and raptures of love. From the Greek folk-inflected get-go, we’re swept up in Σtella’s world – and it’s quite the captivating place to be. The singer-songwriter joined forces with artist and producer Tom Calvert (aka Redinho), and it was a match made in Athens; the results are heavenly. Σtella’s songs have always riffed on American and Greek mid-century pop but Up And Away doubles down on the vintage aesthetic. Past releases have been studded with gem-like vignettes – a diverse array of stories set tightly together to form non-linear narratives unified by emotion. Her latest feels singular in that it seems to trace a longer-form tale across songs, with each track escalating the record’s erotic arc. [Vinyl edition due July 8.]

TV Priest – My Other People CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

My Other People intentionally maintains a strong sense of earth-rooted emotion, taking full advantage of the opportunity to physically connect. Using “Saintless” (the closing song from Uppers) as something of a starting point, Charlie Drinkwater set about crafting lyrics that allowed him to articulate a deeper sense of personal truth, using music as a vessel to communicate with his bandmates about his depleting mental health. My Other People relies on the band’s tight-knit working method, with Nic Bueth once again at the self-producing helm. Following their own intuition as part of a “feverish” writing process, they looked inwards for inspiration rather than attempting to ape any sonic heroes, ending up with something that feels much more like affirmingly widescreen alt-rock than it does post-punk. [A limited-edition pink color vinyl pressing is available.]

Various Artists – Minions: The Rise Of Gru Soundtrack CD/2xLP (Decca)

Set in the 1970s, Minions: The Rise Of Gru tells the origin story of how Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carell), the world’s greatest supervillain, first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. The funk-fueled soundtrack features a star-studded line-up. Following the recent release of her 2021 hit album Thank You, Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala leads the way with the joyous, dance-inducing first single “Turn Up The Sunshine”. The soundtrack celebrates a range of dazzling funk, disco and soul classics with brand-new versions of some of the biggest hits of the 1970s from some of today’s hottest talent. From St. Vincent’s new take on Lipps Inc’s 1979 hit “Funkytown” and H.E.R.’s rendition of Sly and The Family Stone’s 1967 smash “Dance To The Music”, to Bleachers version of John Lennon’s 1970 track “Instant Karma!” and Phoebe Bridgers’ interpretation of The Carpenters’ 1972 single “Goodbye To Love”, every track has been reimagined by each artist with ingenious results. [An indie store exclusive picture disc vinyl pressing is available.]

Additional Social Media Program Titles Released This Week:

Judah & The Lion – Revival CD (Judah & The Lion)

Revival is a collection of songs that speaks to the band’s journey back to innocence and hope through reclamation. Recorded in Asheville, NC, the album is an attempt to recapture the innocence of their youth, embracing the sadness and loss of the last few years and welcoming the future with a renewed energy and spirit that harkens back to their earliest days. Judah & The Lion don’t shy away from the sing-songy lyrics they’re known for.

CDs + Vinyl:

Paul Anka – Sessions CD (Green Hill)

Paul Anka, the legendary crooner, and unofficial Rat Pack member, returns with an all-new album of iconic American standards. For Sessions, the songwriter chose songs by some of his favorite contemporary songwriters including “Angelina”, originally written, and performed by Bob Dylan. The focus track, “It Was A Very Good Year”, was written by his friend Ervin Drake and made a household favorite swan song by his close comrade, Frank Sinatra.

Arrow – Hot Hot Hot – The Best Of Arrow CD/LP (BMG)

No one has brought it better than Arrow!. Famous for his hit single “Hot Hot Hot”, the artist was at the center of the beating heart of Soca Music and managed to single handedly bring the unmistakable Calypso rhythm to the mainstream. Hot Hot Hot: The Very Best Of Arrow offers up 2022 remastered editions of ten of Arrow’s most recognizable tracks, including: “Hot Hot Hot”, “Gimme Gimme”, and “Don’t Touch My Tempo”, among many more. [A limited color vinyl pressing is available.]

Art D’Eco – After The Head Rush CD (Paper Bag)

Combining the addictive dazzle and rebellious party of his last album In Standard Definition, with the dizzying effect of what happens in the late hours once everyone’s gone home, After The Head Rush arrives like a confessional, chock-full of swagger and disarming candor. Infused with belated coming-of-age wisdom it sparks the dawn of a new era – inspired by a move to his hometown and the thrill of rediscovering the music of his youth. Surgically precise, yet cheeky and playful, its shrewdly intentional; cautionary nods to coping mechanisms so easy to cling to are set to the throbbing backbone of polyrhythms and infectious melodies, whilst swaggering basslines with fever dream synths juxtapose anxiety and resolution to create an atmosphere for catharsis in one moment – an unease the next.

Barry Biggs – The Very Best Of Barry Biggs: Storybook Revisited CD/LP (Burning Sounds)

This exquisite new album showcases a selection of recent recordings from Barry Biggs, one of reggae music’s foremost proponents of sophisticated, romantically inclined music, whose hit making career has spanned the best part of half a century.

Kibrom Birhane – Here And There CD/LP (Flying Carpet)

New album by the critically acclaimed Ethiopian jazz musician Kibrom Birhane. His third and most adventurous record to date, Here And There is a conscious exploration and deep dive into the waters of life; complex yet harmonious soundscapes stem from a diverse range of influences across a broad spectrum, ranging from the sacred and profane, to the pioneering and contemporary.

Blood Command – Praise Armageddonism CD/LP (Hassle)

A one-of-a-kind proposition, the death-pop group combines blistering riffs, a hardcore attitude, and pop sensibility to create truly scintillating, invigorating music. [An indie store exclusive orange w/ purple color vinyl pressing is available.]

Naima Bock – Giant Palm CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

The roots of Naima Bock’s music are far reaching. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth, and the handing down of music through generations. Naima’s debut album Giant Palm is undoubtedly infused with the Brazilian music of her youth and regular family visits. She found inspiration in “the percussion, the melodies, chords – and particularly the poetic juxtaposition of tragedy and beauty held within the lyrics”. [A limited-edition orange color vinyl pressing is available.]

The Boppers – White Lightning CD/LP (Wild Kingdom)

The Boppers celebrate 45 years as a band with a brand-new album. On White Lightning they kind of find themselves back at the start again even if it also means opening new doors. They’ve collaborated closely with Sulo (singer and front man of Diamond Dogs), musical friend Eva Eastwood (Swedish rockabilly/country star) on the songwriting and let legendary producer Tomas Skogsberg (The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies etc.) set the sound. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Death By Dub – Abundance CD/LP (Color Red)

Death by Dub draw from the long history of reggae music and sound system culture creating instrumental music that is fully saturated in the idioms of dub music, both in live performance and in the recording studio. The project is led by Dan Africano and Scott Flynn, both of whom have spent years steeped in the world of dub and reggae music playing with one of the greatest American reggae bands of all time, John Brown’s Body. [An emerald green swirl color vinyl pressing is available.]

Digging Roots – Zhawenim CD/LP (Virgin)

Digging Roots’ 2022 album embraces themes from residential schools to reclamation, climate change to baamaadziwin (the good life). Co-produced with Hill Kourkoutis, Zhawenim (which means to love unconditionally in Anishinaabemowin) is a journey that travels oceans, lands and hearts raising resistance through pure, powerful joy. As a collection, Zhawenim expresses the revolutionary act of giving and receiving love. The album looks beyond to a future that waits to be claimed by the next generation.

The Dream Syndicate – Ultraviolet Battle Hymns And True Confessions CD (Fire)

The brand-new album from The Dream Syndicate blends vintage Krautrock, Eno-like ambience, Neu-inspired rhythmic groove, and a Californian sunbaked sheen into their classic psychedelic, melodic, hue. The Dream Syndicate has moved well past their early Velvet Underground influences and taken on British glam, German prog, and more. [Vinyl edition – including an indie store exclusive translucent violet color pressing – due July 15.]

Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice CD/LP+MP3 (ANTI-)

Robin Pecknold brings light to the bleakest of winters with Fleet Foxes’ A Very Lonely Solstice, a 13-track career spanning collection recorded in December 2020, at Brooklyn, NY’s St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church. Now being released for the first time on CD and vinyl, A Very Lonely Solstice captures a poignant moment in time. The recording was originally broadcasted as a live-stream event on the winter solstice of 2020, just days after New York declared a state of emergency tightening restrictions again in response to increasing COVID-19 cases. Pecknold describes the set as “me by myself on the longest night of the year…honoring the loneliness of 2020 with a nylon string and some songs new and old.” [An indie store exclusive clear vinyl pressing is available.]

Charlie Gabriel – Eighty Nine CD (Sub Pop)

Charlie Gabriel’s first professional gig dates to 1943, sitting in for his father in New Orleans’ Eureka Brass Band. As a teenager living in Detroit, Charlie played with Lionel Hampton, whose band then included a young Charles Mingus, later spending nine years with a group led by Cab Calloway drummer J.C. Heard. While he’s also fronted a bebop quintet, played and/or toured with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, Aretha Franklin and many more, this is the first time his name appears on the front of a record, as a bandleader. Since 2006, Gabriel has been a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Eighty Nine was different, and not simply due to a smaller ensemble. “We had no particular plan, or any particular insight on what we were gonna do. But we were enjoying what we were doing, jamming, having a musical conversation,” Charlie says, further musing, “Musical conversations cancel out complications.” Eighty Nine includes six standards and three newer pieces on which Gabriel is a writer [Vinyl edition due July 22.]

Grey Daze – The Phoenix CD/LP (Loma Vista)

Grey Daze, Chester Bennington’s pre-Linkin Park band, releases the new album, The Phoenix, the follow-up to 2020’s Amends, which featured newly recorded music with remastered vocals from the group’s long out-of-print and largely undiscovered catalog. “Amends was more emotional and reflective,” explains drummer and songwriter Sean Dowdell of the different mood and feel displayed on The Phoenix, which also sees contributions from Dave Navarro, Richard Patrick and Bennington’s daughters, Lily and Lila Bennington. “We felt sad when we were writing it. Now that we’re a couple of years removed, it’s very clear what we were going through. We were at a different stage of grief. We went through the shock and the sadness. Now, we’re back to gratitude. So, The Phoenix is more of a celebration of our friend, his talent, and the music. It captures Chester’s angst and energy that people fell in love with. It’s much more aggressive. If you love Chester’s scream, you’ll love this record.” [An indie store exclusive grey vinyl pressing is available.]

Guided By Voices – Tremblers And Goggles By Rank CD/LP (GBV Inc.)

You gotta feel for the unlucky bastard that must pen a one-sheet for the next GBV album. Yet, a living must be earned: “Tremblers And Goggles By Rank marks a new phase in Robert Pollard’s songwriting evolution. His songs have always included non-traditional approaches to form and song structure, but with this album, he has pushed it further than ever. While the familiar Guided By Voices pop-craft and melodic virtuosity always occupies center stage, the first-time listener will never be able to predict what’s coming next in a song.”

Gwenno – Tresor CD/LP (Heavenly)

Tresor (Treasure), Gwenno Saunders’s third full-length solo album, and the second almost entirely in Cornish (Kernewek). Written in St. Ives, Cornwall, just prior to the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and completed in Cardiff during the pandemic along with her producer and musical collaborator, Rhys Edwards, Tresor reveals an introspective focus on home and self, a prescient work echoing the isolation and retreat that has been a central, global shared experience over the past two years.

Hercules & Love Affair – In Amber CD/2xLP (Skint)

Ultimately, Hercules & Love Affair pull off the subversive hat trick of infusing pop-oriented electronics with a defiantly punk-rock spirit of rebellion and dogged resistance, creating an album loaded with humanity. And the remixes planned are going to be slaying the dancefloors. Includes collaborations with Anohni. [An indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]

Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 2xCD (Interscope)

Deluxe double-CD edition. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, Imagine Dragons present Mercury – Acts 1 & 2. Act 1, which includes the hits “Follow You”, “Wrecked”, and “Enemy”, featuring JID. Act 2 features 18 additional songs including the new single, “Bones”.

The Judds – Love Can Build A Bridge: Best Of The Judds CD/LP (Curb)

2022 collection from the award-winning country music mother-daughter duo. Love Can Build A Bridge features ten classic including “(Grandpa) Tell Me ’bout the Good Ol’ Days”. “Mama, He’s Crazy”, “Young Love”, and more.

Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin – Kingdom Book One 2xCD (RCA)

Kingdom Book One was made entirely on the grounds of a Florida prison and features background vocals from 1,300 inmates. “I think this album is for every fan that loves music, and our hope is that these songs and the stories behind them will serve as a way to raise awareness of the challenges that people face every day – many of which are forgotten about,” says Maverick City Music’s Jonathan Jay.

Merzbow – Animal Liberation – Until Every Cage Is Empty CD (Cold Spring)

As a life-long campaigner of animal rights, Masami Akita has delivered a brutal assault on those that cage and murder animals. Animal Liberation – Until Every Cage Is Empty is five tracks (49 mins) of total noise assault that only the King of Japanese Noise can provide. The artwork reflects the animal rights and anarcho-punk movements of the ‘80s. Proceeds from this release will benefit animal rights charities.

Liza Minnelli – Live In New York 1979 CD/2xLP (Real Gone Music)

Live archive release. When the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning superstar (and future Grammy Legend) took the stage at the legendary Carnegie Hall on September 4, 1979, the concert was already a hotly anticipated event. It would be the first of eleven consecutive shows through September 14^th – the longest run in the Hall’s history. includes the stunning original cover art by Andy Warhol. The insert has new introductions by both Ms. Minnelli and Great American Songbook champion Michael Feinstein, both of whom served as executive producers for this release, plus photos of the artist and liner notes from reissue producers Joe Marchese and Charles L. Granata. [A limited-edition red color vinyl pressing is available.]

Momma – Household Name CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)

Following Momma’s beloved 2020 LP Two Of Me, which introduced the world to the symbiotic writing style and profound creative intuition of founders Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten, the band’s third studio album Household Name reveals an exciting new chapter marked by both personal and artistic growth. Mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Emily Lazar, the album is a tightly stitched collection that is magnetic and dynamic. [A red color vinyl pressing is available.]

Mötley Crüe – Too Fast For Love [Reissue/1981] CD (BMG)

Mötley Crüe – Shout At The Devil [Reissue/1983] CD (BMG)

Mötley Crüe – Theatre Of Pain [Reissue/1985] CD (BMG)

Mötley Crüe – Girls, Girls, Girls [Reissue/1987] CD (BMG)

Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood [Reissue/1989] CD (BMG)

Digitally remastered editions of the Los Angeles metal band’s first five albums. [Vinyl reissues due July 22.]

Necrophobic – Satanic Blasphemies [Reissue/2011] CD/LP (Century Media)

With 30 years of active, nefarious service under their bullet belts, Necrophobic is an undisputed legend of the death and black metal underground. Formed in 1989 by drummer Joakim Sterner, the Stockholm based outfit propagated a singular and fearless vision from the very start, confirming their prowess with now legendary debut album The Nocturnal Silence in 1993. Eschewing the self-conscious amateurism and primitive sonics that many of their peers held dear, Necrophobic established a bold and vivid identity of their own, conjuring a densely melodic but endlessly wicked take on macabre extreme metal that countless lesser bands have since emulated.

Paula Nutini – Last Night In The Bittersweet CD/2xLP (Atlantic)

The fourth studio album by singer/songwriter, Paolo Nutini is a 70-minute epic that spans the distance from classic rock to post-punk to hypnotic Krautrock. The insistent Motorik rhythms of new single “Lose It” brings shades of early ’70s German bands like Can and Neu!, and are a product of Paolo writing increasingly on bass guitar. At the other end of the spectrum, “Through The Echoes” is a timeless classic in the lineage of Ben E. King and Otis Redding, with Nutini’s vocal delivery reminding us why he got snapped up by Atlantic in the first place.

Nurse With Wound – Salt Marie Celest – Salt 2xCD (Dirter Promotions)

Originally recorded in 2002 by Steven Stapleton and Colin Potter, the piece was a limited-edition release to accompany an exhibition of Stapleton’s artwork at The Horse Hospital in London. The following year Salt Marie Celeste was released as a single 61-minute-long piece of droning atmospheric sound that manages to be both minimal and maximal at the same time. A parade of strange, often unlikely, sounds appear and disappear during the voyage from Z to A.

The Prog Collective – Songs We Were Taught CD/LP (Purple Pyramid)

Producer Billy Sherwood once again leads this uber talented prog rock supergroup, this time on a trip through some of the most recognizable and influential folk and art-rock songs of their generation. Performances by David Clayton-Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears), Rod Argent (The Zombies), Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night), Dweezil Zappa, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses/Asia), Steve Morse (Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Steve Hillage (Gong) and more. [A purple color vinyl pressing is available.]

Klaus Schulze – Deus Arrakis CD/LP (SPV)

Composer, musician, and producer Klaus Schulze rolls out his extensive sounds, plays his legendary sequences and creates this unique ‘Schulze atmosphere’ for more than 50 years now. With Deus Arrakis the electronic legend now presents his new studio album.

Seether – Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum [Reissue/2020] 2xCD (Fantasy)

Digitally remastered and expanded double-CD edition. Produced by Shaun Morgan and engineered/mixed by Matt Hyde (Deftones, AFI), Seether’s album Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum was recorded in Nashville over two months in December 2019 and January 2020. The album has been expanded to include all 21 songs recorded during the SVPPB session along with the alternate version of “Wasteland.”

Derek Sherinian – Vortex CD/LP+CD (Inside Out U.S.)

Eight new tracks built on Sherinian’s signature chameleonic sound that blends rock with elements of funk, prog, and jazz. “Vortex is a continuation of The Phoenix,” he states. “However, I feel the composition is stronger on the new album, and I would describe it as a modern day ‘70s style fusion record, but with newer heavier tonality.” [A limited-edition white color vinyl pressing is available.]x`

Shinedown – Planet Zero CD/2xLP (Atlantic)

Multi-platinum rock band Shinedown’s seventh studio album Planet Zero serves up an incisive look at the issues at hand: cancel culture run rampant, the corrosive effects of social media on mental health and society, and the increasingly toxic division among those of differing ideologies. Featuring Shinedown’s explosive yet artfully crafted sound and urgent lyrics, single “Planet Zero” rings the alarm on a dystopian warning of the dangerous consequences to come when it all goes too far, and we begin to lose our respect for those with differing opinions and our compassion for one another.

Stabbing Westward – Chasing Ghosts CDEP (Cop International)

Christopher Hall may well be the prophet of the end times – epic and hopeless all at once. The single is rounded out by the brilliant Assemblage 23 / Tom Shear “Ghost” remix and Christopher Hall’s own reinterpretation of the title track. The band has not only kept their energy, drive, and intensity but also gained a depth of maturity that makes “Ghost” the perfect follow-up to their highly praised fifth studio album Chasing Ghosts.

Σtella – Up And Away CD (Sub Pop)

Σtella makes her Sub Pop debut with the mesmerizing Up And Away, an old-school pop paean to the pangs and raptures of love. From the Greek folk-inflected get-go, we’re swept up in Σtella’s world – and it’s quite the captivating place to be. The singer-songwriter joined forces with artist and producer Tom Calvert (aka Redinho), and it was a match made in Athens; the results are heavenly. Σtella’s songs have always riffed on American and Greek mid-century pop but Up And Away doubles down on the vintage aesthetic. Past releases have been studded with gem-like vignettes – a diverse array of stories set tightly together to form non-linear narratives unified by emotion. Her latest feels singular in that it seems to trace a longer-form tale across songs, with each track escalating the record’s erotic arc. [Vinyl edition due July 8.]

Tedeschi Trucks Band – I Am The Moon: II. Ascension CD (Fantasy)

The fifth studio project from the Tedeschi Trucks Band is the most ambitious and, at the same time, intimate record that America’s best rock ‘n’ roll big band has ever made: a genuinely epic undertaking in four episodes and 24 songs inspired by classical literature but emotionally driven by the immediate drama, isolation and mourning of the pandemic era.

Tejon Street Corner Thieves – Thick As Thieves CD/LP (Liars Club)

Colorado Springs outlaw alt-folk group, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, release Thick As Thieves. Recorded at Royal Recordings in Colorado Springs with producer Bill Douglas. The album combines Americana, folk, and bluegrass into an intoxicating mix with a unique trash-grass twist.

TV Priest – My Other People CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

My Other People intentionally maintains a strong sense of earth-rooted emotion, taking full advantage of the opportunity to physically connect. Using “Saintless” (the closing song from Uppers) as something of a starting point, Charlie Drinkwater set about crafting lyrics that allowed him to articulate a deeper sense of personal truth, using music as a vessel to communicate with his bandmates about his depleting mental health. My Other People relies on the band’s tight-knit working method, with Nic Bueth once again at the self-producing helm. Following their own intuition as part of a “feverish” writing process, they looked inwards for inspiration rather than attempting to ape any sonic heroes, ending up with something that feels much more like affirmingly widescreen alt-rock than it does post-punk. [A limited-edition pink color vinyl pressing is available.]

Oded Tzur – Isabela CD (ECM)

On his second release for ECM, New York-based saxophonist Oded Tzur introduces a heightened sense of urgency and a conceptually augmented approach to his distinctive voice, weaving one underlying musical idea through a series of elaborate and impassioned designs. Throughout Isabela, Oded and his collaborators apply their subtle dialect in a more intense space, exploring the nuances and colors of his self-fashioned raga in a suite-like sequence of quiet meditations and powerful exclamations.

Ub40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro – Unprecedented CD/2xLP (UMe)

Unprecedented is the follow-up to 2018’s A Real Labour Of Love. Recorded in studios in London and Jamaica between lockdowns, the album is a collection of songs that Ali & Astro have loved for many years by artists they admire (such as Stevie Wonder and Kris Kristofferson) alongside self-penned tracks inspired by the pandemic and the state of the UK at the moment.

Various Artists – Minions: The Rise Of Gru Soundtrack CD/2xLP (Decca)

Set in the 1970s, Minions: The Rise Of Gru tells the origin story of how Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carell), the world’s greatest supervillain, first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. The funk-fueled soundtrack features a star-studded line-up. Following the recent release of her 2021 hit album Thank You, Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala leads the way with the joyous, dance-inducing first single “Turn Up The Sunshine”. The soundtrack celebrates a range of dazzling funk, disco and soul classics with brand-new versions of some of the biggest hits of the 1970s from some of today’s hottest talent. From St. Vincent’s new take on Lipps Inc’s 1979 hit “Funkytown” and H.E.R.’s rendition of Sly and The Family Stone’s 1967 smash “Dance To The Music”, to Bleachers version of John Lennon’s 1970 track “Instant Karma!” and Phoebe Bridgers’ interpretation of The Carpenters’ 1972 single “Goodbye To Love”, every track has been reimagined by each artist with ingenious results. [An indie store exclusive picture disc color vinyl pressing is available.]

Various Artists – Soul Jazz Record Presents: Studio One Women Vol. 2 CD/2xLP+MP3 (Soul Jazz)

Soul Jazz Records follows up one it’s most popular Studio One releases with a selection of rare and classic releases by women in reggae. Featuring legendary artists such as Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley and Hortense Ellis, alongside a host of rarities from lesser-known names such as Nina Soul, Nana McLean, Denise Darlington, Myrna Hague and also Doreen Schaeffer, a vocalist who was a founding member of The Skatalites.

Warmduscher – At The HotSpot CD/LP+MP3 (Bella Union)

London’s funk punk gang Warmduscher is made up of members of Fat White Family, Paranoid London, and Childhood. Their fourth album, At The HotSpot, was written over a year period during lockdown. Produced by Joe Goddard and Al Doyle of Hot Chip, it takes the raucous energy Warmduscher solidified on their critically acclaimed 2019 release Tainted Lunch, and injects it with a slightly more polished, ‘80s funk sound that is kind of like stumbling home to your squatted loft after a drunken night at the local disco.

Sadao Watanabe – Jazz & Bossa (Live At Suntory Hall) CD (Red River Entertainment)

Watanabe brought his love of a variety of music to Japan by creating the music festival originally known as the Bravas Club, but now known as Kirin the Club. He has invited musicians from all over the world to this festival that has become a yearly event for more than 15 years. With a career that spans over 50 years and 60 albums, Watanabe continues to expand his horizons. He has published three books of photography; hosted a three-part documentary; and become one of the most recognized faces in Japan. He is the godfather of jazz in Japan and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon.

This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:

Lee Aaron – Radio On! LP (Metalville)

Radio On! Is an album packed with classic, melodic rock hooks, nasty guitar riffs, big harmonies and inspired songwriting. Blue color vinyl pressing.

Anna – Systems Breaking Down [Reissue/1982] 12” (Be With)

Originally released in 1982, Anna’s cosmic coldwave bomb “Systems Breaking Down” is one of the most mysterious singles of the period. Remarkably, it was released on a major label – RCA – yet very little is known about the shadowy Anna. Despite being recorded nearly 35 years ago, it still sounds strikingly vital. Both sonically relevant and lyrically prescient, it’s hard to imagine a more apposite track to soundtrack the dark days we’re currently occupying. A masterful study in dread, describing the gentle collapse of all structures, it is set against a backdrop of eerie, synth-heavy electronics. Produced by ‘80s disco-pop mavericks Geraint Hughes and Ken Leray, the A-Side contains the epic synth-pop original, all heart-wrenching atmosphere and haunting vocals.

Automatic – Excess LP (Stones Throw)

Released last week on CD – now available on vinyl, including and indie store exclusive blue color pressing. Automatic’s second album Excess rides the imaginary edge where the ’70s underground met the corporate culture of the ’80s – or, as the band puts it, “That fleeting moment when what was once cool quickly turned and became mainstream, all for the sake of consumerism.” Using this point in time as a lens through which to view the present moment, Excess takes aim at corporate culture and extravagance. The overarching themes of alienation and escapism emerged as Automatic put Excess together, taking writing retreats to flesh out the new songs before decamping to the studio for sprint recording sessions with producer Joo Joo Ashworth (Sasami, FROTH).

Batteaux – Batteaux [Reissue/1973] LP (Be With)

A notoriously jaw-dropping folk-funk classic, long treasured by the Balearic fraternity, the self-titled LP from the brothers Batteau nevertheless remains a criminally underheard gem. Appealing to fans stuck on Ned Doheny’s scorching blue-eyed soul as well as Gene Clark’s rich country-rock, it’s an honor to present the first officially licensed vinyl reissue of this undoubted masterpiece of proto-yacht-rock.

Canibus & Body Bag Ben – Kaiju LP (Body Bag Productions)

Kaiju is the floor-shaking, speaker-knocking new album from Canibus, one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists who continues to push himself as an artist.

Nick Cave – Seven Psalms 10” (Goliath Ent.)

Limited 10″ vinyl pressing housed in dark petrol blue sleeve with grain embossed finish. Title and crucifix rendered in gold foil. Seven Psalms features seven spoken word pieces by Nick Cave set to music in collaboration with Warren Ellis.

Cemetery Sun – Ascension LP (Velocity)

Violet w/ black color vinyl pressing. Ascension is a sonic exploration in real time – spanning everything from hard rock to pop punk to electronic infused indie-pop. A deeply personal lyrical theme permeates the release, with songs that explore the dynamics of abandoning toxic relationships, the painful process of self-realization and struggles with mental health.

Crimson Shadows – It’s The F******* Shadows! LP (Busy Bee)

Mid ‘80s Swedish neo garage teen punks the Crimson Shadows set the standards for the garage scene to come playing all original material in a time when most similar bands relied heavily on covers.

DJ Hoshino – Transcendental Love 12” (Critique)

DJ Hoshino releases a new EP which “illustrates a rising energy born out of dark confines, reflecting our patient return to clubs and nightlife all over the world.”

Ferry Djimmy – Rhythm Revolution 2xLP (Acid Jazz)

Vinyl reissue of one of Afrobeat’s most mysterious and rare records by a former schoolteacher, boxer, Jacques Chirac’s bodyguard, and Beninese musical visionary: Ferry Djimmy – Rhythm Revolution. The album was originally recorded in the mid-1970s in support of Benin’s revolutionary leader Mathieu Kérékou. Rumour has it that less than two hundred copies survived a late-’70s fire. [CD version due July 8.]

Kit Downes/Petter Eldh/James Maddren – Vermillion LP (ECM)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Kit Downes joins forces with long-time collaborators Petter Eldh on bass and James Maddren on drums for a carefully assorted piano trio program that treads gentle lyricism and bold creative outbursts in equal measures. Replete with subtle twists and turns, the trio offers its idiosyncratic take on the piano trio format, producing unexpected harmonic alterations and animated rhythmic flashes as they flesh out distinct musical forms.

Amancio d’Silva – Sapana LP (The Roundtable)

It is widely accepted that the recorded musical output of Indian-born British guitarist Amancio d’Silva came to a premature closure with the landmark 1972 albums, Cosmic Eye and the unreleased masterpiece Konkan Dance. Forty years after it was recorded, The Roundtable proudly present Sapana, the forgotten piece of a remarkable musical legacy, the final recording from one the most singular artists to emerge from the British Jazz scene of the 1960s/’70s. Recorded in 1983 and released here for the first time, Sapana is thematically akin to Cosmic Eye, a further musical impression of the subconscious, vividly imagined with traditional Hindustani and western improvisation. A spellbinding fusion of Indian raga and new-age jazz.

Eagle – Record From The Basement Session 2 LP (Fat Beats)

Eagle’s sound sources are a global assemblage, as he scours second-hand shops from China to Dubai for rare records to source his beats. Even Eagle’s residence is multicultural – born in the Ukraine but now based in Hong Kong, the producer and renowned scratch DJ draws upon a galaxy of influences to craft his jazzy lo-fi hip hop concoctions. Now he’s powered up his MPC and loaded up the vintage wax for another Cold Busted excursion.

Nicky Egan – This Life LP (Transistor Sound)

In between steadily touring as a hired gun for psych-soul L.A. staple, Chicano Batman, Nicky Egan has been stealthily plugging away with her New York based producer and Dap-Kings guitarist Joe Crispiano to complete her new LP This Life. Driven by honest confessional songwriting and influenced by your favorite classic soul sounds, the record features a who’s who of NY’s most sought-after players including Homer Steinweiss, Victor Axelrod, Brian Wolfe & Elizabeth Pupo-Walker, to name a few. [An indie store exclusive orange color vinyl pressing is available.]

Enumclaw – Jimbo Demo LP (Youth Riot)

Blown-out guitars and languid beats conjure a sort of dingy, Pacific Northwest shoegaze. [A translucent green color vinyl pressing is available.]

The Exploited – Punk’s Not Dead [Reissue/1981] LP (Radiation Deluxe)

The Exploited – Troops Of Tomorrow [Reissue/1982] LP (Radiation Deluxe)

The Exploited – Let’s Start A War … (Said Maggie One Day) [Reissue/1983] LP (Radiation Deluxe)

Color vinyl reissues of the first three albums by the Scottish punk rock band.

Faster Pussycat – Whipped! [Reissue/1992] LP (Real Gone Music)

Any band that names itself after a Russ Meyer film has a reputation to uphold. And with tracks like “Big Dictionary” (get it?), the fourth track on their 1992 album Whipped!, Faster Pussycat did just that, along with other blasts of Sunset Strip braggadocio. Clear vinyl pressing.

Brunhild Ferrari & Christoph Heeman – Stürmische Ruhe LP (Black Truffle)

After her stunning collaboration with Jim O’Rourke, Brunhild Ferrari returns to Black Truffle with Stürmische Ruhe, her first duo with Christoph Heemann. A legendary figure in underground music, Heemann has quietly produced a unique body of work since his beginnings with the absurdist cutups of H.N.A.S. in the mid- ‘80s, including collaborations with Merzbow, Organum, and Nurse With Wound, the eerie psychedelia of Mirror (with Andrew Chalk), In Camera (with Timo van Lujik), and Plastic Palace People (with Jim O’Rourke), and the precise cinema pour l’oreille constructions of his solo works. Created together in Ferrari’s Parisian studio (once shared with Luc Ferrari) between 2011 and 2014, Stürmische Ruhe is a single half-hour piece that folds rain and storm recordings into an intricately woven fabric of haunted electronics, unexpected edits and disorienting processing.

Findlay – The Last Of The 20^th Century Girls LP (Mogg Music)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Mastered by five-time Grammy award winning engineer Antoine ‘Chab’ Chabert (Daft Punk, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sebastien Tellier) and self-described as a “late coming of age story”, drenched in nostalgia, melancholy, and the kind of strange experiences only a misunderstood millennial could have; The Last Of The 20^th Century Girls effortlessly blends a diverse melting pot of breezy alt-indie, psychedelic pop, dreamy lo-fi chill, indie-rock and expansive cinematic sounds. It’s Findlay at her genre-melting finest, and a sharp, tasteful insight into her unique artistic psyche; a perfect representation of her impeccable alternative sound.

Kim Fowley – In Deutschland LP (Liberation Hall)

One of very few recordings of Kim Fowley to survive and amazingly, he survived this show as the audience boo-ed him off the stage. The band hadn’t rehearsed properly and mid-show, the organizer asked the audience if they wanted the show to continue and even though they emphatically said “NO!!!!”, Fowley and the band continued, oblivious to the jeering audience. Eventually, he was ‘removed’ from the stage.

Friiman Muzik Company – Free Man [Reissue/1976] LP (Tidal Waves Music)

Limited 180gm clear vinyl pressing. Comes with obi strip and features the original artwork. The album Free Man by the Friimen Muzik Company from 1976 was recorded at the famous Decca Studios in Lagos and has eight swinging tunes. Afrobeat and over the top melodic funk influenced brought by a wide array of both local and international artists. Originally released in 1976 on Anodisc Records Nigeria, Tidal Waves Music presents the first official reissue of this seminal Afrobeat/Afrofunk album.

Minoru Fushimi – Thanatos Of Funk [Reissue/1985] LP (180G)

Minoru “Hoodoo” Fushimi’s most wanted and impossible to find first album Thanatos Of Funk is finally reissued for the first time ever, in collaboration with Fushimi himself. Thanatos Of Funk is a milestone in Japan’s underground music and electro funk/early hip hop history. Entirely self-produced, designed and distributed in 1985 by Fushimi, a high-school teacher by day and music experimenter by night, Thanatos Of Funk is a love-letter to counter-culture, DIY, drum machines and synthesizers blended with some killer shamisen and guitar playing.

Melody Gardot / Philippe Powell – Entre Eux Deux LP (Decca)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Melody Gardot and acclaimed pianist Philippe Powell have recorded an intimate album of brooding jazz torch songs. Recorded in Paris in Dec 2021, this intimate new album showcases Melody and Philippe’s love of traditional jazz, taking the listener back to its golden age.

Ginger Root – City Slicker 12” (Acrophase)

What would it sound like if Ginger Root was asked to make the soundtrack to an American adaptation of a fictitious Japanese film from 1981 entitled, ? (Machi No Yatsu). You’d get their new EP, City Slicker. While the previous Ginger Root albums have had themes of introspectiveness and observations on past personal experiences, this EP is the first collection of songs written from an outside perspective. Yellow color vinyl.

Ginger Root – Mahjong Room LP (Acrophase)

The debut project from Ginger Root which explores his coming of age and discovery of his sound self-coined as ‘aggressive elevator soul.’

Hardcore Superstar – Abrakadabra LP (Golden Robot)

Two colorways are available: gold and silver. Abrakadabra is the new album from Gothenburg’s leading exponents of street metal.

Fuzzy Haskins – A Whole Nother Thang [Reissue/1976] LP (Tidal Waves)

Limited 180gm brown color vinyl pressing housed in gatefold jacket with obi strip. Includes liner notes. A co-founder of the P-Funk movement, Clarence Eugene “Fuzzy” Haskins was a founding member of the groundbreaking and influential 1970s funk bands Parliament-Funkadelic. Fuzzy Haskins released his first solo album, A Whole Nother Thang, in 1976. The album features funk ‘all-stars’ from the likes of Bernie Worrell, Donald Austin, and Bootsy Collins.

Trevor Hartley – Innocent Lover [Reissue/1979] LP (Burning Sounds)

1979 reggae album from Trevor Hartley produced by Phil Pratt pressed on vinyl.

Haunted Shores – Void LP (MNRK Records LP)

Recently released on CD – now available on gold w/ black marble color vinyl. Haunted Shores is the instrumental side project of Periphery guitarists Mark Holcomb and Misha Mansoor, two high-profile members of the heavy music community. The record is a balls-out blast of heavy music played at breakneck speed, with rumbling grooves, and tons of twists and turns.

Randy Holden – Population III LP (Riding Easy)

How does one follow up one of the most legendary, yet rarest albums said to signal the birth of doom metal? If you’re Randy Holden (Blue Cheer), you give everyone about 50 years to catch up, then casually drop a tastefully modernized reinterpretation of that sound. Population III picks up where Holden’s 1969 solo debut left off, updated with several decades’ worth of technological advances and personal hindsight.

Iatt – Magnum Opus LP (Black Lion)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Progressive black death metal for fans of Emperor, Archspire, Uada.

INVSN – Let The Night Love You LP (Clouds Hill)

A rebellious spirit of social justice is hugely prevalent in INVSN, the feverish post-punk camaraderie led by Refused frontman, Dennis Lyxzén and completed by a cross-section of members from iconic Swedish rock and punk acts like Masshysteri and Deportees. On their first LP in five years, INVSN offer an intense, dark, and brooding outlook on life both disturbingly current and essentially timeless. Let The Night Love You is driven by an epic sense of morbid grandeur and apocalyptic megalomania, a dark and bleak album. Songs for cities in ruins and ashes, for societies falling apart and for people holding tight no matter what.

Iron Butterfly – Live In Copenhagen 1971 2xLP (Purple Pyramid)

Silver color vinyl pressing of a vintage live set from the psych rock powerhouse.

Iron Claw – Iron Claw 2xLP (Lion Productions)

Official heavy duty gatefold double album of early ‘70s Scottish underground heavy rock from Iron Claw a band who were stomping around the UK with the likes of Black Sabbath Hackensack Pink Fairies Juicy Lucy and others but who never released a proper album. Iron Claw started their career in 1970 as (more or less) the world’s first Black Sabbath tribute band: they incorporated the entire first Black Sabbath LP and single into their live set. This collection of sixteen original studio tracks documents Iron Claw’s existence from 1970 thru 1974 and includes extensive liner notes lyrics and photos.

The Irresistible Force vs Ramjac Corporation – Live At The Brain 1990 LP (Musique Pour Danse)

An historical live recording at The Brain Club that captures the unique vibe and flow of a brand-new life-changing musical era in 1990 London Soho. Includes liner notes by The Brain club co-owner Sean McLusky, writer (“Bass, Mids, Tops”) and DJ Joe Muggs and original sleeve art by the other The Brain club co-owner Mark Wigan, like you were back there. For fans of ambient, acid house, and f***ing brilliant live music

Brian Jackson – This Is Brian Jackson LP (Barely Breaking Even)

Limited color vinyl LP pressing. Legendary American musician Brian Jackson announces his first solo album in over 20 years, produced by Phenomenal Handclap Band founder Daniel Collás and released on BBE Music. Brian Jackson earned mythic status among music fans thanks to his pioneering work with Gil Scott-Heron in the ‘70s, where his flute and electric piano performances on Pieces Of A Man and Winter In America virtually defined the sound of an era. From the ‘80s onwards he went on to record with Kool & The Gang, Will Downing (whose debut album he produced), Roy Ayers and Gwen Guthrie among many others, and while many veteran musicians tend to stick with the sounds they know best at some point in their careers, Jackson remains an unusually adventurous, vital, and broad-minded artist to this day.

Jethro Tull – Aqualung – The 2011 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix LP (Rhino/Parlophone)

Generally considered the pinnacle of the band’s recorded output, frontman Ian Anderson’s songwriting was quickly evolving from British folk-blues roots and helping define prog-rock. While pushing the envelope for the era in taking about God and organized religion, it was guitarist Martin Barre who was establishing equal ground with Anderson’s flute as an instrumental voice of the band. Joining Tull after Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath) who himself had replaced original guitarist Mick Abrahams (Blodwyn Pig, Mick Abrahams Band) departed after only a few days, both Barre’s opening riffs and lead breaks became indelibly imprinted to generations of classic rock.

Ben Jorge – Samba Esquema Novo [Reissue/1963] LP (Philips)

Limited clear vinyl pressing. First released in 1963 on Phillips Records, this was Jorge Ben’s debut album. Samba Esquema Novo (“New Style Samba”) deliberately sets a new standard in Brazilian music. A beautiful, fresh, and vital combination of Ben’s percussive guitar and smooth/rough voice backed by big band style horns, percussion (the great Dom Um Romao), and strings. In 2007, it was listed by Rolling Stone Brazil as one of the 100 best Brazilian albums in history.

Jyoti – Mama, You Can Bet! LP (SomeOthaShip Connect)

Acclaimed Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Georgia Anne Muldrow returns with her third studio album as part of her one-woman jazz ensemble Jyoti. The album follows the critically acclaimed Ocotea and Denderah released via her independent label SomeOthaShip Connect. Unlike the previous two records, Mama, You Can Bet! contains tracks with vocals from Georgia including the lead single “This Walk”. The album’s only guest musician includes Georgia’s long-time friend and acclaimed saxophonist Lakeica Benjamin on the track “Ra’s Noise”.

King Tubby – King Tubby Classics: Lost Midnight Rock Dubs Chapter 1 LP (Radiation Roots)

King Tubby – King Tubby Classics: Lost Midnight Rock Dubs Chapter 2 LP (Radiation Roots)

King Tubby – King Tubby Classics: Lost Midnight Rock Dubs Chapter 3 LP (Radiation Roots)

Three volumes of unreleased dubs from the master himself King Tubby, recorded at the legendary Channel One studios and mixed at King Tubby’s. Taken from the archives of the seminal Midnight Rock label, all the backing tracks were recorded by the awesome Roots Radics band.

Lissie – Watch Over Me (Early Works 2002-2009) LP (Cooking Vinyl)

Yellow color vinyl pressing. Watch Over Me (Early Works 2002 – 2009) is collection of previously unreleased songs from Lissie’s archives which chronicle formative moments from the early years of her career until the release of her iconic debut album Catching A Tiger.

Lit – Tastes Like Gold LP (Round Hill)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Seventh album from the veteran alt rock band. Lead guitarist Jeremy Popoff says, “We wanted to get back to the old school Lit sound with a modern-day approach to the production. It took a minute to get our heads in the right place, especially with all the craziness going on in the world.”

The Lost Souls – The Lost Souls LP 2xLP (Lion Productions)

The music scene in Cleveland in the mid to late ‘60s was ripe with talent: the James Gang with Joe Walsh and Glenn Schwartz, The Choir, Eric Carmen (pre-Raspberries), Glass Harp with Phil Keaggy, the Damnation of Adam Blessing… and The Lost Souls. Of all those bands, only The Lost Souls never released a record. Not only is this the first time the music of The Lost Souls has been available since that cassette this Lion Productions edition is the first release for many additional Lost Souls cuts, including alternate versions of key tracks.

Mama’s Broke – Narrow Line LP (Free Dirt)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke has spent the past seven years in a near-constant state of transience, pounding the transatlantic tour trail. They’ve brought their dark, fiery folk-without-borders sound to major festivals and DIY punk houses alike, absorbing traditions from their maritime home in Eastern Canada, all the way to Ireland and Indonesia along the way. Nowhere is the duo’s art-in-motion approach more apparent than on their long-awaited sophomore record Narrow Line; it’s the sound of nowhere in particular yet woven with a rich synthesis of influences that knows no borders.

May Blitz – May Blitz [Reissue/1970] LP (Survival Research)

Obscure hard rock power trio May Blitz spun off from British blues-rock act Bakerloo, but after founding members quit to join Vinegar Joe, Uriah Heep, and Colosseum, lead singer/guitarist Jamie Black recruited fellow Canadian Reid Hudson on bass, scoring a major coup when Tony Newman joined on drums, following stints with Jeff Beck, The Hollies, and Sounds Incorporated. Their self-titled debut, released on Vertigo in July 1970, is heavy psych with a blues underpinning that edges toward metal, an overlooked gem that will appeal to all who like their rock down ‘n’ dirty, trippy and bluesy, hard hitting and free from excess.

Larry McCray – Blues Without You LP (KTBA)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Poised to become a genre-shaping staple with the release of two major label albums in the ‘90s, rustbelt blues singer and guitarist Larry McCray proves he’s been hiding in plain sight with the release of his first album in nearly seven years, Blues Without You. Produced by blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the 12-track collection is released via Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA Records), and features performances by Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Joanna Connor, and Reese Wynans.

Mice Parade – lapapọ LP (Bubble Core)

Mice Parade return from a decade of silence to release lapapọ, an album that spans the many styles of their storied career and features guest singer appearances by Angel Deradoorian (Dirty Projectors) and Arone Dyer (Buke & Gase). The rock is louder; the West-African-inspired highlife breaks are chubbier; the dueling drumkits are more complex, the instrumental passages more serene. Clear vinyl pressing.

Midland – The Last Resort: Greetings From LP (Big Machine)

Recently released on CD – now available on limited transparent green color vinyl pressing Midland likes their music straight-up. Hardcore country, the kind you find in forgotten bars in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas – wherever the neon’s buzzing but not quite dead. The Grammy-nominated trio plots a resurgence of their thick harmonies, tart lyrics, and steel guitar with The Last Resort: Greetings From. Unfiltered, they want their country 120-proof. Whether it’s a cheating song, a heartbreak ballad, or a shoot-out-the-lights romper, they savor the emotions gusto.

Nitrogods – 10 Years Of Crap – Live 2xLP (Massacre)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. After more than 10 years of playing and touring, Nitrogods felt that it was about time to release a live album forged in the spirit of the classic ‘70s and early ‘80s live double albums the band used to love when they were young.

Noveliss & Dixon Hill – Book Of Changes LP (Clear Soul)

The first collaboration album between Noveliss and Dixon Hill comes in the form of a concept album based on the I Ching or Book of Changes. The track list was constructed using the ancient text and its overall theme stems from the wisdom therein. Conceived, written, and recorded in isolation, Book of Changes sets Noveliss as a hermetic sage seeking balance and enlightenment over Dixon Hill’s ethereal musical backdrops. Dixon Hill used samples, live instruments, and field recordings to create the sonic template for this record.

Orchestre Volta Jazz – Air Volta LP (Numero)

From the landlocked tropical savanna of Upper Volta, an ever-evolving cast of musicians brought the world’s rhythms to the streets of their native Bobo-Dioulasso. Combining Congolese rhumba, American R&B, French yé-yé, Cuban son, and regional Senufo and Mandingo traditions, Orchestre Volta Jazz was at the epicenter of the West African musical explosion of the ’60s and ’70s. Air Volta compiles nine original songs originally issued on the Disques France-Afrique and Sonafric labels, a peerless primer of a group that turned the brutality of colonialism into something beautiful and enduring. [A ‘wild rice’ color vinyl pressing is available.]

O’Reillys & The Paddyhats – Seven Hearts, One Soul [Reissue/2016] LP (Metalville)

The O’Reillys and The Paddyhats is a unique formation making a mark on the Irish folk punk scene. Red color vinyl pressing.

Origami Angel – Somewhere City LP (Counter Intuitive)

Color vinyl pressing. Origami Angel (vocalist/guitarist Ryland Heagy and drummer Pat Doherty) have mapped out their Washington D.C. home base and hell, even the Hoenn region of the Pokémon universe – so let them be your guide through a green-tint utopia. They’ve even written their debut LP about it; an acrobatic, energetic panorama that promises more than simple travel tips. Somewhere City has no gods or masters (Somewhere City claims Philly producer Jake Checkoway, though). The real power, as with much of Gami’s self-help dialogue, lies within. All who enter become better. Even you.

Michael Orr – Spread Love [Reissue/1975] LP (Tidal Waves Music)

White color vinyl. Many remember the ’70s as the platinum age of R&B. Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Spinners, Curtis Mayfield, and Norman Connors were among a myriad of musicians at peak power. Indeed, it was a great time for beautiful African American music. Michael Orr and his Spread Love album probably should have been part of that party too, but it wasn’t meant to be… at least not then. [A yellow color vinyl pressing is due July 15.]

Michael O’Shea – Michael O’Shea [Reissue/1982] LP (AllChival)

Having sold his instruments to fund a nomadic 1970s lifestyle, eccentric Irish experimentalist Michael O’Shea was forced to create his own handmade answer to the sitars and zelochords he’d become accustomed to playing on his travels around the globe. Using an old door, 17 strings, chopsticks and combining them with phasers, echo units and amplification, the new device was to become his signature sound, mixing Irish folk influences with Asian and North African sounds in a mesmerizing and soulful new way.

Pachakuti & young.vishnu – Dédalo 2xLP (Melting Pot Music)

Undoubtedly, their most ambitious work to date, Dédalo (Spanish synonym for labyrinth), recorded and produced over the course of a year, shows Pachakuti & young.vishnu’s ambitions and growth. The 16 recorded songs, ranging from 1:19 to 14:58 minutes, take you on an emotionally honest, metaphoric journey through the maze of human existence, of modern society and mythic poetry. The mostly instrumental tracks build on expressive melodies, layered rhythms, and a wide range of musical instruments, merging the sounds of jazz with the classical word of orchestras and choirs, and urban soundscapes with traditional instruments such as the Andean Kena and Charango, the Colombian Gaita and Marimba de Chonta, and an Indian harmonium. The album thus weaves together past and future, and diverse cultural threads, sounds and ideas in an act of cultural appreciation and global conscience.

Pearls Before Swine – The Exaltation Of Tom Rapp 2xLP (Fire America)

The grand masters of acid folk, Pearls Before Swine outline the genius of leader Tom Rapp on an album created from a dusty box of tapes left behind by the incisive tunesmith. Never heard recordings remastered to create the perfect route into the essential “Balaklava” and “One Nation Underground” albums that kick started a whole genre. This new double vinyl compilation was made in collaboration with, and fully endorsed, by the Tom Rapp estate.

Pere Ubu – The Modern Dance [Reissue/1978] LP+MP3 (Fire)

Limited white color vinyl pressing of the debut album by the post-punk band.

The Rass-es – Experience [Reissue/1979] LP (Burning Sounds)

Prince Lincoln & The Royal Rasses – Ride With The Rasses [Reissue/1982] LP (Burning Sounds)

Color vinyl reissues (yellow and red, respectively). Ride With The Rasses was an unequivocal statement of Prince Lincoln’s Rastafarian faith. The LP found favor with listeners worldwide, but, without major label backing, the album went relatively unheard outside of those who had kept the faith with conscious music making.

QRTR – infina ad nausea LP (Dome Of Doom)

Brooklyn-based electronic artist Meagan Rodriguez, aka QRTR releases her sophomore album, infina ad nausea. Diligently working on her follow-up since last year as the pandemic surged and life continued to transform, QRTR has unloaded a treasure trove of hypnotic grooves that vortex around the many intricacies of her experimental approach and leave testament to her growth as an artist. All tracks were mixed by QRTR and mastered by Ryan Schwabe (Oneohtrix Point Never, Tierra Whack, Shamir, RJD2). infina ad nausea is an album full of deep exploration that builds on the level of musicality present on Drenched and raises the bar even higher. Utilizing a palette of different synth tones, rhythm structures, and genre modes from track to track, little pockets become an oasis of sudden bursts, void outs, and all out-scenery changes.

Jonas Reinhardt – Ragged Ghost LP/Cassette (Trouble In Mind)

A Ragged Ghost is the eighth full-length album from electronic producer Jonas Reinhardt. The album brings together 11 new pieces that explore themes of life and death, netherworlds, and the liminal spaces in between. Taken together as a single narrative, the album offers a stirring exploration of mortality and immortality in what Reinhardt describes as ‘a dance of religious syncretism, navigating spaces between the living and the dead.

The Roger Webb Sound – Vocal Patterns [Reissue/1971] LP (Dewolfe Music)

When you drop the needle on Vocal Patterns, you are entering a world that is equal parts suave, smooth, cool, nostalgic, and kitsch. With haunting and beautiful vocals, upbeat numbers, and smooth sounds made for a late ‘60s summer holiday, let this cult classic transport you back to a simpler time. Originally released in 1971, Vocal Patterns features compositions by Roger Webb and vocal performances by Barbara Moore. This powerhouse duo has their own recognition outside of library music.

Pharoah Sanders – Journey To The One [Reissue/1980] 2xLP (Pure Pleasure)

By 1980 when Journey To The One was originally released Pharoah Sanders was solidly entrenched with his own voice on tenor. The passing of John Coltrane and Sanders’s fruitful years of playing with the prolific saxophone genius resulted with an unmistakable influence on his sound and explorations of the instrument.

Roxy Music – Flesh And Blood [Reissue/1980] LP (Republic)

Roxy Music – Avalon [Reissue/1982] LP (Republic)

Half-speed remastered vinyl reissues the influential art/glam rock band’s final two albums.

Savage Necromancy – Feathers Fall To Flames LP (20 Buck Spin)

The cruel sound and influences displayed on the Savage Necromancy debut album Feathers Fall To Flames is instantly familiar, and when done with such magisterial fervor and conquering fire become not occasion for admonishment but cause for debauched blood-soaked celebration. Tried and true bestial ferocity, profane mockery and spike-fisted black metal victory that leaves no cross unturned.

Selda – Selda [Reissue/1979] LP (Pharaway Sounds)

Limited vinyl picture disc pressing. Imagine if Julia Child had marched against Vietnam, stood on the steps of the Pentagon, and placed a flower in a gun barrel. Selda Bağcan’s later records have that same cross of easygoing motherly warmth and righteous anger. This 1979 album (technically her fourth, although six of these songs were also released on her third), was recorded when Turkey was at its most politically polarized. Selda was sentenced to a total of over 500 years in prison right about the time it came out. A pile of acoustic guitars and bağlamas all going off at once under a blanket of reverb, with lyrics about blood, wood, mountains, families, and desperate troubles, so it’s a thick squirt for a folk album. Selda’s voice can either be sultry or really surge with emotion, and when she does belt one, it’s oddly high and completely unique. Her reward was the love of Turkey’s people, but also nine trials and three prison terms from the right-wing military government of the ’80s.

Skatune Network – Pick It The F*** Up 2 LP (Counter Intuitive)

Red w/ black color vinyl pressing. Pick It The F*** Up 2 is the second collection of Skatune Network covers of songs from the Counter Intuitive Records catalogue. Skatune Network puts their unique high-energy ska/punk spin on 10 tracks, including CI classics from the likes of Mom Jeans, Bay Faction, and Rozwell Kid – to the newer additions to the label, like Bears In Trees and Teamonade.

Sly & The Viscaynes – Yellow Moon: The Complete Recordings 1961 – 1962 2xLP (Regrooved)

The amazing, unpredictable, one and only Sly Stone has never made a secret of his beginnings as a teenaged hopeful in Vallejo, California in the early 1960s. A trio of singles with his interracial high school vocal group The Viscaynes, followed by two more releases as a solo, recorded in Los Angeles with producer George Motola, comprise the fascinating apprenticeship Sly needed to undergo on the road to fame. For decades, Sly’s earliest works have been spread around on a parade of unauthorized collections, most with low-fidelity sound, artificially extended versions, and tracks by unrelated artists. Yellow Moon: The Complete Recordings 1961-1962 corrects this injustice by offering up Sly and the Viscaynes entire output from the correct master sources. This special 2 LP set complements the recent Ace Records CD of the same title and adds a brace of additional, exceedingly rare Sly-related material. [A limited-edition yellow color pressing is due July 22.]

The Sonic Overlords – The Last Days Of Babylon LP (M-Theory Music)

Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. The Swedish group’s combination of powerful doom riffs and the epic and melodic majesty of late ’70s/early ’80s heavy rock, much in league with Dio/Martin-era Black Sabbath, Rainbow, early Candlemass, Yngwie J. Malmsteen/Rising Force, Scorpions and MSG.

Jennifer Souza – Pacifica Pedra Branca LP (180G)

Multi-talented musician and Moons’ singer-songwriter Jennifer Souza presents her second solo album, produced, and recorded by Leonardo Marques at his Ilha Do Corvo studio in Belo Horizonte. With a sound palette that moves from Brazilian song to jazz, from melancholic folk to indie rock with multiple and unexpected instrumentation, Pacífica Pedra Branca reveals a musical geography that is highly unique to the artist, one of the most exciting names on the Brazilian music scene today. Welcome to a unique and magical world of soft pop, indie rock, and folk from beautiful Brazil.

The Spy From Cairo – Animamundi LP (Wonderwheel)

Animamundi is a reconfirmation that The Spy from Cairo overcomes all obstacles & delivers a diverse progression of his iconic “Arabadub” sound, with the help of collaborators like Andalucian vocalist Carmen Estevez, Mexican vocalist Mambe Rodriguez on the heavy hitting “Criminal”, Egyptian vocalist Adii Small on “Beautiful Baraka,” and former touring band member, the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Fatima Gozlan from Hungary. The music can vary from heavy deep electronic synths and live eastern instrumentation with Zeb playing oud, saz, chiftelli, bass, percussion, and other instruments, all along giving it his signature dub mixing style.

Le Super Djata Band – En Super Forme Vol. 1 [Reissue/1982] LP (Numero)

Connecting Wasulu hunter music, griot praises, pastoral Senufo dances, Fula and Mandingo repertoire with western psychedelia, blues, and Nigerian afro-beat, Zani Diabaté’s Super Djata Band was among Mali’s top orchestras. Tracked live inside Radio Mali’s cozy environs in January 1982, En Super Forme was briefly available via Côte d’Ivoire’s Musique Mondiale imprint. The album centers around Diabaté and his electric guitar’s pyrotechnics, a relentless shredder that stands shoulder to shoulder with Mali’s fingerstyle gods Ali Farka Touré and Djelimady Tounkara. [A ‘wild rice’ color vinyl pressing is available.]

Terror – BBC Sessions LP (Velocity)

With almost 20 years of unwavering dedication behind them, hardcore legends Terror finally release The BBC Sessions. This collection of songs was recorded in 2005 and features the band’s iconic lineup.

Malachi Thompson – The Seventh Son [Reissue/1980] LP (Mad About Records)

The Seventh Son was originally release in 1980 and became a true jazz holy grail. Malachi Thompson moved to Chicago as a child and credited his interest in the trumpet when he was 11 years old. Malachi worked in the rhythm and blues scene on Chicago’s South Side as a teen. In 1968, he joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), spending some time in the AACM big band. Thompson worked with saxophonists Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Frank Foster, and Archie Shepp among other musicians while living in New York City. He formed his Freebop band in 1978, and eventually relocated to Washington, D.C. Thompson also worked with Lester Bowie’s Hot Trumpets Repertory Company and formed Africa Brass, a group inspired by traditional New Orleans brass bands.

Three Man Army – Two [Reissue/1974] LP (Real Gone Music)

Brothers Adrian and Paul Gurvitz were responsible for some of the most progressive hard rock sounds of the late ’60s and ’70s, first in The Gun, and later with Cream drummer Ginger Baker in The Baker Gurvitz Army. In between those two bands, though, was the one that was perhaps the best of the bunch; Three Man Army put out three records from 1971 to 1974 that would nestle nicely in your heavy British rock collection next to, say, Cactus and Jeff Beck’s Truth and Beck-Ola records. 1974’s Two was, confusingly, their third album, and it’s safe to say they saved their best for last. Limited-edition blue color vinyl.

Charles Toliver/Music Inc. – Live At Slugs’ Volume I [Reissue/1972] LP (Pure Pleasure)

Charles Toliver/Music Inc. – Live At Slugs’ Volume II LP [Reissue/1973] (Pure Pleasure)

There was such promise in the concept of Music Inc., and in Strata East, but evidently, the music world’s attention was elsewhere, and this tremendous live set was probably heard by only a few hundred sets of ears. On the back of the record sleeve, Tolliver undersigned his mission statement: “Music Inc. was created out of the desire to assemble men able to see the necessity for the survival of a heritage and an Art in the hopes that the sacrifices and high level of communication between them will eventually reach every soul.” And he isn’t kidding. You won’t find a much higher level of communication than he, Cecil McBee, Stanley Cowell, and Jimmy Hopps engaged in on May 1, 1970, at Slugs’ in New York City.

Otha Turner and The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band – Everybody Hollerin’ Goat [Reissue/1997] LP (Birdman)

The trance blues stylings of Otha Turner and his Rising Star Fife And Drum Band should be a music classification unto itself, a whole new primitive take on drum and bass. This music is the oldest still-practiced post-colonial American music, and Turner was one of its greatest artists of the 20th century. Blowing the cane fife with a band of drummers as back up, The Rising Star Fife and Drum band was legendary in the hills of Tate County, Mississippi, where they would perform during the yearly goat picnics on Turner’s farm. These tracks were recorded by Luther Dickinson during such picnics and released when Turner was ninety years old. Everybody Hollerin’ Goat shows firsthand the hypnotic and rhythmic style of fife and drum music at its best-raw and beautiful. It is every bit as essential a document of America’s folk-music heritage as anything Harry Smith or Alan Lomax ever offered up for posterity. Turner’s band included some of his children and grandchildren that have gone on to continue the fife and drum tradition since his death in 2003.

Umbra Vitae – Shadow Of Life [Reissue/2020] LP (Deathwish Inc.)

Limited-edition white w/ black & green color vinyl pressing. “There are the required weighty chugs of death metal, though there is a much wider canvas of sonic depth.”— No Clean Singing

Various Artists – All You Need Is Love: The Beatles Reggae LP (Burning Sounds)

As Beatlemania approached its peak, Jamaican music was undergoing a transition that started with ska, and then morphed into rocksteady, before assuming its ultimate form as reggae. Inevitably these cultures collided, with artists such as the Paragons and Marcia Griffiths establishing a tradition of creating dynamic reggae covers of the Beatles’ hits that continues to this day. This album extends this lineage, as some of the best reggae artists set out on a series of version excursions that include some of the Fab Four’s best loved bitter-sweet cuts.

Various Artists [Horse Meat Disco] – Back To Mine 2xLP (Back To Mine)

The latest compilers in the Back To Mine series are none-other than the renowned four-piece, Horse Meat Disco. The horsemen are known for their incredibly fun, deep-diving selections, and this shines through in their Back To Mine compilation in flamboyant style. Across 15 eclectically brilliant tracks, Horse Meat Disco, which comprises Jim Stanton, James Hillard, Luke Howard, and Severino Panzetta expertly traverse through classic disco cuts, wonky dancefloor groovers, and silky-smooth soul.

Various Artists – Valley Of The Sun: Field Guide To Inner Harmony LP (Numero)

On limited ‘Sedona sunrise’ color vinyl. Both a marketing firm and metaphysical mission, Valley Of The Sun synthesized style and spirituality to produce an extensive catalog that at once defines and defies new age music. Founder Dick Sutphen worked with tireless devotion to spread a message he believed could change the world for the better. This 18-track overview of VOTS’ fertile 1977-1990 period includes music from Upper Astral, Robert Slap & Steve Powell, David Naegele, David Storrs, Steven Cooper, and Gloria Thomas, a 24-page booklet with extensive liner notes, J-card scans, and a hint of Sedona sand. Subliminal hypnosis likely.

VRSTY – Welcome Home LP (Spinefarm)

VRSTY have perfected their seamless and fearless cross-pollination of metallic grooves and R&B-influenced, after-midnight swagger on this 14-track release. Limited-edition purple color pressing.

Steve Walsh – Glossolalia [Resissue/2000] LP (Magna Carta)

Red color vinyl pressing of the sophomore solo album from the Kansas vocalist. Originally released in 2000, Glossolalia features contributions from Magellan’s Trent Gardner, hugely celebrated drummer Virgil Donati, Kansas bassist Billy Greer, and more.

A Wilhelm Scream – Lose Your Delusion LP (Creator-Destructor)

Recently released on CD and cassette – now available on green color vinyl. The fiery punk rock outfit are back just shy of a decade without new music.

Remi Wolf – Juno LP (Island)

Released last October on CD – now available on translucent orange color vinyl. With her eclectic sound and style and magnetic personality, Remi Wolf has developed an avid fan base that has made her a trailblazer of the emerging Gen Z pop scene.

World Trade – Euphoria 2xLP (Magna Carta)

A revamped and reissued version of the second album from prog rock supergroup featuring Yes veterans Chris Squire, Jay Schellen & Billy Sherwood. Blue vinyl pressing.

Yaeji – EP 1+2 LP (Yaeji)

A collection of recordings by Kathy Yaeji Lee, originally released as a pair of EPs on March 31st and November 3rd of 2017, remastered for a belated vinyl edition for the first time. A lot has been said and repeated about the interiority of this club music – how the joyful tremor of the “Raingurl” refrain holds hands with such soft and doubtful verses. How special it is that house music so of New York can contain storytelling cultivated so far away. That repetition is born of people all over the world going out, and staying in, with this music as a compass; songs that define so many late-night hangs for crews of friends, singalongs in DJ booths, contemplative 5am walks home from the club. [An indie store exclusive opaque jade color vinyl pressing is available.]

Spencer Zahn – Pale Horizon LP (Cascine)

White w/ green & beige color vinyl. Spencer Zahn’s new album emerged from a series of piano sketches born of daily improvisations in Kingston, New York, where he relocated during the pandemic after 14 years in the buzz of Brooklyn. Inspired by the space and pace of upstate life, he explored a more restrained, resonant mode of playing, letting chords delay all the way to silence, until the seeds of songs took shape. Zahn accompanied himself on upright bass, finessing each piece without cluttering it, focusing on the notion of “the instrument in a room.”

Cassettes:

Jonas Reinhardt – Ragged Ghost (Trouble In Mind)

A Ragged Ghost is the eighth full-length album from electronic producer Jonas Reinhardt. The album brings together 11 new pieces that explore themes of life and death, netherworlds, and the liminal spaces in between. Taken together as a single narrative, the album offers a stirring exploration of mortality and immortality in what Reinhardt describes as ‘a dance of religious syncretism, navigating spaces between the living and the dead.