CDs + Vinyl:

James Arthur – Back From The Edge CD (Sony)

UK X Factor winner James Arthur returns with his second album, one that displays his versatile style taking inspiration from soul, rock and hip-hop.

Avenged Sevenfold – The Stage CD/2xLP (Capitol)

11 panoramic tracks inspired by the writings of Carl Sagan and Elon Musk tied together by an Artificial Intelligence theme.

Avenged Sevenfold – The Best Of 2005-2013 2xCD (WB)

18 songs from Avenged Sevenfold’s best-selling Warner Bros. albums released between 2005 and 2013 including City Of Evil, Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare and Hail To The King. The package also features a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”, originally on the tribute album Covered, A Revolution In Sound as well as two original songs that Avenged Sevenfold wrote for video games: “Carry On” (Call Of Duty II) and “Not Ready To Die” (Call Of The Dead).

Matt Bianco (Mark Reilly) Meets New Cool Collective – The Things You Love CD (earMUSIC)

After a series of inspiring meetings Matt Bianco (Mark Reilly) and New Cool Collective noticed that their style of music and work were a perfect match. They sent ideas back and forth between London and Amsterdam, which first resulted in an EP containing five tracks. Four brand new songs and one remake of the well-known Matt Bianco hit “Don’t Blame It On That Girl.” They went on The Things You Love tour shortly after and due to the great success and demand for more music New Cool Collective and Matt Bianco decided to record a complete album. Five new numbers appear on the disc alongside the EP tracks: including “Cry,” the superb combi with Clean Bandit singer Elisabeth Troy, and a Matt Bianco & New Cool Collective makeover of one of NCCs own songs: The result is a swinging version of the song “Bring It On.”

Johnny Bristol – Modern Soul Classics 1974-1981 CD (Playback)

A 19-track retrospective of ‘70s soul from the sensational Motown songwriter/producer.

Kane Brown – Kane Brown CD (Sony Music Nashville)

Debut album from the country music vocalist.

Kate Bush – Before The Dawn 3xCD/4xLP (Concord)

This three-act show contains many well-known Kate Bush songs along with two song suites: “The Ninth Wave” from Hounds Of Love and “A Sky of Honey,” from Aerial. The New York Times called the performance “Dense, cathartic and physical.” NME concluded: “It is no ordinary artist that can tackle life, death, synchronicity, identity, spiritual transformation, empathy and the chaos of relationships with idiosyncratic ease in the space of a few hours,” and the UK’s Independent gushed, “Undoubtedly the most ambitious, and genuinely moving piece of theatrical pop ever seen on a British stage.”

[Read more…] about New Releases for December 2, 2016

CDs + Vinyl:

African Head Charge – Environmental Holes & Drastic Tracks: 1981-1986 5xCD+MP3 (On-U Sound)

African Head Charge – Return Of The Crocodile LP+MP3 (On-U Sound)

Inspired by Eno’s “vision of a psychedelic Africa”, English dub producer Adrian Sherwood and master Jamaican percussionist Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah have collaborated on a series of studio experiments under the African Head Charge moniker for over 35 years. This anthology documents the white hot heat of their first five years over five discs: My Life In A Hole In The Ground (1981), Environmental Studies (1982), Drastic Season (1983), Off The Beaten Track (1986), and Return Of The Crocodile (11 rare and unheard tracks from the period 1981-1986).

Amiina – Fantôma CD/2xLP+MP3 (Mengi)

Fantômas is melancholic and ethereal, yet full of suspense, pounding rhythms, and haunting melodies; A sound world full of contrasts, from darkness and utter terror, to heavenly melodies.

Violin, cello, drums, percussion, metallophone, table harp, ukulele, and electronics are the source material for the sound world of Amiina here, but it is expanded upon with their intelligent and imaginative usage of the different instruments and their varied and endless textures.

bAd bAd – bAd bAd CD/LP (S-s)

This Oakland, CA band is influenced by the pop-infused punk of Jay Reatard, one-chord Hawkwind power jams, and the highbrow playfulness of the Suburban Lawns. Disparate sounds, yes, but bAd bAd turns them into exciting buzzsaw-pop with Barrett/Floyd interludes.

Peter Baumann – Romance 76 [Reissue/1976] CD/LP (Bureau B)

Peter Baumann – Trans Harmonic Nights [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Bureau B)

Reissues of Peter Baumann’s first two studio albums. From 1971 to 1977, he was a member of the legendary Berlin band Tangerine Dream. Sonic similarities to Tangerine Dream exist given the use of the same instruments, such as a modular synthesizer system and a mellotron. The minimal composition’s airiness lends the unusual synth sounds space to unfold in all their glory, a state of affairs for which David Bowie is partially responsible.

Black Rainbows – Carmina Diabolo [Reissue/2010] CD/LP (Heavy Psych Sounds)

Black Rainbows stand with one leg in the middle of a huge pile of Kyuss albums while the second leg is picking flowers totally zonked in a psychedelic wonderland. Heavy and fuzzy, Carmina Diabolo is reminiscent of the 2000s Dutch scene – like Candybar Planet, Cowboys & Aliens and Desert Sons. For fans of old school stoner rock.

[Read more…] about New Releases for November 25, 2016

CDs + Vinyl:

Animals As Leaders – The Madness Of Many CD (Sumerian)

New (fourth) album from the instrumental modern progressive pioneers.

Joan Armatrading – Me Myself I World Tour CD (Savoy Jazz)

New live release documenting the singer/songwriter’s 2014-2015 solo world tour which was billed as both her first world tour and the last major tour of her career. The tour album written, arranged and performed by Joan– was recorded in October of 2015 at The Barns at Wolf Trap, the intimate concert space of the world renowned DC area venue and contains her biggest hits spanning her entire career. [Stand-alone DVD version also available.]

Daniel Bachman – Daniel Bachman CD/LP+MP3 (Three Lobed)

Guitarist and former wunderkind Daniel Bachman, at 26, can no longer be considered “precocious.” On even his earliest recordings Bachman’’s guitar prowess and compositional voice were staggeringly mature. His growth has been continual and, frankly, amazing — the ultimate product of this growth, 2015’’s River, showed a phenomenal level of maturity and, in turn, continued to convert faithful. His new self-titled album continues that staggering growth — in composition, sound, and technique — and offers a sort of trapped in amber glimpse of where he presently stands. It is a full and complete collection of truly engrossing songs that sees Bachman’s sonic arsenal expand to include elements of drone (generated by all acoustic instruments) and field recordings alongside his ever-present prowess and strength on the acoustic guitar.

Balkan Beatbox – Shout It Out CD/LP (Digital Monkey)

Fifth album from the Israeli musical group founded by Tamir Muskat, Ori Kaplan and now including Tomer Yosef as a core member. Balkan Beatbox plays Mediterranean-influenced music that incorporates Jewish, Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern traditions, Gypsy punk, reggae and electronica. On Shout It Out the band delve deeper into their reggae influences than on recent offerings.

The Band – The Last Waltz [40^th Anniversary Edition] 2xCD/4xCD+Blu-ray/6xLP (Rhino)

Digitally remastered 40^th Anniversary Edition of the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed concert film. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe features 54 tracks total, adding rehearsals and outtakes including performances not featured in the film. Six-LP vinyl edition also available.

Yishak Banjaw – Love Songs 2 CD (Terenga Beat)

Yishak, composer and keyboard player from Addis Ababa known to his country for his innovative compositions and unique sound. His ability to transform traditional Ethiopian songs into spacey minimal-wave gems creates an ultra-hypnotic and psychedelic atmosphere, a sound that you have never experienced before. A genuine talent who carried the long tradition of Ethiopia into another level. [Vinyl edition due December 2.]

Biosphere – Cirque [Reissue/2000] CD (Biophon)

This reissue of the fourth full album from ambient pioneer features six bonus tracks and new artwork. Wrote Jon Savage in Mojo: “Coming to prominence with 1992’s Microgravity – which along with the first couple of Aphex/Polygon Window CDs, defined the genre ambient – Geir Jenssen as Biosphere has made three of the ’90s best albums, culminating with last year’s

near beat-less Substrata. The idea – as it always was thanks to Eno’s On Land (1982) – is music as environment (reflecting, creating): working from his base in Tromso, Arctic Norway, Jenssen offers a polar, Apollonian exploration of the human psyche.”

Black Sabbath – Paranoid [Reissue/1970] 4xCD (Rhino)

This Super Deluxe edition of Black Sabbath’s sophomore album includes the 2012 remaster and a rare 1974 quad mix folded down to stereo, plus two concerts from 1970 (Montreux and Brussels). The four-disc set comes with a hardbound book with extensive liner notes featuring new interviews with all four band members, rare photos, and memorabilia, a poster, as well as a replica of the tour book sold during the Paranoid tour.

Blue Rodeo – 1000 Arms CD/LP (Telesoul)

“Blue Rodeo may be three decades into their career but they’re still finding new and refreshing ways to tackle their music and it shows on this dazzling new uptempo record.” – CBC

Body/Head – No Waves CD (Matador)

Body/Head is the duo of Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, Free Kitten) and guitarist Bill Nace (Northampton Wools, Celyon Mange). They play experimental, free-form guitar drones highlighed by Gordon’s unmistakable voice. Their sound is an immersive, three-dimensional experience and no two performances are similar. No Waves was recorded on March 24^th, 2014 during Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN at the Bijou Theater. [Vinyl edition due November 25.]

David Bowie – Legacy CD/2xCD (Columbia/Sony Legacy)

David Bowie’s iconic, shape-shifting catalog is up for reexamination on this new compilation, Legacy, which gathers the singer’s biggest singles onto your choice of single-disc or double-CD set. Bowie’s site calls Legacy “an introduction to a world of incredible music, just waiting to be enjoyed by a whole new generation.” The two-disc version culls 40 of Bowie’s greatest hits (single-disc consists of 20 tracks) from his breakthrough single “Space Oddity” to his closing Blackstar track “I Can’t Give Everything Away,” many presented in the form of their single edits. Legacy also collects the hits made in collaboration with other artists: “Under Pressure” with Queen, “Dancing In The Streets” with Mick Jagger, and his vocals on Pat Metheny Band’s “This Is Not America.” Additionally Legacy features an unreleased 2016 remix of “Life On Mars?” created by original Hunky Dory producer Ken Scott. The compilation is the latest in a string of posthumous releases following Bowie’s January death, including his recent box set Who Can I Be Now? (1973 – 1975) and the upcoming Lazarus Cast Album, featuring Bowie’s final recordings.

Bright Eyes – Digital Ash In A Digital Urn [Reissue/2005] CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Saddle Creek)

Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning [Reissue/2005] CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Saddle Creek)

Bright Eyes – Cassadaga [Reissue/2007] CD/2xLP+MP3/Cassette (Saddle Creek)

Remastered reissues now available (these titles were included in The Studio Albums 2000-2011 box set).

[Read more…] about New Releases for November 11, 2016