CDs + Vinyl:
Darin And Brooke Aldridge – Faster And Farther CD (Mountain Home)
New album from the sweethearts of bluegrass featuring guest vocals by Vince Gill and John Cowan.
Aquarian Blood – Last Nite In Paradise CD/LP (Goner)
Aquarian Blood is a crew of six (sometimes seven) Memphis degenerates from assorted generations playing hypnotic, synthy tracks whose main ruminations are cults, the paranormal, and other obscurities-whirlwind, weirdo punk soaked in the brain-goo pouring out of the ears of an acid freak.
Bee Gees – The Ultimate Bee Gees [Reissue/2009] 2xCD+DVD (UMe)
The Ultimate Bee Gees is a compilation album and DVD released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Bee Gees. Though every song in the Bee Gees catalogue since 1967 has been mixed in stereo, a few early tracks are presented here in the mono mixes heard on the original single releases, for the first time on a CD compilation. All songs were written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, except where noted.
Tony Bennett – The Singles Collection 1951-62 3xCD (Acrobat)
This triple-CD set comprises a substantial proportion of the A & B sides of the sixty or so singles Bennett released during the first decade and more of his career, with at least one side of most releases included, and naturally features all the 38 US and UK chart hits which he enjoyed during that period, including his signature song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” plus the classic No. 1s “Because Of You,” “Cold Cold Heart,” “Rags To Riches” and “Stranger In Paradise.”
Elvin Bishop – Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio CD (Alligator)
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio is an exciting new project from one of the most recognized and beloved roots music figures in the world. The music is rootsy, spirited and soulful, performed by serious musicians hell-bent on having a good time.
Black Flower – Artifacts CD/LP (Sdban Ultra)
Stirred up from deep within, from an abstract spiral of sound and movement, from a sensation of time and space absolving and converging at once, the Black Flower musicians have molded a tangible matter: the album Artifacts. Their second full album sounds international and ageless; Eastern influences, Ethio-dub, and jazz effortlessly merge producing psyche-delicious and accessible 21st century Ethio-dub-jazz.
The Bombpops – Fear Of Missing Out CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
After two buzz-building EP’s, SoCal punk quartet The Bombpops deliver their highly anticipated debut full-length.
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs [Reissue/1974] CD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Young Americans [Reissue/1975] CD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Station To Station [Reissue/1976] CD/LP (Rhino/Parlophone)
Albums included in the Who Can I Be Now? 1974-1976 boxset are now available individually. These are the 2016 remastered editions.
David Bowie – David Live (2005 Mix) 2xCD/3xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Bowie – Live At Nassau Coliseum ‘76 2xCD/2xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)
David Live is David Bowie’s first official live album, originally released by RCA Records in 1974. The set was recorded over five days in July of that year, on the initial leg of Bowie’s US Diamond Dogs Tour, at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA (a suburb of Philadelphia). The album catches Bowie in transition from the Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane glam-rock era of his career to the ‘plastic soul’ of Young Americans. Live At Nassau Coliseum was originally released as part of the 2010 Special Edition reissue of Station To Station, and was recorded in Uniondale, NY, March 23, 1976 during his Isolar Tour in support of Station To Station. (These albums were also included in the Who Can I Be Now? 1974-1976 boxset and are now available individually.)
Allman Brown – 1000 Years CD (Allman Brown)
The global internet sensation releases his long-awaited debut album featuring the hit singles ‘”Sons And Daughters’” and ‘”Rivers,’” as well as a new single, ‘”Palms.’” “Allman Brown possesses the kind of vocal prowess that transitions effortlessly from gently rasping to raw and powerful” (Indie Shuffle). “There’s a sensitivity to Allman Brown’s work that feels all too rare (Clash Magazine).
Carousel Kings – Charm City CD (Victory)
New album from the Lancaster, PA pop-punkers.
CES Cru – Catastrophic Even Specialists CD (Strange Music)
New album from the hip-hop duo comprised of Ubiquitous and Godemis.
Ornette Coleman – The Complete Albums Collection: 1958-1962 4xCD (Enlightenment)
This four-CD set compiles all eight Ornette Coleman albums released between 1958 and 1962, from his stunning debut Something Else, through to his final album with the Ornette Coleman Quartet, Ornette On Tenor. This collection serves as both an excellent starting point for those new to this musical genius, and as a welcome reminder of Coleman’s most acclaimed and respected era, from a career that lasted the best part of 70 years, ended only by his death in 2015 at the age of 85.
Cromwell – At The Gallop [Reissue/1975] CD/LP+MP3 (Get Kinda Lost)
Self-released in 1975 by the Drumcondra, Dublin-based Cromwell, At The Gallop is a blistering, heavy, loud n’ lascivious ten-track offering (thirteen in this expanded edition) of proto-metal infused street rock ‘n’ roll from a time when Ireland was still under the sway of conservative showbands, quasi-religious, sentimental pop pap and traditional Irish music.
Cynic – Uroboric Forms – The Complete Demo Recordings CD/LP+7”+CD (Century Media)
Legendary demo recordings of Florida’s most influential progressive death metal band. All material was recorded prior to the band’s 1993 milestone Focus and shows their development from a thrash band to progressive death metal in astonishing fashion. Features impressive artwork by Manuel Tinnemans (The Devil’s Blood, Bölzer) as well as rare photos, flyers and detailed liner notes. [Limited assorted color vinyl pressings are also available, each including a bonus 7” and a copy of the CD.]
Dangerkids – blacklist_ CD (Paid Vacation)
A mix of hard rock, electronic, rap, and metal.
Darling West – Vinyl And A Heartache CD (Vestkyst/Inkind)
Darling West create music that resonates equally well on the crowded streets of Nashville, the sunny mountaintops of Hollywood Hills and in the rainy valleys of Norway. When asked to name musicians they’re inspired by, the band cites legends such as Emmylou Harris, Doc Watson, Gram Parsons, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt, but also current artists Gillian Welch, Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Adams, Sam Outlaw and Jason Isbell.
Trevor De Brauw – Uptown CD/LP (The Flenser)
Chicago-based guitarist Trevor Shelley de Brauw (Pelican, RLYR) has announced the release of his first solo album – a collection of power-ambient compositions entitled Uptown. The album is a stream of consciousness sustained for too long, an aural pendulum swinging between poles of murky distress and cathartic resolve that take shape somewhere in the hazy valleys between rock, ambient and experimental music.
Baudouin De Jaer/Quatuor Tana – Eclerectic Attracta CD (Sub Rosa)
Surrounded by Quatuor Tana, the unpredictable Baudouin De Jaer presents four new pieces that push the boundaries of contemporary composition. Since 2011, Quatuor Tana has been the only European ensemble to be playing on electronic equipment with the Airturn Electronic Scoring System.
Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society – Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society CD (Six Degrees)
Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society is Garry Hughes (Bombay Dub Orchestra) and Harvey Jones. “Based on the foundation of a 35-year friendship, ‘a mutual respect for Delia, Eno, Tomita and Kraftwerk, and a roomful of iconic and mostly working synthesizers,’ the Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society pays homage to electronica pioneers with an ambient excursion that would be right at home amidst such landmarks as Music For Airports or Klaus Schulze’s Mirage.” – Wax Poetics
Kevin Drumm – Elapsed Time 6xCD (Sonoris)
A key figure in American avant-garde, Kevin Drumm perpetually shakes up conventions of various sub-genres. Elapsed Time is a collection of some of his recent works, released via CDR or digitally, dating from 2012 to 2016. The boxset sees Drumm focus on desolate ambient drone, “cassette tape music” or raw musique concrete, computer assisted live electronics, and rough spectral music. Features music from: Middle Of Nothing (2016), February (2016), Earrach (2013), The Whole House (2012), Crooked Abode (2015), Bolero Muter (2015), Tannenbaum (2013), and Shut-In (2014).
Albert Af Ekenstam – Ashes CD (Kning Disk)
Matching the exquisite detail of Bon Iver to the sonic wash of Explosions In The Sky, Albert Af Ekenstamhis’s work is powerful and emotionally trenchant. Hugely affecting, the way each cut gently unfurls has a real sense of grace, a true sense of patience. Clashing music like Elliot Smith and Damien Jurado, Albert is a very brave and straightforward singer/songwriter.
Emperor – In The Nightside Eclipse [Reissue/1995] CD/LP (Caroline)
Recently reissued on vinyl, the 1995 album from the legendary Norwegian black metal band is back in print on CD.
FFUG – FFUG CD (Strangetown)
This Crymych, Pembrokeshire band play crunching punk with melodic, lyrical interludes and pointed, thoughtful lyrics in both English and Welsh.
Fixity – The Things In The Room CD (Penske Recordings)
The Things In The Room is the fourth release by Fixity. The album was recorded in Malmö on the February 13th, 2016 with a band made of up Dan Walsh on drum kit, joined by Swedish improvisers, tenor saxophonist Emil Nerstrand (Brigaden, Heavy Water, The Nod), guitarist Nils Andersson (Ljom, Ava), and bassist Fredrik Persson (Sista Bossen, The Good Morning Spider, Leo Kall, Cassus). TRIYL: Ultralyd, Fire!, Paal Nilssen-Love, Supersilent.
Marcus Fjellström – Skelektikon CD/LP+MP3 (Miasmah)
Released last year on vinyl — now available on CD. Born out of shattered dreams and an obscured vision of the future, Skelektikon is a delirious yet lucid exploration of the farthest and most conflicted reaches of the heart, teeming with confusion, passion, and ghostly shadows. Being no conventional composer in any way, Marcus stumbles further down his musical domain of detuned orchestral (re-)arrangements and pain-inducing synth passages, arriving at a most unique and personal result. Where 2010’s essential Schattenspieler gave way to noir filled alleyways, Skelektikon fills them with paranoia.
Sallie Ford – Soul Sick CD (Vanguard)
The Portland singer/songwriter’s new album Soul Sick “is an open, honest and relatable one acting as what Ford refers to as a ‘confessional’ album. ‘It’s about struggling with my issues — some that I’ve overcome and some that I still carry around. I felt confused, down about life and unsure of myself,’ Ford explains. As someone dealing with anxiety and depression, Soul Sick was a way for the singer to dig into her past, battle her inner demons, and heal by pouring herself into her lyrics. In addition to the deeply relatable concept and lyrics of Soul Sick, the album perfectly displays Ford’s unfiltered vocals and retro rock sound. If you need a reason to fall in love with Sallie Ford, Soul Sick gives you eleven.
Godfathers – A Big Bad Beautiful Noise CD/LP (Metropolis)
The British band’s new album fuses trademark primal rock & roll, super-melodic anthems, raw guitars and a gritty, lyrical attitude.
Group Doueh & Cheveu – Dakhla Sahara Session CD/LP (Born Bad)
Cheveu, the French three-member band and Group Doueh, a Sahrawi band from the Sahara desert (Dakhla), create a telluric big bang with Dakhla Sahara Session. Their music spans across many styles and hammers tradition with unprecedented finds. In between both their remote musical universes dwells a sound clash.
Guido & Maurizio De Angelis – Roma Violenta [OST/Reissue/1975] CD/2xLP (Sub Ost)
New reissue of Guido & Maurizio De Angelis’s soundtrack to the 1975 film Roma Violenta. This is the complete original soundtrack (with all the outtakes) for one of the most iconic Italian “poliziotteschi” films, the Italian answer to the Charles Bronson/Clint Eastwood mania of the 1970s. [Limited color vinyl edition also available.]
H-Burns – Kid We Own The Summer CD/LP+2xCD (Vietnam)
Kid We Own The Summer finds its identity between a few landmarks such as David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti’s California, the intimacy of Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978), the relative calmness of Suicide’s second album (1980), and the elegant melancholy of The National. [Vinyl edition version includes two CDs: Disc One features the studio album; Disc Two features the ten demo versions of the album.]
Hand Habits – Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void) CD/LP (Woodsist)
Debut solo album by Meg Duffy of Mega Bog and the Kevin Morby Band. “Singer, songwriter and guitarist from Upstate New York Meg Duffy, aka Hand Habits, has been putting in her time on the road and in the studio over the past two years with Pacific Northwest band Mega Bog, and the Kevin Morby Band, making an impression on everyone she comes across with her natural charisma and uncharted talent as a multi-instrumentalist. But let Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void) be her open invitation to the world to step inside and take a much deeper look into who Duffy actually is.” – Kevin Morby
Charles Hayward/Gigi Masin – Les Nouvelles Musiques De Chambre 2 [Reissue/1989] CD/LP (Modern Classics)
Following the reissue of the entire recorded output of South London-based experimental act This Heat and its successor, Camberwell Now, Modern Classics Recordings holds the lens up to a special split album created by one of the driving forces behind those groups — drummer Charles Hayward — in collaboration with Italian musician Gigi Masin, whose looping, rhythmic, electronic compositions have seen his cult following grow in his four decades as a recording artist.
The High Kings – Grace & Glory CD (ARD RI Entertainment)
To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music.
Mark Porkchop Holder – Let It Slide CD/LP (Alive)
There is something intoxicating about the sound of a guitar played with a slide. Mark Porkchop Holder of Black Diamond Heavies shows just how good the slide guitar can sound on his new album, Let It Slide. This is a healthy blend of gritty rock and blues kind of like you can hear on the first couple of albums by The Black Keys.
Jesca Hoop – Memories Are Now CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Jesca Hoop’s new album Memories Are Now wastes no time in making clear its confidence, confrontation, and craftsmanship. The stark and reverberant title track opens the album with “a fighting spirit,” says Hoop, serving as an anthem to push through any obstacle and put forth your very best work. And she has unequivocally done that here, with an album of stunningly original songs — minimalist yet brimming with energy, emerging from a wealth of life experience, great emotional depth, and years of honing the craft of singing. As riveting as it is reflective, the album, produced by Blake Mills (Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes), is a fresh debut of sorts for Hoop, as the first of her solo records made outside of Tony Berg’s Zeitgeist Studios where she and Mills were mentored. Memories Are Now covers a great deal of ground, showcasing every edge and curve of Hoop’s captivating voice, with sounds and themes ranging from the mythic to the deeply intimate. She sings of the religion that weighs heavily on her past and the world, of the imagination of myth, of the cruel nature of life and love.
Sonny James – The Singles Collection 1952-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
Known as The Southern Gentleman, Sonny James was one of the most popular and successful country artists of them all during the decades following WWII, racking up more than 75 hits in a chart career that lasted three decades through to 1983. This 62-track collection comprises a substantial proportion of the A and B-sides of the 40 or so singles he released on Capitol, NRC, RCA and Dot during the first decade or so of his career.
Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – Made To Move CD (Mountain Home)
The bluegrass artist’s new album title references the extreme travel the band engages in on a regular basis. Bandleader Jones typically flies in from Alberta to meet up with the rest of the group in Nashville, where bassist Jon Weisberger resides. Mandolinist Mark Stoffel meets them there from his home in Illinois, as does newest member Gina Clowes, who drives in from Virginia.
Carsten Jost – Perishable CD/2xLP (Dial)
On Perishable Tactics, David Lieske aka Carten Jost runs through his distinctively stealthy, low-slung “beatmospheres” — Detroit-inflected house rhythms, with crystalline keys, disembodied voices, and gently soaring strings.
Bap Kennedy – Reckless Heart CD (Last Chance)
Steve Earle described Bap Kennedy as “the best songwriter I ever saw.” Kennedy’s new (and final album — he passed away last November) is “a set of solidly constructed songs that generally lean towards country rock with simple chord structures and strong lyrical and melodic hooks. In general, the instrumentation is restricted to rhythm and lead guitars, piano, percussion and bass, augmented at times by organ and accordion” – Folking.com. [Vinyl edition due March 3.]
Nadine Khouri – Salted Air CD/LP (One Flash)
Nadine Khouri is a British-Lebanese musician and songwriter currently based in London. Influenced by dream-pop, moody soundtracks and spoken-word, her sound has been described as a “music born of perennial outsider-status.”
King Kobra – Ready To Strike [Reissue/1985] CD (Rock Candy)
King Kobra – Thrill Of A Lifetime [Reissue/1986] CD (Rock Candy)
CD reissues of the heavy metal band’s first two albums. King Kobra was founded in 1983 by Carmine Appice and Mark Free.
Simon Kirke – All Because Of You CD (The End)
Some of you are probably familiar with the name Simon Kirke, but those who don’t know the name will certainly have listened to songs he played on. He was a member of legendary rock band Free, having been recruited by Paul Kossoff to form the band. Being a member of one band of that stature would be enough for many, but when Free split, Kirke joined forces with Paul Rodgers and formed new band Bad Company. And while Bad Company has had various lineups over the years, Kirke remains the lone consistent member who has played in every iteration of the band. Bad Company is of course still around, but Simon Kirke found the time to write and record a new solo album, All Because Of You. Demonstrating his versatility, Kirke handled most of the instrumentation on the album, including drums, vocals, guitar, ukelele, keyboards and drums.
Kris Kristofferson – The Austin Sessions [Reissue/1999] CD/LP (Atlantic)
Remastered edition. In the summer of 1997, Kris Kristofferson spent a few days in Texas recording stripped-down versions of his best-known songs. Released by Atlantic Records in 1999, The Austin Sessions pairs the acclaimed outlaw country songwriter with a band of studio aces and guest harmony vocalists for intimate versions of classics like “Me And Bobby McGee,” “Why Me?” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”
Gábor Lázár – Crisis Of Repetition CD/LP (Shelter Press)
Budapest-based composer Gábor Lázár debuts on Shelter Press with his second full-length album, Crisis Of Representation, a collection of seven pieces recorded between 2011-2015. Instead of repeating beats, Gábor Lázár maintains linearity by using only one type of characteristic sound and a few composition techniques.
Lecherous Gaze – One Fifteen CD/LP+MP3 (Tee Pee)
Oakland, CA’s Lecherous Gaze play, in their own words, “psycho-delic shred-tastic ultra-hyphened rock-punk heavy jams.” Mean and greasy riff-forward proto-punk is the name of the game.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – Backlash CD/LP+MP3 (Black Joe Lewis)
Fourth studio album from Austin Soul screamer Black Joe Lewis featuring the band The Honeybears. On Backlash, the band return to their celebrated classic soul and punked up R&B.
Lowly – Heba CD/LP+MP3 (Bella Union)
The debut album by hotly-tipped Danish quintet Lowly is as uniquely sensual, rhythmic and mesmerizing a brand of modern pop as you’ll hear in 2017: restlessly inventive, exquisitely melodic and defying easy categorization. The band describe their music as “noise-pop, and everything in between.”
Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS Light (1st & 15th Prod.)
“After recently declaring his retirement from music, Lupe Fiasco has announced a new album DROGAS Light. Last year, Lupe announced plans to release a trilogy of albums in 2016 (including one titled Drogas) which he later retracted, due to ‘clearance and mixing issues.’ He later released a track called ‘Made in America,’ reportedly from an album called Drogas Light slated to be released ‘at the top of 2017.’ His plans seemed to come to a halt when a lyric in a new song ‘N.E.R.D.’ sparked anti-semitism claims among listeners. After defending the track vigorously on Twitter, Lupe announced his decision to retire from music: ‘Yo Lupe fans it’s been fun and I hope you’ve had fun,’ he wrote, ‘I’m officially not releasing anymore music. Albums cancelled.’ Following his remarks, he briefly set his Twitter to private before engaging in debates with the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. His recently declared retirement ends February 10.” – Pitchfork. [Vinyl edition due February 24.]
Christopher Martin – Big Deal CD (VP)
New album from one of Jamaica’s most in-demand reggae singers.
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness – Zombies On Broadway CD/LP (Vanguard)
Singer/songwriter Andrew McMahon was the vocalist, pianist and primary lyricist for the bands Something Corporate and main songwriter for Jack’s Mannequin and performs solo both under his own name as well as moniker Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness. When discussing Zombies On Broadway, McMahon had the following to express, “I wrote this album in the middle of a whirlwind, when the future was unclear. Isn’t it always? I found my way to the city, thinking I could settle a score with a ghost. You can’t, so I came home and rewrote the ending. I spent more than a year hoping to find new answers to old questions. What I found; I have always been two people; One in search of peace and the other in search of whatever makes my hair stand up and my heart beat faster. This record is mostly about the latter.”
Meatbodies – Alice CD/LP (In The Red)
With Alice, Meatbodies return ascending toward ground level. A “heavy-pop” concept, metal on molly. Chad Ubovich, Patrick Nolan, and Kevin Boog step out in new form, soaring through diverse stories, tones, and characters. Dancing between quiet and loud, funk and doom, pop and noise. Their message preached is celestial and deafening, a sacred scripture for today’s world: a warbling Rhodes piano, a liquefying electric guitar, a ghostly synthesizer skating across the sands of a twelve-stringed acoustic.
The Microscopic Septet – Been Up So Long It Looks Like Down To Me: The Micros Play The Blues CD (Cuneiform)
Since storming back into action in 2006 after a 14-year hiatus, this radically old-school combo has continued to evolve and extend its reputation. Their new album builds on the band’s longstanding love of that most basic and profound musical form, bringing the same reverently irreverent and insistently playful approach to the blues that has marked the Micros music from the beginning. The blues provide another avenue for the band to explore jazz history while forging a sound quite unlike any other ensemble.
The Moonglows – The Complete Singles As & Bs 1953-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
This 56-track double-CD set comprises the A and B sides of every single The Moonglows released before they parted company, their music encompassing rocking up-tempo bluesy R&B as well as smooth, immaculate ballads, with beautifully textured harmonies.
Gerry Mulligan – The Pacific Jazz Collection 4xCD (Enlightenment)
Widely respected and revered inside and out of jazz circles, Gerry Mulligan retains a reputation as one of the foremost figures on the West Coast scene, as a musician, an arranger and a composer. Primarily a baritone saxophonist, Mulligan was also an accomplished pianist, and could play too numerous other reed instruments. This collection collates his output for the Pacific Jazz label – a total of nine original releases.
Nidingr – The High Heat Licks Against Heaven CD/LP (Season Of Mist)
New (fourth) album from the Norwegian black metal band. “I wanted icy-cold black metal with unrelenting savagery, and for the most part, High Heat satisfies.” – Angry Metal Guy
Molly Nilsson – Follow The Light [Reissue/2010] CD/LP (Night School)
The beginning moments of Molly Nilsson’s second album Follow The Light now seem like the start of a personal mythology that was to reach further than she could have imagined. Few contemporary artists have seeped into the underground pop psyche more thoroughly than the Stockholm-born songwriter. After releasing her debut These Things Take Time on hand-made CDRs, Nilsson’s follow up was a leap in scope and ambition. Of course, the personal takes on a tumultuous life in Berlin and the journeys to and from it inform the songs, as before, but a growing maturity in the songwriting is in evidence. From the diary pages of her first album to a growing stature as a songwriter in touch with the universal, this album contains many of Nilsson’s now firm fan-favorites.
Noveller – A Pink Sunset For No One CD/LP (Fire)
Noveller is the moniker for L.A.-based guitar wizard and score composer Sarah Lipstate. Fresh off a tour supporting Iggy Pop, she releases her new album A Pink Sunset For No One. “Working as Noveller, Sarah Lipstate crafts cinematic guitar-focused instrumentals. Using alternatively-tuned guitar techniques fed through an assortment of pedals—which make it sound like she’s playing a synthesizer and not a string instrument—Noveller’s mesmerizing art has even soothed the grizzled ears of Iggy Pop. After reading a newspaper album review of Lipstate’s 2015 album Fantastic Planet, Iggy started spinning her tracks on his BBC radio show, and subsequently invited Noveller to support him on last year’s extensive Post Pop Depression tour. Noveller’s eighth studio album, A Pink Sunset For No One, is partly inspired by that experience, although Lipstate’s meditative sound differs wildly from Iggy Pop’s garage-punk racket.” – Bandcamp Daily
Nurse With Wound – Thunder Perfect Mind [Reissue/1992] 2xCD (Durtro Jnana)
Remastered double-CD reissue of this NWW classic. Remastered by Andrew Liles and featuring expanded artwork by Babs Santini in a six-panel digipack. The second disc features very rare tracks as well a previously unreleased material from the same era.
Old Crow Medicine Show – Best Of CD/LP+7”+MP3 (Nettwerk)
Two-time Grammy Award winners and Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show release select tracks from O.C.M.S. (2004), Big Iron World (2006), Tennessee Pusher (2008) as well as two previously unreleased tracks: “Black Haired Quebecoise” and “Heart Up In The Sky.” [180gm vinyl edition includes a bonus red color 7” featuring the two previously unreleased tracks.]
Overkill – The Grinding Wheel CD/2xLP/Cassette (Nuclear Blast)
18th album from the thrash metal kings. [Limited orange color vinyl pressing also available.]
Triston Palmer – Stop Spreading Rumours [1980] CD (Black Solidarity)
Triston Palmer’s, aka Triston Palma, first visit to a recording studio at the age of 16 was with Ossie Thomas. Their initial release was “A Class Girl” (1979), which was a hit in England, and Triston’s subsequent releases on their Black Solidarity label laid the foundation for his rapid rise to dance super stardom.
PopHop – Essential Tracks Mix CD (Acker)
A treasure chest full of dancefloor gold. Features PopHop remixes of Zigan Aldi, Sandeck, Il Civetto, Pulsar Trio, Timboletti, Ziski, Brummkreisel, Jan Ploetzlich, Kalletti Klub, JPattersson, Skazka Orchestra, Into Lala, Die Vogelperspektive and Stephan Zovsky.
Pow! – Crack An Egg CD/LP (Castleface)
Pow! Continue their danse macabre in the laser glow of hi-beam synthesizers, with a new batch of synth-punk candy that will rot your teeth. Vacuum-sealed, chrome gleaming, propulsion pounding, eyebrows arched and slightly pixelated, this album is like the cupie-doll face beckoning from a digital billboard outside your hovercraft window.
Chuck Prophet – Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins CD/LP (Yep Roc)
Chuck Prophet describes his new disc Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins as California noir. The state has always represented the Golden Dream, and it’s the tension between romance and reality that lurks underneath the surface in all noir films and paperbacks, and that connects these songs. Doomed love, inconsolable loneliness, rags to riches to rags again, and fast-paced violence are always on the menu on the Left Coast. [Vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve with die-cut cover and collectible button.]
Rag’N’Bone Man – Human CD (Columbia)
Rory Graham aka Rag’N’Bone Man’s artistry began with the blues. The Englander discovered the genre as a child, with the rhythmic troubles that rang out from his parents’ record player and planted a stubborn seed in this kid’s head. It wasn’t long before the youngster was venturing through classic realms of soul, jazz and folk. He brought his musical fascinations to local club jam sessions, and one particular evening, after one too many, he got the courage to jump on stage and sing. Human is his debut album.
Requiem – For A World After [Reissue/1981] CD/LP (Mental Experience)
Dark, progressive, synth ambient meets Berlin-School sounds on this obscure kraut album, which “tells the story of world annihilation through nuclear war.”
The Sadies – Northern Passages CD/LP (Yep Roc)
“The Sadies are a band that fans cling to like a closely guarded secret, with each new release fulfilling the promise to reach further, for all of our sakes, not just their own. With Northern Passages, the time has come to make room for more on this wild acid-folk-country-punk trip, and trust me, we’ll be better off because of it.” Recorded in the basement of Dallas and Travis’ parents’ home north of Toronto over the winter of 2015, the familiar surroundings and lack of distractions resulted in a consistent feel, despite the eclecticism at the heart of The Sadies’ sound. The psych-folk flourishes on tracks such as “Riverview Fog” are no mere homage; this is the sound of our inscrutable world, and how we manage to survive in it. Kurt Vile appears on “Easy (Like Walking).”
Conrad Schnitzler – Filmmusik 2 CD/LP (Bureau B)
Conrad Schnitzler (1937-2011), was one of the pivotal avant-garde figures in Germany electronic music. Bureau B present part two of their Filmmusik series — various pieces of music to accompany films, recorded by Conrad Schnitzler. One-half of Filmmusik 2 comprises tracks from 1975, the other half is a 23-minute piece with the title “Lichtpunkte und schwarze Zeichen”, written for a film in 1978.
Conrad Schnitzler/Pole – Con-Struct CD/LP+CD (Bureau B)
Pole, the Düsseldorf-native musician Stefan Betke, takes part in the Con-Struct series. Jens Strüver’s Con-Struct series started from the idea of “con-structing” new compositions, not remixes, from the archived material of Conrad Schnitzler.
Klaus Schulze – Ballett 1 & 2 [Reissue/2006] 2xCD (Made In Germany Music)
“These four pieces were originally intended to be one composition in honor to my mother who had been a ballet dancer and had died in 1998.”
Sinkane – Life & Livin’ It CD/LP+MP3 (City Slang)
Produced by founder and frontman Ahmed Gallab, Life & Livin’ It draws from the best elements of Sinkane’s previous records: the slinky funk and soul grooves are there, so are the sparkling melodies with roots in sub-Saharan Africa. Life & Livin’ It is true to its name: it’s an album about all kinds of experiences, an uplifting album about a universal feeling of soul. “My family emigrated to the United States from Sudan,’ Ahmed explains, “and I grew up around a lot of folks who weren’t like me, as an outsider. That’s influenced me and my music immensely, and ultimately, this entire project is my way of connecting with all kinds of people – what better way to start a conversation with someone than by telling them a story about yourself that they can relate to?’ [Limited edition yellow color vinyl pressing also available.]
Soundtrack – Fifty Shades Darker CD (Republic)
Soundtrack to the second installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy, featuring tracks by Nick Jonas & Nicki Minaj, Halsey, Tove Lo, John Legend, The-Dream, Sia, and Kygo, and more. [Danny Elfman’s original score is due February 17.]
Southern Comfort – Southern Comfort [Reissue/1971] CD (Prog Temple)
CD reissue of Southern Comfort’s self-titled album, originally released in 1971. As Matthews’ Southern Comfort, this superb British band enjoyed a massive worldwide hit with “Woodstock” in October 1970. Not long after the departure of Iain Matthews, the band decided to continue, recording Frog City in 1971, followed by this laid-back, country-styled effort, which was also released later that year.
Sonny Stitt – The Classic Albums Collection 1957-1963 4xCD (Enlightenment)
Having appeared on over 100 albums as either leader or sideman, across a career spanning four decades, Sonny Stitt remains one of the best-documented musicians in all of jazz history. A master of the saxophone – primarily alto and tenor – Stitt’s tireless dedication to recording, touring and the jazz genre in general was renowned, earning him the moniker lone wolf from acclaimed jazz critic Dan Morgenstern. This collection collates the very best of his extensive catalogue of albums released between 1957 and 1963.
Svarte Greiner – Moss Garden CD/LP+MP3 (Miasmah)
Released last year on vinyl — now available on CD. Erik K Skodvin returns with a focused album under his Svarte Greiner moniker, releasing two twenty-minute cinematic compositions. “The Marble” patiently sets the tone with a slow moving wall of strings underlaid by a warped bass line.
Craig Taborn – Daylight Ghosts CD (ECM)
Keyboardist/pianist Craig Taborn leads new quartet Daylight Ghosts, which features two other luminaries from the New York scene — reed player Chris Speed and bassist Chris Lightcap, plus drummer Dave King (the leader’s fellow Minnesota native and one-third of alt-jazz trio The Bad Plus).
Ten Fé – Hit The Light CD/LP (Some Kinda Love/PIAS America)
Debut album release by Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan, aka Ten Fé. Recorded in the studio built into the Berlin HQ of Kompakt Records in Berlin with Ewan Pearson (Jagwar Ma, M83, The Rapture), Hit The Light is a highly accomplished album with a captivating concoction of styles. The record seamlessly fuses intricate contemporary electronics and the band’s signature energetic mix of Americana, Manchester baggy and soulful vocals.
Thievery Corporation – The Temple Of I & I CD/2xLP+MP3 (Eighteenth Street Lounge)
Temple Of I & I is the tenth studio album from the Washington DC duo. The 15 tracks, recorded on location in Port Antonio JA, finds Thievery Corporation deftly blending their signature style with the classic dub, dance hall, and roots vibes that have inspired them over an illustrious 20-year career. Includes guest vocal contributions from Mr Lif, Racquel Jones, Lou Lou Ghelichkhani, Shana Halligan, Puma and others.
Thinking Plague – Hoping Against Hope CD (Cuneiform)
Thinking Plague is a storied band, whose 35-year history has seen it cleave consistently to the extreme limits of what is possible to do within rock music. Much of the music it released has owed more to traditions external to rock, such as folk, chamber music, and particularly, the avant-garde tradition of 20th century classical music.
Tinariwen – Elwan CD/2xLP+MP3 (ANTI-)
For the last five years, Tinariwen have been busy crisscrossing the globe bringing their triumphant tours to all five continents and expanding their audience. During this time their beloved homeland in the Adrar des Ifoghas, a Saharan mountain range that straddles the border between northeastern Mali and southern Algeria has, in effect, been transformed into a conflict zone, a place where nobody can venture without putting themselves in danger. These conflicts have forced the band into exile to record their eighth album, Elwan. Elwan means “the elephants” — an animal metaphor to describe those “beasts,” whether militias or multinational consortiums, who have trampled everything in their path: in the desert, where both the human and ecological equilibriums are extremely fragile. The album was recorded in several locations around the world, and features guest contributions from Kurt Vile (electric guitar), Mark Lanegan (vocals on “Nànnuflày”), Matt Sweeney (electric guitar) and producer/guitarist, Alain Johannes (cigarbox guitar).
Tosca – Going Going Going CD/2xLP+CD (!K7)
Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber return to the kind of instrumental tracks full of deep beats and dubbed out textures that made Tosca’s name. Hitting the ground running, opening track “Import Export” sounds like a Lee Scratch Perry version of a Ennio Morricone soundtrack, a motif reoccurs throughout the album, most notably on “Dr. Dings,” their reinterpretation of America’s classic “Horse With No Name.”
Various Artists – The Britxotica! Box: Three Amazing Albums Of Primitive Pop And Savage Jazz From The Wild British Isles! 3xCD (Trunk)
All three killer Britxotica! LPs now available as a three CD box set — 48 super rare and extraordinary exotic British masterpieces over three genre-defining albums.
Various Artists – Dreamy Harbor CD/3×12” (Tresor)
Dreamy Harbor marks the spirit of Tresor’s 25 years of creativity, started by Dimitri Hegemann in East Berlin in the early ’90s. Features: Donato Dozzy, Jon Hassell, Mønic, Marcelus, and more.
Various Artists – Magnetband: Experimenteller Elektronik-Underground DDR 1984-1989 CD (Bureau B)
A compilation of cassette music from East Germany which was inspired by punk and post punk and dedicated to independent self-actualization by means of self-distributed cassettes. [Vinyl edition due February 24.]
Various Artists – Sammlung: Elektronische Kassettenmusik, Dusseldorf 1982-1989 CD/LP (Bureau B)
A compilation focused on the electronic tape scene of Düsseldorf in the early 1980s.
Vermont – II CD/LP (Kompakt)
Motor City Drum Ensemble’s Danilo Plessow and Innervisions’s Marcus Worgull reunite for more synth daydreaming on the second recording under their Vermont moniker. II strolls further down their luminous and undulating path, influenced in equal measures by kosmische, krautrock, minimal wave and synth soundtracks.
Gene Vincent – The Complete Singles As & Bs 1956-62 2xCD (Acrobat)
Gene Vincent was a key figure in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, if only for his iconic landmark hit in 1956 with the self-penned “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” which remains one of the great rockabilly records of its time.
Francois Virot – Marginal Spots CD/LP (Born Bad)
French musician Francois Virot presents his second solo album, Marginal Spots, following his acclaimed 2008 debut, Yes Or No. That album’s lo-fi pop-folk won Virot praise for his staggering melodies and nervous urgency, earning comparisons to artists like Animal Collective. Now Virot returns with an album that is as much a realization of his obsessions (colorful drums, catchy but devious melodies, referential tangles including The Police, The Ex, Joe Dassin…) as a declaration of independence from indie pop laws.
Weltesser – Crestfallen CD/LP (Prosthetic)
Fueled by sour diesel and misery, Weltesser is comprised of Ian Hronek (Rotting Palms, Landbridge) Nate Peterson (Rotting Palms, Sky Burial) and Mike Amador (Landbridge), who formed the band in Saint Petersburg, FL over Sabbath worship and Monolord. Crestfallen is the metallic doom trio’s debut album.
Brett Young – Brett Young CD (Big Machine)
Good looks, honest lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound, aptly dubbed the “Caliville” style. [Vinyl edition due March 31.]
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man [2006] Blu-ray (Lion’s Gate)
First-time Blu-ray edition. A wonderful tribute to one of folk music’s most respected figures, this captivating mix of concert film and documentary intercuts interviews with Cohen admirers with their performances of some of his greatest tunes, filmed live at the Sydney Opera House. Features appearances by Nick Cave (“I’m Your Man”), Rufus Wainwright (“Chelsea Hotel No. 2”), Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker (“I Can’t Forget”), and many more, with U2 joined onstage by Cohen for a performance of “Tower Of Song.” 105 minutes.
Def Leppard – And There Will Be A Next Time…Live From Detroit DVD+2xCD/Blu-ray+2xCD (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
In the summer of 2016, Def Leppard’s World Tour rolled into the DTE Energy Music Theatre on the outskirts of Detroit. 112 minutes.
Tommy Emmanuel – Music Gone Public DVD (Favored Nations)
PBS has pulled together some of the best footage from previous Tommy Emmanuel specials like Centerstage, Live From The Balboa Theatre, and Live & Solo In Pensacola along with never-before-seen performances, collaborations, interviews, and stories from Tommy himself.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
311 – From Chaos [Reissue/2001] LP (Volcano/Sony Legacy)
Amidst their signature hip-hop/heavy rock/reggae hybrid, 311 additionally blends surf guitar over jungle beats, merges punk guitar with dancehall, and introduces ska on 2001’s From Chaos.
John Abercrombie Quartet – Up And Coming LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Guitarist John Abercrombie (who has recorded as a leader for ECM since 1974) returns with a second album by his quartet featuring kindred-spirit piano foil Marc Copland, along with longtime rhythm partners Drew Gress and Joey Baron.
Avenged Sevenfold – The Best Of 2005-2013 3xLP (WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Features tracks from Avenged Sevenfold’s bestselling 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 the band wrote for video games: “Carry On” (Call Of Duty II) and “Not Ready To Die” (Call Of The Dead).
Average White Band – Average White Band [Reissue/1974] LP (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Average White Band is widely regarded as one of the best soul and funk bands in the history of music. Though perhaps best known for their timeless instrumental mega-hit “Pick Up The Pieces” off of this, their breakthrough Arif Mardin-produced 1974 album, the band’s strength actually lays in their consistently accomplished songwriting, stretching across several gold selling albums and multi-Grammy nominations for the legendary Atlantic Records.
Angelo Badalamenti – Evilenko [OST] LP (Rustblade)
Superb mix of melancholic melody with illusions, terror spiral to tragic climax with beautiful orchestration. A must buy for fans of Angelo Baldalamenti. features two tracks with Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries).
The Believers – Memo From Otter LP (Feeding Tube)
“The Believers were, in many ways, the flagship band of the Apostasy Recordings empire. Their roots were in the Hampshire College-based experimental outfit, Son Of Earth – Flesh In Bone Trio (generally shortened to Son Of Earth), via Matt Krefting and John Shaw. Also on board were Anna Klein (player with many woefully under-documented ensembles) and Jessie Swenson, Esq. (who was associated with various Scott Foust projects, and would go on to 50 Foot Women). But much of this other work was abstract weirdo-ism. The Believers were, more or less, a rock band, and they kinda f**king ruled.” – Byron Coley
Big Star – Complete Third: Vol. 2: Roughs To Mixes 2xLP+MP3 (Omnivore)
RSD/Black Friday 2016 saw the release of the first in a series of three volumes of double LPs that will contain the entire, recently released Complete Third CD boxed set. This second volume, Roughs To Mixes, continues the journey, featuring rough mixes from producer Jim Dickinson, as well as Ardent’s John Fry, with over 15 previously unissued tracks. Almost every song on this collection is making its vinyl debut.
Marc Bolan – Skycloaked Lord (Of Precious Light) LP (Easy Action)
A recording of Marc on US radio playing acoustic guitar of his classic tracks including the hit single “Jeepster” at the height of his career.
Bon Jovi – The Albums 25xLP (Island)
Collects every Bon Jovi studio album spanning 1984-2016, each on 180gm vinyl. Includes: Bon Jovi (1984), 7800° Fahrenheit (1985), Slippery When Wet (1986), New Jersey (2xLP/1988), Keep The Faith (2xLP/1992), These Days (2xLP/1995), Crush (2xLP/2000), Bounce (2002), Have A Nice Day (2xLP/2005), Lost Highway (2007), The Circle (2xLP/2009), What About Now (2xLP/2013), Burning Bridges (2015), This House Is Not For Sale (2016), Blaze Of Glory: Inspired By The Film Young Guns II (1990), Destination Anywhere (2xLP/1997), and Extras.
Megan Bonnell – Magnolia LP+MP3 (Cadence Music/Fontana North)
Released April 2016 on CD – now available on vinyl. Megan Bonnell is an alternative folk singer/songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. Born and raised in Caledon, Ontario, she became proficient on the piano and guitar, and crafts music that carries a quiet but intense disposition led by the singer’s breathy vocal delivery.
David Bowie – Sound And Vision [1977] 7” (Rhino/Parlophone)
40th Anniversary picture disc. The A-side features a brand new remaster of “Sound And Vision” and the flip side sees the first physical release of the 2013 remix of the song. The stripped back remix by Sonjay Prabhakar was originally done for a Sony Experia advertisement and utilizes the original lead vocals and Mary Hopkin’s backing vocal with a new piano part.
Bremen – Bremen [Reissue/2013] 2xLP (Skrammel)
Bremen finds two luminaries of the Swedish punk underground, Jonas Tiljander (Brainbombs) and Lanchy Orre (Totalitär, Brainbombs, Teenage Graves, etc.), coming together to explore the dark side of kraut and progressive rock, early electronic and drone music, whilst also invoking the fathomlessly bleak interior landscapes conjured by Nico and John Cale on The Marble Index (1968) and Desertshore (1970).
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Dropping Bombs On The Sun (U.F.O. Paycheck) 10” (A. Recordings)
Dropping Bombs On The Sun (UFO Paycheck) is the third and final single from the forthcoming Brian Jonestown Massacre album, Don’t Get Lost.
Bush – Razorblade Suitcase: In Addition [Reissue/1997] 2xLP (Round Hill Music)
20th Anniversary remastered 180gm black and white swirl double-vinyl repress featuring four bonus tracks and new, re-interpreted art and design, printed inner sleeves and huge poster with complete album lyrics and liner notes from original album producer Steve Albini.
John Cameron – Psychomania [OST/1973] LP (Trunk)
First-time vinyl edition of Cameron’s 1973 jazz-rock score to the British cult biker classic film Psychomania.
Vic Chesnutt – Drunk [Reissue/1993] 2xLP+MP3 (New West)
Faithfully remastered and complete with 13 bonus tracks, New West Records is proud to present Vic Chesnutt’s influential third full-length Drunk. Recorded over five total days, Drunk is marked by sparse instrumentation and minimal studio trickery that accent the depth of Chesnutt’s idiosyncratic lyrics and storytelling style. Bonus tracks feature B-sides, selections from an Inner Ear session and from a 1994 Radio Holland performance.
Chevelle – This Type Of Thing (Could Do Us In) [2004] LP (Sony Legacy)
First-time vinyl pressing of the alt-metal band’s third album.
Nat King Cole – Unforgettable [Reissue/1954] LP (Capitol)
Originally released in 1954, Unforgettable is a collection of some of Nat King Cole’s earliest recordings, including a track from The Nat King Cole Trio. Reissued on standard weight vinyl as part of the Capitol Records 75th Anniversary series.
Natalie Cole – Unpredictable [Reissue/1977] LP (Capitol)
Unpredictable includes major hits “I’m Catching Hell” (a confessional ballad) and “I’ve Got Love On My Mind” as well as the exuberant feel-good anthem “Party Lights.” Reissued on standard weight vinyl as part of the 40th anniversary of its original and Capitol Records’ 75th anniversary.
De-Bons-en-Pierre – Crepes 12” (Dark Entries)
Over 23 minutes of garbles, sludgy synths and leviathan rhythms. Surfing the slippery slope between industrial and electro, but never quite falling in, just a dip of your pinky toe to to test the temperature.
Epic Soundtracks – Change My Life [1996] LP (Mapache)
First-time vinyl pressing. A masterclass of songwriting at a difficult time for songwriters, here again we have Epic’s amazing piano ballads, following a similar path to that of his heroes John Cale, David Bowie, Alex Chilton and Brian Wilson.
The Golden Filter – Still // Alone 2xLP (Optimo Music)
An album about being in love with pure solitude, Still // Alone is separated into two distinct records. Record one, Still, is a hypnotic meditation for the nightclub. Wavy patterns of sound and light bounce off of Penelope’s literary vocal bursts, layered over the ominous deep synths and arpeggiators, held together only by a strict 4/4 beat — the rhythm, ironically forcing the body to move, however internally focused and mindful, still. Record two, Alone, takes the club offline and into the fringes of raw, odd pop. Ever-prominent drum machine beats rule, while love and loss permeate the four atmospheric goth songs.
Immolation – Here In After [Reissue/1995] LP (Metal Blade)
Immolation – Failures For Gods [Reissue/1999] LP (Metal Blade)
Immolation – Close To A World Below [Reissue/2000] LP (Metal Blade)
Limited red color vinyl pressings of three of the death metal band’s formative albums.
Isis – Wavering Radiant [Reissue/2009] 2xLP (Robotic Empire)
Limited edition clear with yellow splatter vinyl repress. The music of Isis is a suitable metaphor for their twelve-year career: patient, meticulous, fraught with tension and gradually building toward an apex of seismic proportions. They have successfully navigated the process of growing and evolving without disavowing their initial vision. On Wavering Radiant every component of this armory comes into equal play — an audiophile’s dream: grandiose without over-indulgence, epic without compromised focus. This is their fifth and final full-length album, last released by Ipecac Recordings in 2009.
Jeezy – Trap Or Die 3 2xLP (Def Jam)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl. New release from the rapper. Jeezy’s street swagger and authentic style has quickly made believers out of some the biggest players in the game, from Fabolous to P. Diddy.
Jim And The French Vanilla – Afraid Of The House LP (Dirtnap)
Jim And The French Vanilla is the solo project of Jim Blaha from The Blind Shake. Raw, feral, but incredibly catchy, Afraid Of The House covers a wider sonic pallet than one might pick up on at first. From poppy to heavy, from atmospheric to wild, it reflects a wide range of ideas and emotion, while maintaining surprising consistence throughout.
Jlin – Dark Lotus 12” (Planet Mu)
Jlin returns with the first fruits of her new work since last year’s Free Fall EP. Dark Lotus is a transition between Dark Energy, her debut album, and her forthcoming Black Origami full-length. A-side “The Escape Of The Blvck Rxbbit (ft. Avril Stormy Unger)” is the more traditional of the two tracks, starting off proceedings with a constantly switching rhythmic structure and a stop-start sweeping hoover stab panning between the speakers, descending bleeps and Avril’s vocals cut into shapes and pushed through effects. “Nyakinyua Rise” races headlong into uncharted territory, with a fierce barrage of djembe drums over pounding bass, punchy war cries and jubilant ululations that paint a tension between hot aggression and weightless ecstasy.
Johnny Teardrop – No Problemo LP+MP3 (Rouge Mecanique Musique)
No Problemo is Jonny Teardrop’s first physical album release. Inspired by Native American peyote songs, Jonny uses his Jaguar as a bass, drum samples from obscure Japanese crust punk songs, and charges through 13 brief songs, snapping audible Polaroids and conjuring fragments of memories.
Kid Koala featuring Emilíana Torrini – Music To Draw To: Satellite 2xLP (Arts & Crafts)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. An uncharted journey for the legendary scratch DJ, producer, and composer, Kid Koala’s fifth studio album is an emotional work of expansive instrumental soundscapes and chilling vocal ballads. A record of many firsts for Eric San, the inaugural volume in the Music To Draw To series finds Kid Koala collaborating with a singer, writing lyrics, and producing and performing all instruments. Satellite is the renowned audio-collagist’s first non-sample-based record, using an array of synthesizers, keys, guitars, basses, strings, turntables, noisemakers, and inventive recording techniques to create its celestial atmosphere. Written during the gelid Montreal winter, Music To Draw To: Satellite tells a heartrending tale of discovery and loss through the lens of lovers separated by a one-way space mission to Mars. The album’s eighteen spacious movements are threaded with eight lyrical songs written by Kid Koala in collaboration with Icelandic singer Emilíana Torrini.
Kill Devil Hills – In On Under Near Water LP (Bang!)
The Kill Devil Hills, one of Australia’s best-kept secrets, present their fourth album, In On Under Near Water. Coming from the isolated city of Perth, these musicians continue their growth and evolution, delivering the very finest and most intense music, which takes the listener, with their unique stamp and signature, to the world of The Drones, The Beasts Of Bourbon, Kim Salmon, The Gun Club, and Johnny Cash.
Joe King Kologbo & The High Grace – Sugar Daddy [Reissue/1980] LP (Strut)
Strut present the first in a series of essential original LP reissues (Original Masters Series) exploring rare and underrated African, Latin and Caribbean music classics, curated by Duncan Brooker. The series kicks off with Sugar Daddy, an experimental highlife/disco outing by Nigerian highlife guitarist Joe King Kologbo.
Dean Martin – Dino: Italian Love Songs [Reissue/1962] LP (Capitol)
Originally released in 1962, Dino: Italian Love Songs shows Dean Martin at his best. He alternates between English and Italian seamlessly singing songs of the heart. Reissued on standard weight vinyl to mark Capitol Record’s 75th Anniversary.
Phil X. Milstein & Thurston Moore – Songs We Taught The Lord Vol. 1 LP (Feeding Tube)
Phil X. Milstein & Thurston Moore – Songs We Taught The Lord Vol. 2 LP (Feeding Tube)
Complete recordings of the duo’s set opening for John Fahey over two nights, December 4 & 5, 1996. Limited color vinyl pressings of each also available.
Ennio Morricone – Un Uomo Da Rispettare OST [1972] LP (Superior Viaduct)
Un Uomo Da Rispettare translates to “A Man to Respect,” which can easily be said of Ennio Morricone himself—the unparalleled maestro of the soundtrack. This 1972 crime film stars Kirk Douglas as a master safecracker at a crossroads in his life, emerging from prison yet tempted by one last big job. This first-time vinyl reissue is recommended for fans of Krzysztof Penderecki, Harry Partch and Sun City Girls.
The Neon Judgement – Cockerill-Sombre [Reissue/1983] 12” (Dark Entries)
The Neon Judgement hail from the small town of Leuven near Brussels, Belgium and gave birth to the New Beat and EBM scenes worldwide with the release of their first two cassettes Suffering (1981) and TV Treated (1982). Always a consistent duo of Dirk Da Davo (synthesizers, vocals) and TB Frank (guitar, drum machine, vocals) The Neon Judgment worked in a parallel world alongside Suicide, Cabaret Voltaire, and the Deutsche Neue Welle. In 1983 they released the infamous four-song Cockerill-Sombre EP containing the dance-floor smash “The Fashion Party.”
The Other People Place – Lifestyles Of The Laptop Café [Reissue/2001] 2xLP (Warp)
The much sought-after LP from Drexciya’s James Stinson has been hard to come by for many years, but is back in print on vinyl. “It’s hard to sum up in words just how important Lifestyles Of The Laptop Café truly is. Originally released back in 2001 as part of the Drexciyan off-shoot Storm Series, Lifestyles was one of the various projects of one-half of deep sea electro pioneers Drexciya, James Stinson. Shrouded in mystery, the two members of Drexciya took the blueprint laid out by the pioneers of the hypnotic groove, Kraftwerk and gave it a truly electro feel — cold, yet funky. Where Drexciya’s sound was focused in the deepest corners of the ocean, James’s work as The Other People Place was a solo project that turned its gaze elsewhere, most notably in the direction of love.” — Bleep
Palberta – Bye Bye Berta LP (Wharf Cat)
In an industry that favors niche branding and subgenre packaging, Palberta is a difficult band to place. Their music is free and uninhibited in a way that makes it all their own. Often, Palberta songs are marked with a child-like communication—chants and lullabies are met with snarling tantrums, while their instruments coo and careen towards an abrupt finish. Their playful approach to writing produces work that is hyper-emotional—as jarring as it is soothing and as loopy as it is sinister.
Parkway Drive – Horizons LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
The metalcore band’s best-selling album — available for the first time on vinyl.
Queen – Greatest Hits II [Reissue/1991] 2xLP (Hollywood)
Queen’s best-selling compilations Greatest Hits I (reissued on vinyl last November) and Greatest Hits II throw fresh light on an unrivalled track record of chart-topping, award-winning, record-breaking rock and pop classics. As with the recent vinyl reissue of Greatest Hits I, the 2011 remasters were used for this pressing.
Terry Riley – Descending Moonshine Dervishes [Reissue/1982] LP (Beacon Sound)
Terry Riley – Songs For The Ten Voices Of The Two Prophets [Reissue/1983] LP (Beacon Sound)
Decending Moonshine Dervishes was recorded live in Berlin in 1975 and is largely improvised, with Riley playing a modified Yamaha organ with variable resistors to facilitate tuning in just intonation. Recorded live in Munich in 1982 using two Prophet synthesizers and voice, Songs For The Ten Voices Of The Two Prophets is a reflection of Riley’s ongoing interest in melding improvisation, electronic music, and the raga vocal stylings of his mentor, Pandit Pran Nath.
Sleep – The Clarity [Reissue/2014] 12” (Southern Lord)
Recorded by Neurosis’ Noah Landis and mastered by John Golden, the near 10-minute track “The Clarity” has been re-cut for this new pressing on 180gm red vinyl. The B-side of the platter features a special etching of the artwork by David V. D’Andrea (Samaritan Press). The record is housed in a heavyweight picture disc-style sleeve, silkscreened with the Sleep logo.
Starset – Vessels 2xLP+MP3 (Razor & Tie)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Starset’s follow-up to their debut album Transmissions highlights their writing ability, modern rock production, and the wide-ranging vocal talents of frontman Dustin Bates. Vessels contains 15 modern rock songs with hints of electronic music, pop, rock and metal influences woven throughout, with the continuation of their science and space related sci-fi themes. 180gm marble vinyl LP pressing.
Sun Ra – Spaceways LP (ORG Music)
Spaceways features live performances by Sun Ra and his Arkestra from New York City in 1966 and 1968. Free and “spacey” as ever, the recordings capture Sun Ra in his element with over a dozen Arkestra members backing him up. The recordings were remastered for vinyl and pressed on audiophile-grade vinyl at Pallas Group in Germany.
Ultimate Spinach – Behold & See [Reissue/1968] LP (Sundazed)
The Spinach’s self-titled debut album is now considered a psychedelic classic, but it’s the group’s second record, Behold & See, that is perhaps their finest achievement. Ostensibly a concept album, it’s centered around lead singer/songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist Ian Bruce-Douglas’ cynical worldview. He skewers “normal” society with all the fervor of Zappa and all the surreality (and insanity) of Bob Markley on songs like “Visions Of Your Reality” and the four-part “Suite: Genesis of Beauty.” Add in the lush, floating vocals of Barbara Jean Hudson, fuzz guitar and some great late- ‘60s psych jangle and you’ve got the formula for an unhinged classic that stands up to the best of the non-coastal psych sounds of the late- ‘60s. Mono mix. Spinach color vinyl.
Colin Vallon / Patrice Moret / Julian Sartorius – Danse LP (ECM)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Colin Vallon Trio has found its own space in the crowded world of the piano trio by quietly challenging its conventions. On his third ECM album Vallon again leads the group not with virtuosic solo display but by patient outlining of melody and establishing of frameworks in which layered group improvising can take place.
Various Artists – The Hamilton Mix Tape 2xLP+MP3 (Atlantic)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Hamilton Mix Tape is a musical companion to the landmark Broadway musical by Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. Executive produced by The Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, The Hamilton Mixtape sees songs from the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical covered and remixed by a remarkable cast of contemporary artists. Superstars contributing to the one of its kind collection include Sia, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, The Roots, Alicia Keys, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Chance The Rapper, John Legend, Regina Spektor, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Miguel, Queen Latifah, Common, Ben Folds, Andra Day, Jill Scott, Jimmy Fallon and more. The Hamilton Mixtape also includes three previously unreleased Hamilton demos.
Various Artists – Where The Mountains Meet The Sky: Folk Music Of Ladakh LP (Sublime Frequencies)
Music from Ladakh recorded during the making of the film The Song Collector (2014) by director Erik Koto, with additional material recorded by Bill Kite in 1992. LP comes with a full-size insert containing historic photos, song lyrics, and liner notes by Erik Koto.
The Weeknd – Starboy 2xLP (Republic)
Released last November on CD – now available on vinyl. The Weeknd’s third studio album features guest contributions from Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Future and Kendrick Lamar.
Wolfgang – Eliminate Hate LP (Out-Sider)
After more than 30 years hidden in a dusty storage unit, Out-Sider presents the previously unreleased album from one of the most enigmatic bands from the Texas psychedelic scene, Wolfgang. An unusual blend of ’60s garage-punk, Texas psychedelia (think 13th Floor Elevators or Golden Dawn), The Seeds, The Misunderstood, late era Velvet Underground, ’70s era Rolling Stones and ’70s pre-punk swagger.
The Yardbirds – Sounds I Heard [Reissue/2014] LP+7” (Easy Action)
Vinyl LP with one-sided 7″ single of BBC session “White Summer.” Most tracks for this LP were taken from the box set Glimpses, including improved audio versions of “Dazed & Confused” and the “White Summer” BBC session. (Previous edition was available for RSD 2014.)
youANDme/The Analog Roland Orchestra – Baum Limited Picture Edition 004 10” (Bureau B)
Two deep dub techno cuts with deep bass and atmospheric FXs.
Cassettes:
Jay Glass Dubs – Dislocated Folklore (The Tapeworm)
Athens, Greece based composer, musician, and sound artist, Dimitris Papadatos presents Dislocated Folklore through his Jay Glass Dubs project. It is an exercise of style focusing on a counter-factual historical approach of dub music, stripped down to its basic drum/bass/vox/effects form. Dislocated Folklore consists of two 30-minute long tracks that incorporate mainly stretched-out 0’03” sample recordings of ’90s Ragga 12″ single intros combined with recordings of a Quran recitation from a Turkish TV channel.
Overkill – The Grinding Wheel (Nuclear Blast)
18th album from the thrash metal kings.
Simon Scott – Stuk (The Tapeworm)
Sound ecologist and multi-instrumentalist Simon Scott (Slowdive) presents Stuk, in dedication to the victims of the Paris attacks on November 13, 2015.
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