CDs + Vinyl:
The Acacia Strain – Gravebloom CD/LP+MP3 (Rise)
The Acacia Strain are pioneers of the deathcore genre, and for the past sixteen years they’ve been releasing albums that have managed to stand the test of time and become staples in the metalcore community. [Limited color vinyl pressing also available.]
Lee Bains III + The Glory Fires – Youth Detention CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at Battletapes with engineer Jeremy Ferguson and producer Tim Kerr, Lee Bains III + The Glory Fires’ Youth Detention captures the band in raw form. Each song was cut live to tape, with the four performing in the same room without headphones or baffling. The result is thoroughly human, Lynn Bridges’ mix retaining the band’s live energy and looseness at the expense of a few out of tune strings. The Glory Fires music draws deeply from punk, but also soul, power pop, country, and gospel. [Limited edition color vinyl pressing also available.]
Amina Baraka & The Red Microphone – Amina Baraka & The Red Microphone CD (ESP Disk)
Powerful inside/outside jazz, created in the moment, but occasionally building on a composition by group member Rocco John Iacovone, the cadences of Baraka’s words intertwining with the rhythms of the music to become more than the sum of its parts.
The Beach Boys – 1967: Sunshine Tomorrow 2xCD (Capitol)
This unique double-CD compilation pulls together a slew of previously unreleased material from The Beach Boys. The collection includes the new stereo remix of Wild Honey, as well as unreleased outtakes from the session recordings. Also included are unreleased session tracks from the Smiley Smile sessions and live tracks from Hawaii, Washington, DC and Boston.
Beach House – B-sides And Rarities CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
B-sides And Rarities contains every song Beach House – aka Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand – has made that does not exist on one of their albums. The band explains: “When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, ‘B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.’ This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our six LPs, it wasn’t the ‘best’ or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.”
The Beau Brummels – The Very Best Of The Beau Brummels: The Complete Singles CD (Varese Sarabande)
This new hits collection celebrates The Beau Brummels’ (one of the first bands to come out of the San Francisco scene in the ‘60s) original mono singles.
William C. Beeley – Gallivantin’ [Reissue/1971] CD/LP (Tompkins Square)
William C. Beeley – Passing Dream [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Tompkins Square)
Tompkins Square reissues two albums by Texas singer/songwriter Will Beely—the self-released mega-rare (only 200 copies) private press LP Gallivantin’ from 1971, and Passing Dream, originally released by Malaco Records in 1979. Recorded in San Antonio, Gallivantin’ shows Beeley’s heartfelt, folky side—a wistful set of original tunes.
Blackout – The Horse CD/LP (Riding Easy)
NYC trio Blackout’s take on doom and stoner rock is filled with a gritty, mechanistic heft unlike bands of their ilk from anywhere else. Subsumed within the greasy grooves of sophomore effort The Horse are echoes of NYC heavy legends like Helmet, Cro-Mags, Judge, Prong and others – not as an intentional homage, but rather a vibe that permeates and inadvertently gives it a unique power few can match.
Bola – D.E.G. CD/2xLP (Skam)
Skam Records’ most elusive artist returns with an enticing new album – the first movement from Darrell Fitton’s near mythical project since his Kroungrine LP bowled us over a decade ago. The end result is an album ripe with an incredibly vivid vision of the future, a set of tracks that no matter how much of a gear-head you are, makes sure you arent’ going to be able to figure out what machines have sculpted these sounds.
Alan Broadbent and The London Metropolitan Orchestra – Developing Story CD/2xLP (Eden River)
Working with the London Metropolitan Orchestra on Developing Story is a dream come true for two-time Grammy winning Alan Broadbent – who regularly arranges and conducts for Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny, Michael Bublé and Natalie Cole. This time he was able to write and record his own original compositions for jazz trio and orchestra and pieces of the Great American Songbook. Featuring Peter Erskine on drums and Harvie S on bass.
Brutus – Burst CD/LP+MP3 (Sargent House)
Hailing from Leuven, Belgium, Brutus create a pummeling, meteor-shower of sound. Vocalist/drummer Stefanie Mannaerts mixes black-metal blast beats with math-rock flourishes whilst belting out the most impassioned vocals that shift from deceptively melodic to outright larynx-punishing in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden takes ethereal post-rock tones to hardcore punk levels of speed and energy alongside Peter Mulders’ powerful sub-frequency shift. The three conspire to make a sound as monolithic and frantic as it is emotive.
Burning Ghosts – Reclamation CD (Tzadik)
A politically motivated quartet at the forefront of the jazz-metal underground featuring four of the most acclaimed musicians in the L.A. experimental music scene. Playing scorching instrumentals that touch on heavy metal and jazz, the music is uncompromising and intense, filled with precise rhythmic complexity and textural power.
Calvin Harris – Funk Wave Bounces Vol. 1 CD (Sony)
Calvin Harris’ new album features the previously released singles “Slide” featuring Frank Ocean & Migos, plus “Heatstroke” featuring Young Thug, Pharrell Williams & Ariana Grande. The album boasts 19 guest artist collaborations including Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Kehlani, Future, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, Big Sean, John Legend, Khalid, Migos, Schoolboy Q, Ariana Grande, Young Thug, D.R.A.M., Nicki Minaj, Lil Yachty, Jessie Reyez, Partynextdoor plus Snoop Dogg. [Vinyl edition due August 4.]
Carpenter Brut – Trilogy 3xCD/3xLP (Caroline)
Carpenter Brut – CarpenterBruteLive CD/2xLP (Caroline)
Carpenter Brut draws its influences from ’80s TV shows and B-movies loaded with synthesizers. The mysterious and discreet man behind the pentagon – or the Brutagram as his fans call it – evokes an encounter between Justice beats and the universe of John Carpenter. Listening to his home-made EPs, however, one would rather bet on a metalhead background, a crush for Dario Argento and a force-fed religious education.
The Cash Box Kings – Royal Mint CD (Alligator)
With deep feeling and top-shelf talent, house party masters The Cash Box Kings play tough, real deal classic Chicago blues with boundless energy. They also deliver raw, passionate Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly,” an original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly.
Cellar Darling – This Is The Sound CD (Nuclear Blast)
Cellar Darling formed in the summer of 2016 following their split from Switzerland’s chart-topping Eluveitie. [Vinyl edition due July 7.]
Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales [Reissue/1984] CD/2xLP (Noise)
Celtic Frost – To Mega Therion [Reissue/1985] CD/2xLP (Noise)
Celtic Frost – Into The Pandemonium [Reissue/1987] CD/2xLP (Noise)
Celtic Frost – Vanity/Nemesis [Reissue/1984] CD/2xLP (Noise)
Celtic Frost reissue its four seminal Noise Records albums on deluxe hardback CD and 180gm double album sets, complete with posters and 10” spine bound book. All tracks have been fully remastered and these releases contain previously unreleased and rare tracks.
Cody ChesnuTT – My Love Divine Degree CD (One Little Indian/Handwritten)
Recorded and mixed over the span of 18 months, My Love Divine Degree mixes ChesnuTT’s classic palette of beat-soul with the synth-funk of Chicago co-producer Anthony “Twilite Tone” Kahn.
Floating Points – Reflections: Mojave Desert CD+DVD/LP (Luaka Bop)
A new short film and soundtrack featuring new, unheard compositions from British electronic musician and neuroscientist Floating Points, aka Sam Shepherd.
Gaudi – Magnetic CD/LP (RareNoise)
New album by the London based music producer/musician which features a choice selection of sounds from the RareNoise catalogue as well as direct contributions by several top caliber musicians from the worlds of rock, jazz and electronica.
JL – Tech N9ne Presents DIBKIS CD (Strange Music)
Kansas City native JL brings a new swagger to Strange Music with his frenetic flow patterns, impeccable diction and elite lyricism, all of which he put on full display in his appearances on Tech N9ne Collabos Strangeulation Vol. II.
Junior Astronomers – Body Language CD/LP (Refresh/Monostereo)
“As a follow-up to the well-received Dead Nostalgia, Junior Astronomers are back again and ready to rock with a second album: Body Language. It’s vaguely reminiscent of The Strokes or a similarly punchy indie rock band, featuring spicy melodies and aggressively bold instrumentals. With catchy hooks and confident riffs, Junior Astronomers is similar to bands like Young The Giant or Local Natives – with a kick. Each of the eleven cohesive tracks has a unique confidence and attitude. It’s an album about the complexities of love and relationships, but a spicy twist turns each song from typical love-struck angst into a power ballad or a danceable track. At every turn on this album, there’s a differently nuanced sound. Maybe it’s a rock ballad, maybe it’s a head-nodding jam, or maybe it just makes you want to crank the volume and dance. Either way, assertive percussion layers well under colorful guitar and classic indie-rock vocals to create a full-sounding record that’s sure to get stuck in your head for the rest of the weekend.” – Indientry [Limited color vinyl pressing also available.]
Richard H. Kirk – Dasein CD/LP (Intone)
Dasein is Richard H. Kirk’s first solo album since 2011. Recorded, produced, and written by the founding member of Cabaret Voltaire himself. Work began with recording on midi and analog synthesizers before guitar and vocals – his first use of vocals in ten years – were added.
Mark Kozelek & Sean Yeaton – Yellow Kitchen CD (Caldo Verde)
Mark Kozelek (of Sun Kil Moon) teams up with Parquet Courts bassist Sean Yeaton. Yellow Kitchen also features appearances by Holly Throsby, Will Oldham, Steve Shelley, and Jim White.
Lake People – Phase Transition CD/2xLP (Mule Musiq)
Framed by two spoken word samples and wrapped in house and techno emotions, that know about electro and ’90s electronica too, the second album by the Leipzig and Berlin based producer Martin Enke, aka Lake People, moves in a fresh way. This time he shifts towards a focus on the essentials of electronic club music: sounds and groove, rough and playful interweaved with the aesthetic particles of techno.
Sonny Landreth – Recorded Live In Lafayette 2xCD (Provogue)
Sonny Landreth’s unique spin on guitar playing has made him legendary. He combines the slide with fretted notes; this finger picking technique helps him create a complex, multi-layered sound onstage. Along the way Landreth has continued to develop his vision and his musical voice, growing increasingly original and diverse, expanding from blues, zydeco, folk, country and jazz into increasingly category- blurring musical excursions. Live In Lafayette is a perfect showcase of Landreth’s talents and skills; disc one contains a full acoustic set and disc two his full electric set. [Vinyl edition due July 7.]
LANY – LANY CD/2xLP (Interscope)
Los Angeles-based trio LANY (which stands for Los Angeles New York) makes music that aims an arrow straight at your heart; beautiful songs with swashes of synth, spare percussion, echoes of prime 1980s FM pop, of early-1990s R&B, of new-wave electronica, combining melody and lyrics to put down roots in your head and capture your heart.
Lapalux – Ruinism CD/2xLP (Brainfeeder)
Lapalux releases his new album on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint. Much of Ruinism’s inspiration was born out of a theatrical score Lapalux (aka Stuart Howard) wrote for the performance art piece Depart which was performed in an East London cemetery. The aptly named project served as genesis for a direction wrought with doom and melancholia. Ruinism is all sonic wreckage and rubble created using only hardware and real instruments. The sound simultaneously destroys and redeems itself across a tight and formidable 48-minutes. [Limited blue vinyl pressing also available.]
Laurel Halo – Dust CD/LP (Hyperdub)
Recorded over a period of two years, Dust is a collection of breezy, broken songs, based on woody instrumentation, sub bass and restless, intricate electronics. Earnest songwriting meets with modal cut-up strategies, improvisational playing with high-grade digital dust. Swung grooves eddy and collapse; tactile and fibrous throughout the record, the vocals and percussion coalesce and breathe life into each other. The lyrics are themselves bricolage, without a specific narrator or place in time.
LeVent – LeVent CD/LP (A. Recordings)
Bleating at its most danceable, LeVent carry listeners far away to get lost in nice nonsense, stuck in heavy forgetting, and transfixed on what was, leaving you thirsty for more.
Male Gaze – Miss Taken CD/LP (Castle Face)
“Matt, Mark and Adam, aka Male Gaze, return quickly from the brainy roar of their previous album King Leer with their six heels hanging even further over the edge of the abyss. Good bands often pull punches but the great ones don’t and these charismatically scarred veterans of romance, gear singed from all too real firefights in the dark world of adulthood, lodge ten new slugs into your vest. Your life was spared but you’ll feel every second of the thirty-five-plus minutes, grateful that all you got was a bruising.” – Henry Rollins
Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive CD+DVD/2xLP (Mayem As)
Mayhem’s 1994 debut De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is widely considered one of the most influential black metal albums of all time. Recorded in Norrköping, Sweden on December 18, 2015, whilst headlining the Black Christmass festival, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive captures the first time the album was performed live in its entirety.
McCafferty – Thanks. Sorry. Sure. CD/LP (Take This To Heart)
Ohio’s McCafferty began as most good earworms should: melodies looped into and blended with pop-rock backbeats, a knack for urgent relatability, and a dedication to capturing a universal feeling. Thanks. Sorry. Sure. The roots of the two-piece remain intact, sampling voicemails, friends’ drunken shouts, and even the 2000s Britpop band Keane to create a familiar, comfortable baseline.
Júníus Meyvant – Floating Harmonies CD (Shellshock)
Júníus Meyvant is the artist name of Westman Islands born singer-songwriter Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson. The sound of Júníus Meyvant is a rich and afflicted take on freaky folk pop with a familiar and soulful feel. [Vinyl edition due July 21.]
Roscoe Mitchell – Bells For The South Side 2xCD (ECM)
Two pieces including the title composition draw upon the full percussion instrumentarium of the Art Ensemble of Chicago a panorama of gongs, bells, rattles, sirens, hand drums and more. Along the way there are remarkable contributions by all participants, among them a lyrical bass guitar feature for Jaribu Shahid on “EP 7849,” a heart-dilating solo by Tani Tabbal on “Cards For Drums,” an extended trumpet feature for Hugh Ragin on the title track, evocative and atmospheric electronics from Craig Taborn and James Fei on “Red Moon In The Sky, and plenty of Mitchell’s powerhouse saxophones throughout, from the piercing sopranino down to the mighty bass sax.
The Mojo Gurus – Gone CD (MRI)
“The Mojo Gurus are led by singer/songwriter Kevin Steele who throughout his illustrious career has worked with some of the best producers in the music business including Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, The New York Dolls), Beau Hill (Ratt, Kix), Tommy Henricksen (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Hollywood Vampires) and Carl Canedy (The Rods, Anthrax, Roxx Gang). Kevin’s critically acclaimed body of work has culminated in the Mojo Gurus’ latest record, Gone which he wrote, arranged and produced. Gone is the crown jewel of his career. It is a record that defies genres. The Mojo Gurus are as adept at psychedelia, (‘Step Into The Light’) as they are at Memphis Soul, (‘Fifty Miles’). They can play heart wrenching blues, (‘All I Do Is Cry’) and a pretty but poisonous love/hate ballad (‘Never Met A Girl Like You Before’). They can combine all these elements seamlessly and deliver a social message for these divisive times (‘Love Somebody’). Most of today’s bands tend to suffer from a certain narrow-minded tunnel vision. No one ever told The Beatles to stop experimenting with different styles (thank God) and apparently no one ever told The Mojo Gurus either.” – Grateful Web
Bert Myrick – Live ‘n Well [Reissue/1974] CD/LP (BBE)
Rescued from relative obscurity by DJ Amir’s 180 Proof Records, BBE is delighted to present a gem from the tiny yet highly influential catalogue of Strata Records. Preceding New York’s Strata East, Detroit’s original Strata label issued only a handful of underground titles in the early ‘70s, making it a ‘holy grail’ imprint among jazz lovers and record collectors the world over.
Joey Negro – Produced With Love CD/LP (Z.)
New album from UK legend Joey Negro: a buoyant, life-affirming, disco-inspired album that offers welcome relief from the grey-faced march of modern club music.
Bill Orcutt – Bill Orcutt CD/LP (Palilalia)
For those not following Bill Orcutt’s drift into increasingly ear-friendly orbits in his recent live sets, Bill Orcutt—his first solo electric studio album—shocks with its space and sensitivity. On this eponymous record, Orcutt mines the expansiveness and sustain possible on the electric guitar, letting notes spin out and decay at the edge of feedback.
Penguin Cafe : Cornelius – Umbrella CD/LP (Erased Tapes)
The complimentary sounds of Penguin Cafe on piano and strings, merged with the electronic soundscape of Cornelius, form this special collaborative piece.
Art Pepper – Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 3: Lee Konitz CD (Omnivore)
Art Pepper – Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 4: Bill Watrous CD (Omnivore)
“In 1977 Art came back from the dead. Or so it seemed to those who followed him, followed his music. And then in 1979, the Japanese came calling in the guise of a small record label, Yupiteru, later Atlas. They wanted Art to record for them. By then, Art was under exclusive contract to Fantasy/Galaxy records and couldn’t record as a leader. However, and I think I deserve credit for this sneaky idea, he could be a ‘sideman.’ And he could choose the ‘leaders.’ He did six albums for Atlas with six terrific ‘leaders.’ And they are classics, now.” – Laurie Pepper
Peter Perrett – How The West Was Won CD/LP (Domino)
Peter Perrett – former frontman of The Only Ones – releases his debut solo album. Perrett, whose incisive song craft and sardonic drawl made him one of the most distinctive voices of the ’70s, hasn’t released any music for 20 years. Perrett makes each song on How The West Was Won sound natural and effortless, as though he were continuing a briefly interrupted conversation rather than picking up the threads of a solo career that faltered two decades ago. Backed by his sons – Jamie and Peter Jr. on lead guitar and bass respectively – and produced by Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones), Peter’s intuitive feel for words; his flair for idiosyncratic metaphors and his deadpan wit are all still as sharp as ever.
Pond – Weather CD/LP (Interscope)
New release from Nick Allbrook & his Perth psych-rock warriors, a concept album loosely based around their hometown. Produced by Tame Impala mainman Kevin Parker. Includes “Colder Than Ice” with Kirin J Callinan.
Porter Ricks – Anguilla Electronica CD/2xLP (Tresor)
20 years since they peaked out with a seminal, eponymous techno album, Thomas Köner and Andy Mellwig’s Porter Ricks return with a super robust, dynamic new LP of hydro-tech mutations for Tresor, following up the gritty example set on last year’s Shadow Boat 12”.
Propaganda – Crooked CD (Fair Trade)
Hailing from the heart of Los Angeles, the West Coast MC and spoken word artist, whose career spans more than 15 years, has cracked the Billboard 200 chart and worked alongside other independent titans Murs, 9th Wonder and Lecrae. Propaganda, born Jason Petty, penned his latest project, Crooked, at the height of racial tension in 2016. He explores his place as a black man, father and community member over a vibrant musical landscape.
R.E.M. – Live At The Olympia In Dublin 39 Songs [Reissue/2009] 2xCD+DVD (Craft Music)
In the summer of 2007, R.E.M. performed a five-night residency at Dublin, Ireland’s Olympia Theatre. These dates were set up to allow the Athens, GA-based alt-rockers to explore new material, test out arrangements, and effectively rehearse songs for their 14th studio album, Accelerate, released in 2008. The 39 tracks on the double-disc set, recorded over the course of the residency, cover a wide range of material – digging deep into the band’s earliest tracks, and eschewing the obvious hits. Includes a bonus DVD.
Max Richter – Infra [Reissue/2010] CD/LP (Deutsche Grammophon)
The third physical release from Max Richter’s Retrospective catalog. Written for piano, electronics and string quartet, Infra is an expansion on Richter’s score for Wayne McGregor’s ballet of the same name that was created as a response to the London bombings on 7/7. Infra follows Richter’s latest album, Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works, an album featuring his score for another McGregor ballet, Woolf Works. This CD version of Infra features the bonus track, Sub Piano.
Raymond Scott – Three Willow Park: Electronic Music From Inner Space, 1961-1971 2xCD/3xLP (Basta)
Three Willow Park: Electronic Music From Inner Space, 1961-1971 represents the second anthology of pioneering electronica by Raymond Scott. The album contains 61 previously unissued gems, many featuring hypnotic rhythm tracks played by Scott’s Electronium – an invention which composed and performed using programmed intelligence. Three Willow Park reveals that Scott was producing beat-oriented proto-techno before the 1970s explosion of electronic music and rhythms on the pop charts, a significant achievement that should not be overlooked.
Sons Of The Palomino – Sons Of The Palomino CD (BFD)
Sons of the Palomino is a nod to the Palomino Club in North Hollywood circa the late 1980s-early 1990s and the old school country music that was played there.
The Soundbyte – Solitary IV CD (Temple Of Torturous)
One of the visionaries behind the Norwegian legendary experimental metal band The 3rd And The Mortal, composer and guitarist Trond Engum (based in Trondheim, Norway) carries down the genre defying path through his solo venture The Soundbyte. Dedicated to the avant-garde and experimental, and devoted to an outside-the-box thinking when it comes to the metal genre, Engum is establishing routes of communication with outsider influences, ranging from Norwegian folk, electroacoustic, the standard rock form and ambient leanings.
Stiff Little Fingers – Best Served Loud: Live At Barrowland CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)
Stiff Little Fingers celebrate their 40th anniversary with the release of the new live album
Stone Sour – Hydrograd CD/2xLP+CD (Roadrunner)
Hard rockers Stone Sour, led by Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, return with their fifth full-length slab Hydrograd. Recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, CA with producer Jay Ruston, Hydrograd comes preceded by the epically heavy lead tracks “Fabuless” and “Song #3.” Taylor on the new album, “This album is great because it’s got elements of everything. It’s got the heavy energy of the ’80s, there’s punk moments, there’s hard rock moments, all the great amalgam of music. There’s even jazz and hip-hop moments. It’s really, really cool. It’s probably the coolest album I’ve made since the first Slipknot album, let’s put it that way. It’s dope, dude. And, hey, I feel very confident making that statement, because it’s so good.”
Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer CD (Merky)
“The debut solo album from the breakout grime MC is a detailed portrait and full-throated riot, switching between clapping back at lesser rappers and serving up smoothed-out Quiet Stormzy.” — Pitchfork
Kane Strang – Two Hearts And No Brain CD/LP+MP3 (Dead Oceans)
Recorded in his hometown of Dunedin at the notoriously haunted Chick’s Hotel studio, Kane teamed up with producer Stephen Marr from trip hop group Doprah for Two Hearts And No Brain. The collaborative result is a razor-sharp blend of intelligent alt-rock, bearing the signatures of grunge/alt rock swiftly executed with careful, meticulous precision over 11 tracks. Marr’s influence brings a pristine, retro-futuristic sheen which complements Strang’s perfectionist recording style, sharp melody, and verbose lyrical neuroticism. Taking to well-worn subject matter (heartbreak, loneliness, family) with a disarmingly frank scalpel, Strang’s wryly deadpan lines never miss a beat – the results often sardonic, and always captivating. [Limited red vinyl pressing also available.]
Sworn In – All Smiles CD (Fearless)
Sworn In weaves intensity and authenticity throughout their unique blend of heavy and aggressive music to touch on personal topics such as dysphoria, body dysmorphia, emotional masochism, manipulation, disassociation, and depersonalization. [Vinyl edition due August 11.]
TLC – TLC CD (852 Musiq)
After a 15-year wait and a Kickstarter campaign that became the crowdfunding site’s fastest-funded pop project ever, TLC, the duo’s first independent album — and, the members say, their final recording, has seen the light of day. “A new TLC record could be written off as a nostalgia play; indeed, this summer the group will join the I Love ’90s: The Party Continues tour with fellow throwback acts like Biz Markie and Naughty by Nature. But the sound that TLC pioneered is more influential than at any point since the ’90s, especially in the slinky sounds and sexy-tomboy styles of nouveau R&B’s current wave of rising stars like Tinashe, Kehlani and Jhené Aiko. TLC’s lasting imprint on pop goes far beyond any of its memorably outré fashions or dancefloor jams. Long before the current era of woke pop, TLC made hits with a message. (It’s probably not a coincidence that Katy Perry donated to the group’s Kickstarter.) The resulting record is stacked with uplifting, summer-barbecue-ready tunes like first single ‘Way Back,’ featuring Snoop Dogg.” – Billboard
Tuesday The Sky – Drift CD/LP (Inside Out US)
New instrumental rock project from Fates Warning’s Jim Matheos.
Vagabonds – I Don’t Know What To Do Now CD (Blood & Ink)
Vagabonds is an alternative/emo band from Grand Rapids, MI whose influences include Bright Eyes and Pedro The Lion.
Various Artists – Bingo! French Punk Exploitation 1978-1981CD/LP (Born Bad)
An unprecedented colltion of Belgian/French punk-novelty records.
Various Artists – Early Beatles Repertoire 1960-61 4xCD (Rhythm & Blues)
A four-disc collection of songs that made it to the earliest repertoire of The Beatles when they were a five-piece with Pete Best on drums and Stuart Sutcliffe on bass. Featured artists include Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Peggy Lee, The Isley Brothers, Les Paul & Mary Ford, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, and Ray Charles.
Various Artists – John Armstrong Presents Afrobeat/Brasil CD/2xLP (BBE)
The African beat has always been essential to Brazil’s music. But now the new generation of musicians, singers and rappers are tweaking the basics of Fela Kuti’s funk to fit with samba swing, bossa tempo and nordestino nous. John Armstrong’s new compilation Afrobeat/Brasil features 14 blazing tracks from 2011 to 2017 that nod towards Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali and beyond – with feet firmly in Brazil.
Various Artists – Oté Maloya CD/2xLP (Strut)
A new compilation documenting the groundbreaking maloya scene on Réunion Island from the mid-‘70s, as Western instrumentation joined traditional Malagasy, African and Indian acoustic instruments to spark a whole era of new fusions and creativity.
Various Artists – The Passion Of Charile Parker CD (Impulse!)
On this impulse! release, Charlie Parker’s music is uniquely re-imagined by living legends of the modern jazz scene. Produced by Larry Klein, and including artists like Ben Monder, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, and Gregory Porter, this ‘musical play’ follows the narrative arc of Bird s life. This release aims to sound like something that outlines the shape of what Bird might be doing in this time, were he still alive and playing these songs. [Vinyl edition due July 21.]
Various Artists – Pop Makossa: The Invasive Dance Beat Of Cameroon 1976-1984 CD/2xLP (Analog Africa)
The Pop Makossa adventure started in 2009, when Analog Africa founder Samy Ben Redjeb first traveled to Cameroon to make an initial assessment of the country’s musical situation. He returned with enough tracks for an explosive compilation highlighting the period when funk and disco sounds began to infiltrate the makossa style popular throughout Cameroon.
Vintersong – Till Fjälls del II CD (Napalm)
“Nordic folklore and black metal with a captivating epic streak.”
Stephen Wade – Across The Amerikee: Showpieces From Coal Camp To Cattle Trail CD (Smithsonian Folkways)
Grassroots singers and players throughout the United States have long cultivated their own varieties of recital music. A simple dance tune transforms into a concert masterpiece; a personal plaint becomes emblematic of an era. With banjo and occasional guitar Stephen Wade explores this music made for music’s sake. His selections draw from Southern sources as well as Northern interpreters, centering on lyric folksong and old-time instrumentals transmitted, as one of its older players memorably said, “across the Amerikee.”
Ye Banished Privatateers – First Night Back In Port CD (Napalm)
“With the help of Irish and Skandinavian folk as well as raw punk Ye Banished Privateers brew stormy sea chanties.”
ZZ Ward – The Storm CD (Hollywood)
ZZ Ward didn’t have to look far for inspiration on her second full-length album, The Storm. Equally evocative of blues grit and hip-hop bounce, the Los Angeles-based vocal powerhouse and multi-instrumentalist leapt forward by taking a deeper look at some of her earliest inspirations including Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, and Vera Ward Hall and Big Mama Thornton. “For me, this album wasn’t really about experimenting,” she admits. “It was more about simplicity, honing-in on what I love about music and what makes me who I am as an artist. Growing up, I listened to a lot of hip-hop and blues, and I love those two genres so much. Sometimes, to evolve you don’t need to go outside of yourself; you can reach further inside of yourself instead.” It’s a realization earned over a whirlwind five years. The Fedora-rocking, guitar-shredding, harmonica-wielding blues siren peppered an old backporch musical recipe with hip-hop urgency and hashtaggable wisdom on her 2012 mixtape Eleven Roses, and has since practically set stages ablaze on tours with Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr., and Fitz & The Tantrums at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Made In America.
Washed Out – Mister Mellow CD+DVD (Stones Throw)
Boredom. Laziness. Complete apathy. Is it a quarter-life crisis or just an excuse to never grow up? This is the world of Washed Out’s (Ernest Greene) new album Mister Mellow. A fully immersive multimedia experience, the album guides the listener through the highs and lows of this often-ridiculous struggle. In classic Millennial fashion, most young adults’ perception of their own lives is overblown and over-dramatized to the point of absurdity – as are the many ways they distract themselves from the insecurities faced on a daily basis (see social media, fantasy, drugs, music). Mister Mellow shines a light on the humor found in this paradox – how we can be so bored and unhappy in what is often a very privileged, contented life? Further moving away from the synthesizer-driven sounds of his early work and the more band-driven sound of his work on iconic indie label Sub Pop, it is fitting that Greene has partnered with the rebellious beat-driven label Stones Throw as he continues to carve out a unique sonic identity that stands in direct opposition to most current trends.
Weapönizer – Lawless Age CD/LP (20 Buck Spin)
While one can recognize a variety of metallic sub-genre tags in the band’s sound, from raw black metal to post-apocalyptic thrash to Aussie war-metal to anarchic crossover, it’s all menacingly welded menacingly into an indestructible shining alloy of slashing American steel. A faster disaster with an unrelenting pace, the tasteful-yet-crazed guitar solos combined with the band’s commitment to song craft make this album a celebratory and definitive vindication of underground metal’s continued relevance.
Young Wicked – The Return Of The Prodigal Son CD (Magik Ninja)
The Return Of The Prodigal Son picks up where Vengeance left off with Young Wicked’s aggressive rap mixed with close to home personal and emotional battles. Featured guest artists include; Rittz, Jamie Madrox and Monoxide (Twiztid), Mac Lethal, G-Mo Skee and Lex The Hex Master.
John Zorn – Midsummer Moons CD (Tzadik)
For millennia the moon has been a subject of deep fascination— a symbol of love, lust, madness and dreams. More than a passive observer, it is a powerful force whose brilliant luminosity exerts an intoxicating effect upon the winds, the tides, our emotions and more. This dark and moody CD of music inspired by Shakespearian Lunar imagery features ten lyrical compositions evoking the magic of Sister Moon. Stunningly performednby two of the most fabulous new guitarists working today—Julian Lage and Gyan Riley, this is a beautiful and heartfelt program of music for late night contemplation on a romantic midsummer evening.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
88 Fingers Louie – Thank You For Being A Friend LP (Bird Attack)
After many years of anticipation, 88 Fingers Louie have released a follow-up to their 1998 LP Back On The Streets.
ABBA – Gold [Reissue/1992] 2xLP+MP3 (Polydor)
The definitive compilation of the unrivaled career of the timeless hitmakers has be reissued for its 25th anniversary on 180gm gold vinyl.
Ryan Adams – Prisoner: End Of The World Edition 12×7” (Blue Note)
12 7” records — one for each of the 12 songs on Prisoner — pressed in different color vinyl and accompanied by unique artwork. In addition to the album’s original material, there are 17 previously unreleased B-sides included. Also included are action figures in the shape of Adams and his bandmates, arcade games, cats and tigers, and even a miniature stage setup complete with working lights and sounds.
Ólafur Arnalds – Broadchurch: The Final Chapter LP (Mercury Classics)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. BAFTA-winning composer Ólafur Arnalds returns for the third and final season with another soundtrack of evocative and atmospheric music, deemed crucial by fans and critics alike to this poignant series.
Ben Lukas Boysen – Golden Times 1 LP (Erased Tapes)
“Composer, producer, and sound designer Ben Lukas Boysen makes stunning ambient music, plain and simple. The German musical savant has been creating gorgeous arrangements for over a decade since moving to Berlin and setting up his project studio, HECQ Audio, for custom sound design and composition, creating scores for commercials and feature films and working on personal projects.” — Stereogum
Broadside – Paradise LP (Victory)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. As soon as the majestic opening licks of the album’s lead off track burst onto the speakers, it’s obvious that Broadside are setting bigger and better goals the second time around. An album of boundless energy, Paradise is a culmination of two years’ worth of experiences, sacrifices, and tireless effort, and the end result is a go-for-broke tour de force in pop tinged punk rock. With the line “The sun peeking from the tall palm trees,” the title track “Paradise” sets the personality for a summer sunshine-stained statement. “The whole concept of Paradise is that you should chase that little view of happiness you create in your mind,” explains frontman Ollie Baxxter. “We often put our dreams and desires to the side believing they’re unrealistic, but this record is about building a bridge to reach your goals, your dream, your…Paradise.”
Kane Brown – Kane Brown LP (RCA)
Released last year on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from the country music vocalist.
Carcass – Necroticism – Descanting The Insalubrious [Reissue/1991] LP (Earache)
Liverpool’s legendary death metal pioneers Carcass are often credited with shaping the entire death metal genre pushing boundaries with their shocking imagery whilst evolving and innovating with each new album. Necroticism – Descanting The Insalubrious is Carcass’ classic third slab and first featuring guitarist Michael Amott.
Vic Chesnutt – Silver Lake [Reissue/2003] 2xLP+MP3 (New West)
At the time Silver Lake was recorded, you could count on two things with Vic Chesnutt: he would approach any topic, from the delicate to the mundane and he would take an unexpected angle. With an incisive eye and razor wit, he would always cut straight to the heart of the matter.
The Coathangers – Parasite 12” (Suicide Squeeze)
When The Coathangers first stormed on the scene over a decade ago, their power resided in their ability to craft a crooked hook out of a grimy guitar line, a delightfully crass chorus, or an enticingly ham-fisted drum-and-bass groove. With each successive album, the Atlanta garage punk ensemble has increasingly tempered their brash charm with sharp-witted pop. Not that the band ever fully excised the primal howl of The Gories or the sparse strut of ESG, but with the trio’s latest EP, Parasite, The Coathangers explore the space between their initial unbridled expressionism and their recent nuanced song craft. One-sided color 12″ with B-Side etching.
Coheed And Cambria – Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness [2005] 2xLP+MP3 (Columbia)
First-time vinyl edition. Originally released in 2005, the breakthrough third studio album by progressive rockers Coheed And Cambria continued the band’s ambitious four-album “Armory Wars” sci-fi storyline and featured the mainstream rock hit “Welcome Home.”
John Coltrane/Wilbur Harden – Tanganyika Strut [Reissue/1958] LP (Doxy)
The last of the three 1958 recordings made by jazz musicians John Coltrane and Wilbur Harden, Tanganyika Strut is Harden’s last album as a leader. 140gm clear vinyl.
The Congos – Heart Of The Congos [Reissue/1977] 3xLP (VP)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. This new deluxe triple-LP edition is the first to feature the now almost impossible to find original mix of the album, unavailable since producer Lee Perry withdrew the set in 1977. Also includes the more well-known remix, dubs, disco mix, seven and twelve-inch versions and a previously unreleased track.
Tony Conrad – Ten Years Alive On The Infinite Plain 2xLP (Superior Viaduct)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Ten Years Alive On The Infinite Plain is the quintessential work of artist/filmmaker/composer Tony Conrad. Comprised of both film installation and minimalist score for amplified strings, Ten Years leaps across genre and medium to connect his revolutionary structural filmmaking with the experiments in long-duration sound that Conrad had begun in the 1960s as part of the Theatre Of Eternal Music.
The Cranberries – Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? [Reissue/1993] LP (Analog Sparks)
Limited 180gm vinyl pressing in a Stoughton old style tip on jacket. First widely available pressing after being out of print on vinyl for over 24 years.
Culture – Two Sevens Clash [Reissue/1977] 3xLP (VP)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Culture was initially recorded by producer Joe Gibbs during the post-incubation period of roots rockers music in 1976. Assisted by the excellent productions of these recordings, Culture emerged in ’77 with a unicity of symbolic sound on their debut album Two Sevens Clash. Rhythms were created as dubsonic sound of creative freedom which defied limits and revealed the natural expression of the African-Caribbean soul, mellifluous voices with the sounds/chants of the New Africanism. Songs of cultural awareness that impart an ire feel through message/magic music of truths and rights depicting the struggle, history and aspirations of an evolution.
The Cure – Greatest Hits [2001] 2xLP (Elektra)
The Cure –Acoustic Hits 2xLP (Elektra)
Featuring their best-known tracks including; “Love Song”, “Friday I’m In Love”, “Never Enough”, “Mint Car” and many more.
Dead Head – Swine Plague LP (Hammerheart)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Dead Head have been around since the late ‘80s which was a golden and extremely fertile period for thrash metal, and it shows. Their style is just about as aggressive as thrash can logically get before having to refer to them as death metal whilst thankfully managing to retain a slight ‘80s vibe, although Dead Head’s new album Swine Plauge is 100% 2017 as well.
Ani DiFranco – Binary LP (Righteous Babe)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Ani DiFranco records arrive like MoMA retrospectives. Ani on Heartbreak. Ani on Worker’s Rights. Ani on Parenthood. Ani in Love. Each release is entirely immersive and seemingly exhaustive, not only because of the propulsive, intensely kinetic sound signature on the prolific singer-songwriter’s past work, but because her attention to the subject at hand has been laser-focused. For her 20th studio album, Binary, the MoMA retrospective might be called Ani Exhales. DiFranco’s voice has lowered and softened, her guitarwork has slowed down, she puts fewer lyrics in her songs, and her songwriter’s skin has gotten thicker. Gone is the 18-year-old girl on the street in Manhattan, raging against ‘Our father/ who art in a penthouse.’ Now she’s a woman at sea level, New Orleans in her blood, with a long view in every direction and a hard-won instinct for self-preservation. Where she used to favor immersion, DiFranco here favors integration. Binary isn’t about one thing, or two things, or even three things. It’s about everything.” – NPR
Danzig – Black Laden Crown LP (Nuclear Blast)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Following on his historic reunion with the classic Misfits lineup attended by record numbers at last year’s Riot Fest in Denver and Chicago as well as the recent confirmation of a headlining set at this year’s Blackest Of The Black festival, Glenn Danzig releases his first Danzig album of all new material since 2010’s widely acclaimed Deth Red Sabaoth. In a 2015 interview with Noisey, Glenn Danzig was asked what it is that keeps him coming back to the creative well. He responded: “It’s so many different things. There’s always stuff to write about, but I think that the whole punk thing helped a lot. If it gets boring, change it, fix it, make it exciting, make it relevant again, and that’s what I did without sacrificing the music.”
Joey DeFrancesco + The People – Project Freedom 2xLP (Mack Avenue)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. he organ player expresses his viewpoints on current world events with uplifting compositions and emotional tributes.
Endon – Through The Mirror LP (Hydra Head)
With their newest album Through The Mirror, Japan’s self-described “catastrophic noise-metal” outfit Endon galvanizes their arsenal of ballistic sounds into a streamlined assault on the senses. Captured by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, Through The Mirror fuses Taro Aiko and Etsuo Nagura’s dual noise barrages, Koki Miyabe’s alternately harrowing guitar work, Shin Yokota’s pummeling drums, and Taichi’s animalistic howls and shrieks into eight songs that vacillate between molten blocks of viciously constructed metal and chaotic bouts of unbridled auditory hostility.
Entombed – Left Hand Path [Reissue/1990] LP (Earache)
Entombed’s massively influential debut Left Hand Path defined the ‘Swedish sound’ replicated by hundreds of other acts and came to represent the primal death metal sound that was to breakthrough into the mainstream in the early 1990s.
Entrails – World Inferno LP (Metal Blade)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the Swedish death metallers.
Erasure – World Be Gone LP (Mute)
Limited orange vinyl pressing. 17th album from the electronic pop pioneers, their first album since 2014’s acclaimed The Violet Flame. From the pounding beats of the album opener (and first single), “Love You To The Sky,” the listener is immediately enveloped in Erasure at their optimistic best with a soaring chorus that fills the room with love and promise. On “World Be Gone,” recent political upheavals are given a thoughtful examination and, as highlighted on the painted artwork showing a ship’s masthead rising up from being submerged in the stormy waters, Erasure are looking ahead, towards an expectant future which points towards love as evidenced on the buoyant closer “Just A Little Love.”
Fear Before The March Of Flames – The Always Open Mouth [Reissue/2006] 2xLP (Equal Vision)
Double vinyl reissue of the Colorado band’s third album. The songs are epic, experimental, evil and usher in elements of NIN, Faith No More and Converge. Limited color pressing.
Ekin Fil – Ghosts Inside LP (Helen Scarsdale Agency)
Ekin Fil is the acclaimed drone-pop chanteuse working with the sparest of materials in her ethereal, shoegaze deconstructions. Her sound developed out of a healthy obsession with Cranes, Cocteau Twins, Slowdive and many other bands that she discovered in the tattered back issues of NME and the home-dubbed tapes that were passed around when she was growing up in Turkey. Allusions to catharsis flicker through the sullen, narcotized beauty of Ghosts Inside, updating the mood found on classic 4AD albums of the ‘80s.
From First To Last – Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count [2004] LP (Epitaph)
From First To Last – Heroine [2006] LP (Epitaph)
Post-hardcore act From First To Last returned to the spotlight in February 2017 with the release of a new single and a reunion performance in Los Angeles with singer Sonny ‘Skrillex’ Moore, guitarists Travis Richter and Matt Good and drummer Derek Bloom. To commemorate the occasion Epitaph Records will be releasing the group’s Moore fronted first two records – Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count (2004) and Heroine (2006) – on vinyl for the first time.
Ghost Bath – Moonlover [Reissue/2015] LP (Napalm)
Limited grey vinyl reissue. “Ghost Bath combines elements from depressive suicidal black metal and post black metal.” – Encyclopaedia Metallum
Joe Gibbs – African Dub Chapter Two [Reissue/1977] LP (VP)
The African Dub series was a breakthrough series for producer Joe Gibbs and his studio team known as The Professionals.
Billy Holiday – The Blues Are Brewin’ [Reissue/1958] LP (Doxy)
A stunning collection of traditional and blues pieces masterfully interpreted by the great Billie Holiday. 140gm clear vinyl.
John Holts – 1000 Volts Of Holts [Reissue/1973] LP (Trojan)
The best-selling single artist Trojan album of all time, 1000 Volts Of Holts set the standard for a new uptown style of reggae by successfully blending raw Jamaican rhythms with highly sophisticated arrangements, courtesy of some of the UK’s leading musical talent.
The I.L.Y’s – Bodyguard LP (Castleface)
The latest release from the mysterious, experimental garage rock/art duo The I.L.Y.’s comprised of Zach Hill and Andy Morin of Death Grips, Bodyguard also features guitar work from Tristan Tozer (Yah Mos, Drug Apts). Stereogum notes that, “…with Bodyguard, they’ve given us an album a whole lot more bracing and immediate and fun and welcoming than anything Death Grips will ever allow themselves to make.”
Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection [Reissue/1970] LP (Mercury)
Elton John – Honkey Chateau [Reissue/1972] LP (Mercury)
180gm vinyl reissues.
Little Steven – Soulfire 2xLP (UMe)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Steven Van Zandt, the longtime guitarist of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, debuts his first solo album in two decades.
Logic – Everybody 2xLP (Def Jam)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from the hip-hop artist features guest appearances from Killer Mike, Black Thought, Chuck D and Juicy J, Alessia Cara, Khalid, Ansel Elgort and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Lord Echo – Harmonies (DJ Friendly Edition) 2xLP (Soundway)
Harmonies is the new long player from underground super-producer Lord Echo. Hotly anticipated for the last few years by his growing entourage of fans, many were frustrated by his descent into obscurity in the industrial backwaters of New Zealand where he lived alone and went completely insane trying to complete the record. The new album solidifies his already distinctive mutations of reggae and rock steady with disco, African soul, techno and spiritual jazz. In other words, the Lord has returned from the wilderness with a bounty for his followers. Eat of the bread of life and enjoy access to his crazy World of Sound. Cut loud for your pleasure.
Maria Teresa Luciani – Sounds Of The City [Reissue/1972] LP (Finders Keepers)
Welcome to the parallel musical universe of Miss Maria Teresa Luciani, a landscape of sonic architecture and theoretical composition constructed by a family of engineers that reinvented the wheel before the vehicle even began the journey. Imagine, if you will, the musical equivalent of Peter Cook’s Archigram group or the soundtrack to Charles and Ray Eames’s private sketchbooks, hinting at a new municipal, utopian metropolis, just hours before the blueprints are suspiciously misplaced by the courier and mainstream pop building regulations piss on our asbestos bonfire. These 1972 constructions of progressive, cyclic, proto-industrial color music were never intended for public habitation. These are the Sounds Of The City in a galaxy far, far beneath our radar and above your expectations that was never built. Pseudo-futurist pop music, cubic folk, tape-op-art.
Jesse Malin – Meet Me At The End Of The World 12” (One Little Indian/MRI Associated)
New EP from the New York-based singer/songwriter best known as the frontman for alt-rock outfit D-Generation.
Dave Matthews Band – Live At Red Rocks 8.15.95 4xLP (RCA)
First time vinyl edition.
Modern Baseball – MOBO Presents: The Perfect Cast EP featuring Modern Baseball [Reissue/2015] 12” (Lame-O)
Vinyl reissue of the second EP by the Philly pop punk/emo band.
Moondog – Moondog [Reissue/1969] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
He was born Louis Hardin, but the world knew him as Moondog—and his avant-garde compositions influenced a generation of minimalist composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Now, Moondog, The Viking of 6th Avenue’s seminal 1969 album recorded with producer James William Guercio, has been reissued vinyl. Featuring original symphonic and classically-inspired works (including material dedicated to Charlie Parker and Benny Goodman), Moondog is an album that must be heard to be believed.
Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson [Reissue/1971] LP+MP3 (Sony Legacy)
Harry Nilsson’s 1971 masterpiece Nilsson Schmilsson features the Grammy Award-winning No. 1 hit “Without You” (written and originally recorded by Badfinger and later a hit for Mariah Carey) plus the quirky Top 10 smash “Coconut” and the hard-driving “Jump Into The Fire.”
Oceano – Revelation LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Chicago, IL’s Oceano are the embodiment of all that is exciting and dangerous about extreme music. They mix the intensity of grindcore and death metal with an an unnerving sense of dynamics; seamlessly taking fast paced blast beats down to a sub sonic gut wrenching chug.
of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? [Reissue/2009] LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? is of Montreal’s landmark 2007 album. The album defined of Montreal’s career and continues to be hailed as a classic. Pitchfork called the album “Ceaselessly fascinating and inexhaustibly replayable,” honoring it with “Best New Music” and placing it in the Top 5 albums of 2007. It went on to become Polyvinyl’s all-time best selling album to date. For the 10-year anniversary of the release, Polyvinyl is proud to be issuing this updated vinyl version. [Cassette edition due July 7.]
Origin – Unparalleled Universe LP (Nuclear Blast)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. For 20 years, Origin has engaged a full-blown sensory assault of tight, taut, and technical death metal amplified by flashes of grindcore and groove. New album Unparalleled Universe sees the quartet strengthen that blueprint with a handful of surprises. [Limited white vinyl pressing also available.]
Palmistry – Pagan [Reissue/2016] LP+MP3 (Mixpak/Big Beat)
This limited blue vinyl repress includes two new revisions of tracks highlighted on the LP’s original 2016 release. “(Palmistry) uses simple synth melodies, antiseptic beats, and a lilting, candid vocal style to craft an emotionally affecting rumination on absence/presence. In stripping these songs back to their essence, he achieves something special, tracing a link to a common musical language and set of experiences…music that is as striking as it is affecting.” – Tiny Mix Tapes
Pine – Pillow Talk 12”+MP3 (No Sleep)
New 5-track EP from the Ottawa, Canada post-punk act who New Noise Magazine says exhibits a “unique blend of emo-meets-shoegaze that’s as refreshing and cathartic as it is nostalgic.” Light pink vinyl with green swirl.
Popol Vuh – Agape-Agape Love-Love [Reissue/1983] LP (One Way Static)
Popol Vuh – Spirit Of Peace [Reissue/1985] 2xLP (One Way Static)
Limited vinyl reissues including previously unreleased tracks. Born as Florian Fricke’s brainchild, Popol Vuh stayed active between the late 1960s and late 1990s (until Florian’s passing in 2001). Regarded as pioneers in avant-garde German electronic music, their early works practically laid down the foundations for ‘Kosmische Muzik’ (Space Music) with the then new sounds of the Moog synthesizer joined with ethnic percussions. Later the group evolved to include all kinds of instruments (both electric and acoustic alike) shrouding their music in a spiritual and introspective mystical aura.
John Renbourn & Wizz Jones – Joint Control 2xLP (Riverboat)
13 songs that wonderfully embody the fruits of that friendship, capturing the two great artists and consummate guitarists performing together live and in the studio. Joint Control is all the more poignant because it represents the final recordings by John Renbourn, the final tracks made just days before his death on 26 March 2015 from a heart attack at his home in Hawick in the Scottish borders.
Terry Riley – Persian Surgery Dervishes [Reissue/1972] 2xLP (Aguirre)
A classic minimal album back-in-print on vinyl for the first time since the ‘70s. Echoes of Terry Riley’s inspired music have spread far and wide – into progressive rock, New Age and ambient soundings, film soundtracks, blissed-out electronica and dance-floor trance. His fluent and hypnotic keyboard playing can be heard as part of a continuum, transmitting energies from ancient and distant musical sources into the living here and now. Persian Surgery Dervishes is a significant part of that picture, a mesmerizing record of a vital stage in Riley’s ongoing quest for connection with the universal mind and the sublime music that flows ceaselessly from it.
Rituals Of Mine – Devoted LP (WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Devoted is a primal sonic rarity that delves head first into the heaviest subject matter of loss, love and heartache. It is unapologetic in crossing the electronic/R&B genres, sounding like Massive Attack/Portishead meets the Weeknd.
Diana Ross – Baby It’s Me [Reissue/1977] LP (Culture Factory)
Limited 180gm lavender vinyl LP pressing.
Shakey Graves And The Horse He Rode In On – Nobody’s Fool & The Donor Blues EP 2×12”+MP3 (Dualtone)
A double EP of B-sides and rarities from the Austin artist. 180gm clear vinyl pressing. Alejandro Rose-Garcia is professionally known as Shakey Graves. NPR Music named him one of 10 artists music fans “should’ve known in 2012,” describing him as “astonishing…unclassifiably original. And frighteningly good.” Paste included him in a “Best of What’s Next” feature, praising his “gnarly composite of blues and folk,” while The New York Times observed that Shakey Graves “makes the one-man band approach look effortless.”
Slaughter To Prevail – Misery Sermon LP (Sumerian)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Slaughter To Prevail combine “demonic, guttural vocals with guitar riffs that will leave your neck sore and drums that you won’t believe are humanly possible.” For fans of Suicide Silence, Meshuggah, Behemoth
Soulwax – FROM DEEWEE 2xLP (PIAS America)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “The Belgian electro-rock outfit Soulwax have aged gracefully. Over two decades on, they’ve finally found a coherent sound, layering robust synths, dusty live drums, and simple vocal melodies. If every ‘90s alternative act updated their sound as gracefully as the Belgian electro-rock outfit Soulwax, the alternative era might never have ended. Hold the band’s latest full-length up to, say, God Lives Underwater’s likeminded 1998 sophomore effort Life In The So-Called Space Age, and you might think the two titles came out no more than a couple of years apart. On closer inspection, though, FROM DEEWEE gives us a glimpse of what those ‘90s acts would sound like today had they managed to loosen up just enough to absorb modern sensibilities. FROM DEEWEE hearkens back to those halcyon days where funk, disco, krautrock, new wave, rap, and punk all flowed forth into the same pool. The main melody and wheezing steam-engine groove of ‘My Tired Eyes’ both recall classic Depeche Mode, while ‘Conditions of a Shared Belief’ wears the influence of Eddy Grant’s 1982 smash hit ‘Electric Avenue’ on its sleeve. But even at their most electronically inclined, Soulwax remain a ‘90s rock act at heart. Mining the disco era, the Dewaele brothers scuff things up, stopping just short of lo-fi.” – Pitchfork
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Hammersmith Odeon, London ’75 [2006] 4xLP (Sony Legacy)
First-time vinyl edition of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band’s fourth live album.
Matthew Sweet – Tomorrow Forever LP (S. Matthew Sweet)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Purely in terms of its guitar payload, Tomorrow Forever is a breathtaking Fourth of July fireworks show, with axes trading volleys from the left and right channels in old-school-stereo fashion, as Sweet breaks out a lineup of killer players, each sporting a distinct style, like a modern-day Moby Grape or Buffalo Springfield.
Triptides – Afterglow LP (Requiem Pour Twister)
New album from the Californian psych rockers. Inspired by the spirit of ’60s and ’70s West Coast pop and psychedelia, as well as legendary albums ranging from The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn to The Notorious Byrd Brothers. “This artifact is something especially nice to have and hold and sit alongside The Young Sinclairs, Silver Factory and Allah-Las in your collection. They deserve far more attention than has come along so far” (Shindig). “The soundtrack that will illuminate the summer” (Nouvel Obs). “The romance that is beginning with Triptides will last more than this summer” (Rock & Folk). Limited color vinyl pressing also available.
Trouble – Snake Eyes b/w Mother’s Gone 7” (Sacred Bones)
Written and recorded for the highly anticipated return of David Lynch’s cult television classic Twin Peaks, “Snake Eyes” effectively harkens a time when noir R&B was the de-facto soundtrack to hard liquor violence. The instrumental trio Trouble includes Lynch’s son Riley Lynch on guitar, longtime music supervisor for Lynch, Dean Hurley on drums and Alex Zhang Hungtai (Dirty Beaches, Last Lizard) on tenor saxophone. The B-side to the single consists of the bonus “Mother’s Gone,” a menacing companion track also recorded during the band’s only Twin Peaks recording session.
Various Artists – The Rough Guide To Gospel Blues (Reborn and Remastered) LP+MP3 (World Music Network)
Although the blues and gospel music of the African American in the pre-war era seem quite distinct, they were essentially two sides of the same coin. Both genres shared the same longing for a better life and an almost blind hope in deliverance and redemption. The musical influence of the church was profound on many blues singers, as this was often where they started out. Many early bluesmen would freely switch between playing blues and gospel and it was not uncommon for artists to go back and forth between careers as preachers and blues performers.
The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (50th Anniversary) [Reissue/1967] LP (Polydor)
50th Anniversary Edition preserving iconic Andy Warhol-designed cover art, original gatefold cover, original back-cover torso photo which was altered after first pressing and replica black sticker used to obscure disputed image plus new vintage images and liner notes by John Cale and Richie Unterberger.
Tom Waits – Nighthawks On The Radio: KNEW-FM Broadcast, 8 December 1976 2xLP (Klondike)
Waits rolled into Mediasound Studios on a cold December night for a radio interview with host Vin Scelsa, accompanied only by Elektra records’ rep Ralph Ebler. What transpired was an intimate session boasting material from Tom Waits’s already burgeoning repertoire.
Waxahatchee – American Weekend [Reissue/2012] LP (Don Giovanni)
Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt [Reissue/2013] LP (Don Giovanni)
Limited color vinyl reissues (white and clear, respectively). On her second full-length record as Waxahatchee, former P.S. Eliot singer Katie Crutchfield’s compelling hyper-personal poetry is continuously crushing. 2013’s Cerulean Salt follows 2012’s American Weekend — a collection of minimal acoustic-guitar pop written and recorded in a week at her family’s Birmingham home. Crutchfield’s songs here continue to be marked by her sharp, hooky songwriting; her striking voice and lyrics that simultaneously seem hyper-personal yet relentlessly relatable, teetering between endearingly nostalgic and depressingly dark. [New album Out In The Storm due July 14.]
Wheeler Walker Jr. – Ol’ Wheeler LP (Pepper Hill)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The biggest story of Wheeler Walker Jr.’s (alter ego of comic Ben Hoffman) second album Ol’ Wheeler is that everyone thought his 2016 coming out party Redneck Sh*t was a one-note joke. With more complex instrumentation – producer Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) and the same backing band of session men from Redneck Sh*t are behind the new album – and more serious themes about life on the road and the expectations from being Nashville’s enemy number one, Wheeler has turned his life into filthy art.
Witch Vomit – Poisoned Blood 12” (20 Buck Spin)
Offering four new tracks and intro equaling over twenty minutes, this release is one of the most brutal recordings to come out of the Northwest in recent memory. Ranging from blasting deathgrind, foul Finnish obscurity and liquefied cannibalistic necromancy, the riffs on this bubble up like slimy green rot leaking from crypt walls.
Mark Wynn – More Singles LP (Harbinger Sound)
Another 18 tracks taken from Wynn’s vast archives. Recommended for fans of Ian Dury, Sleaford Mods, The Fall, JCC, Patrik Fitzgerald, John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett.
X.Y.R. – Labyrinth LP (Not Not Fun)
St. Petersburg pathfinder Vladimir Karpov coaxes hushed auras of keys, metronomes, fog, and feeling to evoke hazed and isolated realms, traced in altered states. His latest collection – and vinyl debut – maps the maze at “the bottom of self,” subterranean consciousness manifested from decaying synthesizer and shadowed pulse: music for fading torchlight. Labyrinth leads through six misty, mystic chambers of dreams, drones, delirium, and phasered percussion, spiraling in slow, sacred arcs, in quest of “the inner world.”
Zyklon – World Ov Worms [Reissue/2001] LP (Spinefarm)
Zyklon – Aeon [Reissue/2003] LP (Spinefarm)
Zyklon – Disintegrate [Reissue/2006] LP (Spinefarm)
Zyklon was formed in 1998 by Emperor mainmain Samoth shortly after the band initially called it a day. The project’s third and final studio effort, Disintegrate, was issued in 2006 and continued Zyklon’s blackened death metal sound from previous album Aeon (2003). Unlike many black/death bands that adhere to a more simple formula Zyklon managed to be creative and explorative of several genres while retaining consistency and relevance in extreme metal.
Cassettes:
Canada Effervescent – Crystalline (Not Not Fun)
Discreet French synthesist Denis Tremblay’s latest offering, Crystalline, spirals further into the recesses of refracted relaxation music and interstitial new age which have come to define the sound of Canada Effervescent. Sun-bleached keys phase, dazzle, and decay against shimmering vistas of synthetic harp and piano, layered with raga drones, meditative mist, and field recordings of running water, wood chimes, and nocturnal insects.
Iguana Moonlight – Wild Palms (Not Not Fun)
Unlikely desert island meditations beamed from the suburbs of Moscow courtesy of synthesizer imagineer Ilya Ryazantcev aka Iguana Moonlight. Inspired equally by a childhood fascination with tropical isolation and La Iguana, Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa’s novel about a disfigured 19th century harpooner shipwrecked on a remote island who “declares war on humanity,” Wild Palms sways through six pensive instrumentals of castaway electronics, quiet surf, and coastal birdsong.
X.Y.R. – Reflections (Not Not Fun)
Adjacent assemblage to the Labyrinth LP (also released this week), Reflections wanders six more forking paths of smeared Soviet synth, opiated percussion, and phaser fantasia across lost, liquid, looping landscapes. Here the X.Y.R. experience oozes illusion, the morass of memory, and spectral static, crescent tones glimmering against warm webs of echo and reverberated rhythm. The dark is depth; the flame flickers; continue.
Books:
Charles Duvelle And Hisham Mayet – The Photographs Of Charles Duvelle: Disques Ocora And Collection Prophet 2xCD+Book (Sublime Frequencies)
Disques Ocora, a French label dedicated to capturing and publishing the sounds of folkloric culture from around the world, is held in the highest possible regard in the realms of professional and amateur ethnomusicology. Instigated in 1958 by Pierre Schaeffer, the founder of musique concrète, Disques Ocora’s sterling reputation is largely built on composer and musicologist Charles Duvelle’s pioneering field recordings, as well as his now-iconic photographs and graphic design. This 296-page fine-art photography book comprises an exhaustive collection of Charles Duvelle’s field photography from 1959 to 1978, demonstrating that this master musicologist had an equally unerring eye for photography.
Robert Pollard – 100 (Rockathon)
On April 7th 2017, Guided By Voices released August By Cake, a double album. For anyone who knows the band this isn’t necessarily a newsworthy event. The band and its leader are extremely prolific and release multiple albums every year. What made this one special, what made it historic, was that it marked the 100th studio album release for Robert Pollard. It is arguable as to whether any other artist has released that much music. What we know for sure is that no other artist has released 100 studio albums with every one of them on vinyl. This book contains the front and back covers for all 100 albums. Less a testament to Pollard’s extensive career and more a study in album art, the book is a large format (12” x 12”) hard cover document containing over 200 pages printed to the edge.
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