CDs + Vinyl:
The 7th Plain – Chronicles I CD/2xLP (A-Ton)
A-Ton is a new edition and platform of Berghain’s in-house imprint Ostgut Ton, focusing on ambient, archive and alternative music, differing from the club-focused records on the main label. Chronicles I marks the start of a series from Luke Slater’s The 7th Plain moniker, with remastered, previously released and unheard archive material. First published on General Production Recordings between 1993 and 1996, Slater’s The 7th Plain pushed the further burgeoning genre of ambient music towards its boundaries by not limiting itself to mostly beat-less synth pads, but by including propulsive beat progressions, nuanced rhythms and subtle melodies.
Peter Adriaansz – Enclosures CD (Ergodos)
Written between 2008 and 2013, Enclosures is a treasury of chamber music highlighting Netherlands-based composer Peter Adriaansz’s fastidious artistic mind. “His work is abstract music of a high order, reanimating the medieval idea of music as applied number, but the questions it asks are defiantly of the twenty-first century, questions about musical perception, about the nature of sound and the passage of time.” — Bob Gilmore
Ausmuteants – Band Of The Future CD/LP (Aarght)
“Ausmuteants are just a band. Not punk, new wave, hardcore, boogie, darkwave, Oi, hyphenate-rock or pet rock. Not sharpies. Not chavs. Not drug users and not straight edge. Ausmuteants are regular dudes practicing the sound of things falling apart.”
Automatic City – One Batch Of Blues CD/LP (Stag-O-Lee)
Recorded in simple live takes with a handful of microphones, covers album Automatic City stays true to the founding fathers of the blues while adding very “non-blues” sounds of Theremin, sitar, berimbau and melodica.
Beady Belle – On My Own CD (Jazzland)
Recorded in New York City, On My Own features a strong — but not overpowering — undercurrent of ’70s soul and vocal jazz, mixtures of intimacy and exuberance, and pulsations both urban and urbane. Melodically gripping, harmonically intricate, lyrically intelligent (without pretentiousness) and underpinned by solid grooves.
Till Brönner – The Good Life CD (Sony Masterworks)
New album from renowned German jazz trumpeter. The Good Life is conceived for relaxed moments and draws inspiration form the great American jazz songbook, including new arrangements of works made famous by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and many more.
Chatham County Line – Autumn CD/LP (Yep Roc)
A veteran ensemble at the top of its game sticking to its considerable strengths — poignant songwriting and inventive acoustic arrangements that draw upon a broad array of American roots influences, highlighted by trademark three- and four-part harmonies that shine throughout Autumn.
Chook Race – Around The House CD/LP+MP3 (Trouble In Mind)
Melbourne, Australia band Chook Race formed in 2010, starting out as a scrappy, garage/surf band, but soon developed a greater pop sensibility, born of their love of the Flying Nun bands and other bedroom favorites.
Teresa Cristina – Canta Cartola CD+DVD (Nonesuch)
Canta Cartola was recorded at a concert at Theatro Net in Rio de Janeiro and features acoustic performances by Cristina and guitarist Carlinhos Sete Cordas. The album, which comprises songs by Brazil’s beloved samba-ist Angenor de Oliveira, known as “Cartola” (Portuguese for top hat), was released digitally earlier this year. In its album review, the New York Times said: “Canta Cartola feels fully embodied, as if Ms. Cristina had written the songs herself. There’s no sentimental distancing or fetishizing of the songs. She’s totally engaged in them; she laughs while singing them, and she dredges the beauty out of them.”
A Day To Remember – Bad Vibrations CD/LP+MP3 (ADTR)
A mix of pop punk, hardcore and metal, dubbed affectionately as “pop mosh” by their fans. [CD edition is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds two bonus tracks.]
James Luther Dickinson – Dixie Fried [Reissue/1972] 2xCD (Future Days)
The late Jim Dickinson is one of the most eclectic personages rock ‘n’ roll has ever thrown up: a musical maverick. From Sun Records and Ardent Studios in the 1960s, to sessions with the Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan, significant productions of Big Star and the Replacements, and the twisted roots rock of his own Mud Boy & The Neutrons, the man was never, ever predictable. Unsuccessful upon release, Dickinson’s solo debut Dixie Fried is now a cult item that, for many, mirrors the deliciously unexpected twists and turns of his subsequent career. Includes seven unreleased tracks. [Vinyl edition due October 28.]
Eddie C – On The Shore CD/2xLP (Endless Flight)
Eddie C, aka Edward Currelly, presents On The Shore, a reflection of feelings and inspiration from living on the Panke River in Berlin. The story arc of the album oscillates between sweet sadness and warming blissfulness. There are strings that can evoke tears, synth lines that may generate dreams and guitars that are able to introduce levitation. Each track is an intimate meditation. Sometimes it grooves in the down-tempo fields, sometimes cosmic disco calls the tune and house is around too, but all tracks are propelled by pulsing keys, pitch bends and crashing drum loops.
Eluvium – False Readings On CD/2xLP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
“As one of the preeminent artists in the ambient and electronic scene, False Readings On is a welcome and much anticipated return from Eluvium (Portland’s Matthew Cooper). The album is inspired by the troubling, highly visible and very real aspects of ‘cognitive dissonance in modern society,’ and the music becomes a meditation on the separation from one’s self, the injuries inflicted by self-doubt and a mind under threat from a constant, crawling anxiety. Soft harmonies emit a slow, pulsing glow, but sometimes they shy away and retreat in on themselves, searching their own introverted hearts instead of merely pointing to, observing and studying other areas of society. The underlying electronics flow smoothly, and everything unites. An operatic vocal embellishes the music, but it actually does more than that; frequent appearances make it an essential part of the record’s soul.” – A Closer Listen
Chris Farren – Can’t Die CD/LP+MP3 (SideOneDummy)
New solo release from Chris Farren, formerly of the band Fake Problems. “Can’t Die is a clever blend of pop and gloom, the sort of record that will keep you dancing even when the lyrics cut deep. Farren, who cites Coconut Records, Belle & Sebastian, and Magnetic Fields as his influences while recording, has crafted a record that has a true indie-pop sensibility and remains musically upbeat throughout” – New Noise Magazine. [Limited baby blue color vinyl edition also available.]
The Fleshtones – The Band Drinks For Free CD/LP (Yep Roc)
One of the most energetic bands in the business, The Fleshtones celebrate their 40th anniversary with the release of their 21st album, The Band Drinks For Free. Featuring 12 songs about love, deceit, and death in classic Fleshtones style, the album carelessly (to the purists) tosses together the fuzz-guitar and Farfisa organ riffs of so-called ‘garage rock’ with rockabilly, soul, and surf.
The Frightnrs – Nothing More To Say CD/LP (Daptone)
“Crafted under the meticulous eye of black-belt reggae mastermind/producer Victor Axelrod (aka Ticklah), Nothing More To Say is a rocksteady masterpiece the likes of which has not reared its head since the golden era of Studio One. However, you’ll find no imitation here — none of the faux-jamaican cliches of lesser reggae bands. Like all things Daptone, this record is above all soulful and honest.”
Gene & Eddie – True Enough: Gene & Eddie with Sir Joe At Ru-Jac CD/LP+MP3 (Omnivore)
Omnivore continues its restoration and reissue of the mid- ‘60s Baltimore R&B/soul label Ru-Jac Records with this compilation of single sides by Washington D.C. sensational soul duo, Gene & Eddie. True Enough also includes rare sides by Sir Joe, otherwise known as Joe Quarterman, producer/songwriter/artist, who produced and wrote many of the Gene & Eddie sides for Ru-Jac. Coming out of the very active east coast ‘60s soul scene, Gene, Eddie and Joe had been active in bands and recording from the early part of the decade. They formed, or joined, regional acts with names like The Nightcaps, The Knights, Don Downing, The El Corols and The Maidens, sharing stages with bigger, national artists like Major Lance, Garnet Mimms, Joe Simon, The Soul Children, and The Emotions. Featuring rare photos and extensive liner notes, this is the definitive musical history of Gene & Eddie and Sir Joe Quarterman. [Limited blue color vinyl pressing also available.]
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh – Thulth CD (Mostakell)
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh’s Thulth takes the listener to lush and complex grounds with its rich sound, flowing with gentle melancholic melody and multiple sonic layers. It also takes the listener into sudden ferocious walls-of-sound — a sharp reminder of Tamer Abu Ghazaleh’s abilities as one of the few to imbue the region’s sound with sentiments of fury and restlessness. Thulth also shows Tamer Abu Ghazaleh’s vocal prowess, gutsy modal twisting, fragmented structuring, constant shapeshifting of styles and dizzying vocal harmonies.
Manuel Göttsching – E2-E4 (35th Anniversary Edition) [Reissue/1981] CD (MG.Art)
“As the story is sometimes told, Göttsching stopped in the studio for a couple of hours in 1981 and invented techno. E2-E4 is the most compelling argument that techno came from Germany — more so than any single Kraftwerk album, anyway. The sleeve credits the former Ash Ra Tempel leader with ‘guitar and electronics’, but few could stretch that meager toolkit like Göttsching. Over a heavenly two-chord synth vamp and simple sequenced drum and bass, Göttsching’s played his guitar like a percussion instrument, creating music that defines the word ‘hypnotic’ over the sixty minutes … A key piece in the electronic music puzzle that’s been name-checked, reworked and expanded upon countless times.” — Mark Richardson, Pitchfork. [Vinyl edition due September 16.]
Daniel Grau – Disco Fantasy [Reissue/1979] CD (Oom Dooby Dochas)
This 1979 release was the fourth solo effort of Venezuelan composer and musician Daniel Grau. Disco-funk with a Latin melody and rhythm approach surely was the hottest thing among the dancing folks back in the day and the rather futuristic synthesizer arrangements turn these memorable tunes into a spacey and spicy affair.
Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters – Paul’s Mall Jazz Workshop Boston November 1973 CD (Hi Hat)
Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters live at Paul’s Mall, Jazz Workshop on November 13th, 1973. Broadcast on Boston’s WBCN-FM, this performance captures the visionary keyboardist/composer at a vital juncture, immediately after the release of his landmark Head Hunters album from the same year.
The Hecks – The Hecks CD/LP+MP3 (Trouble In Mind)
“The Hecks have been clattering around Chicago for a while now, with a dark, paranoid sound that’s a bit like the walls caving in — but recorded through various angles, filters and tape speeds. They are capable of industrial ambient drones, scratchy pop, sharp-angled rippers — all with an unsettling vibe that puts them in the same company as Spray Paint, the work of Lars Finberg (The Intelligence, A-Frames), Thee Oh Sees at their weirdest and, of course, a variety of 1980-era post-punk acts.” – Brooklyn Vegan
Helms Alee – Stillicide CD/LP+MP3 (Sargent House)
Fourth album from the Washington state trio continue their sonic tradition of blending heavy riffs, dark guitar pop, and math rock into songs that are at turns brutal, anthemic, and cerebrally engaging.
Isley Brothers – Groove With You… Live! CD (Real Gone Music)
Released on vinyl for RSD Black Friday 2015 – now available on vinyl. A sizzling, swooning and immersive double-album document of The Isleys at the peak of their powers in 1980.
It’s A Fine Line – It’s A Fine Line CD/2xLP (Kill The DJ)
It’s A Fine Line was born from non-restraint, cultivating its own vision of house music and disco, a paradoxical one, a non-functional one. Their first LP reveals itself as a collection of tests, of explorations in the shadows and corners of club culture. Leaving behind the smooth highways of club music, they ride more chaotic trails, with dubious reputation or names: white funk, trance groove, electronic psychedelia, and greasy rock ‘n’ roll.
Waylon Jennings – The Lost Nashville Sessions CD/LP (Hindsight)
A collection of never-released Waylon Jennings recordings. All of The Lost Sessions‘ vocals were recorded in the summer of 1970 but were recently enhanced by Robby Turner, the late country legend’s longtime steel guitarist and producer. Turner, who now plays with Chris Stapleton, among other country greats, added background vocals to the project, along with new instrumentation.
Bethan Kellough – Aven CD (Touch)
Bethan Kellough is a sound artist and composer. Kellough creates sound worlds that weave together instrumental materials, sound design and ambisonic field recordings. Her works are designed to open out spaces with sound, exploring spatial aesthetics and the interactions between sonically and visually articulated spaces.
Pat Kelly – Jamaican Soul [Reissue/2010] CD (Kingston Sounds)
Vintage reggae, rocksteady and ska from the 1960s-1980s.
Kerasphorus – Kerasphorus CD (Hells Headbangers)
Originally existing between 2009 and 2011, Kerasphorus combined the razor-throated doctrines of P. Helmkamp (Angelcorpse, Order From Chaos), the savage attack of J. Read (Revenge, Conqueror), and the esoteric manifestations and conjurations of B. Wolaniuk, altogether enacting a violent occult prophecy of supreme bestial art. Kerasphorus collects their entire recorded oeuvre to date. A 31-minute slaughter of cosmic might and dread frequency. [Vinyl edition due October 7.]
King Crimson – Radical Action To Unseat The Hold Of Monkey Mind 3xCD+Blu-ray (Discipline Global Music)
A comprehensive and immersive account of the 2015 live incarnation of the ever evolving entity that is the mighty King Crimson. Three CDs — presented as individually themed ‘virtual studio albums’ with no audible audience — featuring a representative example of every song/piece performed by King Crimson on its 2015 tours of the UK, Canada and Japan. The accompanying Blu-ray is a complete concert performance in high-resolution stereo and 5.1 surround audio, complete with ‘picture off’ mode allowing the music to be heard independently in pristine, lossless audio.
Kornél Kovács – The Bells CD/LP (Studio Barnhus)
On The Bells, Kornel Kovács pops open his trunk full of sounds nicked from the lost and found bins of nightclubs all over the world. From the distorted organ chords to stripped down trance-hall beats and the title track’s cinematic romanticism, The Bells further positions Kornél Kovács as one of the most characteristic producers of modern house music.
Les Sans Pattes – Les Sans Pattes CD+DVD (Because Music)
Les Sans Pattes is the rock band of Robert Combas (world-renowned contemporary painter and creator of the “free figuration” movement) and Lucas Mancione. Both are all-rounder, multi-instrumentalists, rigorous and nutty at the same time. They handle plastic arts, are musicians, video makers, actors, performers — in short, they are complete artists. They’ve got a rich and eclectic repertoire of more than 100 songs with no limit: they move from rock to techno, from a love song to punk, with the same dexterity in each and every register.
Andrew Liles – The Power Elite CD (United Diaries)
The uncompromising, eclectic and unique Andrew Liles returns with an unexpected foray into modernist composition. Adopting influences from the vanguard of ’50s and ’60s avant-garde, The Power Elite showcases Liles’ talent at crafting truly original art. The conceptual nature of this release concerns itself with the impotence of the masses living in the shadow of military, economic and political institutions.
Michael McHale – Schubert: Four Impromptus CD (Ergodos)
Schubert: Four Impromptus juxtaposes Franz Schubert’s Impromptus, Opus 90, the limpid, yet emotionally complex piano pieces, with companion interludes by three Irish composers: Simon O’Connor, Benedict Schlepper-Connolly and Garrett Sholdice, all performed by Belfast-born Michael McHale — one of Ireland’s leading pianists.
James Vincent McMorrow – We Move CD/LP+MP3 (James Mahogany Books, Ltd.)
“We Move is not just the new James Vincent McMorrow album. It’s the next phase in a career that’s constantly changing. We’re very far from the earthy shores of 2010’s Early In The Morning and further past the sunset haze of Post Tropical, this time around McMorrow’s music feels like the destination not the journey. Now resting in the fully formed sound of We Move, both McMorrow’s voice and songwriting become more vivid, and more grand in the great synthpop-esque sheen of the record’s production. The soulful close of ‘Last Story’ with its wall of harmony and lush melody fills every corner of the spectrum, finally bursting into an epic sonic passage that characterizes the clear ambition of the record. While also highlighting how far JVM has come.” – The Last Mixed Tape
Freddie Mercury – Messenger Of The Gods: The Singles 2xCD/13×7” (Hollywood)
From his debut solo single “I Can Hear Music,” released under the name Larry Lurex, through the dancefloor-influenced solo anthems of the ’80s and up to his collaborations with legendary opera singer Montserrat Caballé including the timeless “Barcelona,” Messenger Of The Gods is a journey through Mercury’s stellar career, collecting all of his single A and B-sides. The set is completed by two posthumous singles, “In My Defence” and “Living On My Own” (No More Brothers Radio Mix), the latter of which became Freddie’s first solo #1 and was the biggest selling European single of the year in 1993. [7” box set edition features color vinyl pressings of each single.]
The Meters – A Message from The Meters: The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 2xCD (Real Gone Music)
This 40-track set presents the A and B-side of every single that organist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter, Jr., and drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste cut for the Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. label, virtually their entire singles output save for a few odds ‘n’ ends issued mostly overseas.
Mike & Rich – Expert Knob Twiddlers [Reissue/1996] 2xCD/3xLP+MP3 (Planet Mu)
Recorded in 1994, this collaboration between Aphex Twin (Richard D. James) and μ-Ziq (Mike Paradinas) has been remastered, resequenced, and expanded with seven bonus tracks. “For anyone with even a passing interest in the esoteric techno that rose to dominate the record shop racks and collections of many a mid- ‘90s DJ and home listener, this lesser known classic is considered to be one of the decade and scenes definitive LP’s by those who know it. Having been recorded during the 1994 world cup when Mike and Rich shared a flat in North London, the vibe throughout Expert Knob Twiddlers is one of lighthearted moog jams influenced by ’70s British TV themes that also has a strong techno feel that saw it placed high up on the shelf of outer reaches electronica, a space shared with other stand out releases of the time from Cylob, Seefeel, DMX Krew and Squarepusher (who also all released groundbreaking albums on Rephlex in ‘96).” — Bleep
Molecule – 60° 43′ Nord (Deluxe Edition) 2xCD (Mille Feuilles)
Some associate the sounds of waves to heat and relaxation. Others visualize the sea as a wide playground from which they can pick up the echoes to turn them into a deep sound. For 60° 43′ Nord, Molecule decided to record the wild voices of the Atlantic Ocean aboard a 90 meters long fishing boat. The result is made of powerful and danceable techno beats (“8 ZL 40”), tracks that will take you directly to the Atlantic’s depths (“Abysses”), and harmonious moments of time off (“Le Jardin” or “Soleil Bleu”). Features the full album on Disc One and a live version on Disc Two.
Miss Nelson & Bruce Haack – Dance Sing And Listen [Reissue/1963] CD/LP (Aurora Rising)
This album is somewhat of a curiosity for it was actually conceived as an educational, open-minded children’s music. The sound is a mash up of story-telling for kids and simple, happy sing-along music mixed with loads of electronic effects making it an utterly spacey affair. This reissue makes sure this cult album can be enjoyed by those crazy for early ’60s electronic music.
Mozes & The Firstborn – Great Pile Of Nothing CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Burger)
Second album from the Dutch garage pop band.
Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation CD (Comatose Music)
For fans of brutal death metal.
Teruyuki Nobuchika – Still Air CD (Oktaf)
Still Air is the third solo album by Japanese electronic musician and soundtrack composer Teruyuki Nobuchika. The eight track album features electronic abstractions and classic sensitivity influences in a minimal ambient music context.
Kemper Norton – Toll CD (Front And Follow)
Toll is a story of a collision between the lost Cornish kingdom of Lyonesse and the 1967 sinking of the Torrey Canyon oil tanker, both located in the same stretch of ocean off the west coast of Cornwall. The Torrey Canyon incident, where the ship was wrecked on the Seven Stones reef spilling 32 million gallons of crude oil, was one of the worst environmental disasters in the world at the time and featured disastrous government attempts to rescue the situation by, for instance, setting fire to the resultant oil slick. “Using such minimal instrumentation as a laptop, harmonium and Casio keyboard, together with various low budget recording equipment, Norton seems to have an extra sensory knack of creating something moving, eerie and somewhat chilling out of al-most nothing.” — The Wire
Simon O’Connor – What Is Living And What Is Dead CD (Ergodos)
What Is Living And What Is Dead marks the solo debut of Irish composer Simon O’Connor on the Ergodos label. An immaculately crafted, beautiful and poignant collection of nine piano pieces, this album is the result of over three years work from conception to release.
Simon O’Connor & Michelle O’Rourke – Left Behind: Songs Of The 1916 Widows CD (Ergodos)
Written by composer and curator Simon O’Connor, and commissioned and presented by vocalist Michelle O’Rourke, Left Behind is a new collection of songs to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Drawing on the experiences of the wives of prominent rebel leaders, O’Rourke and O’Connor have created a unique suite of compositions that offer an emotional, human perspective on a narrative that is too often told in baldly male heroic terms.
Angel Olsen – My Woman CD/LP+MP3/Cassette (Jagjaguwar)
Anyone reckless enough to have typecast Angel Olsen according to 2013’s Burn Your Fire For No Witness is in for a rethink with her third album, My Woman. The crunchier, blown-out production of the former is gone, but that fire is now burning wilder. Her disarming, timeless voice is even more front-and-center. Yet, the strange, raw power and slowly unspooling incantations of her previous efforts remain. Over two previous albums, she gave us reverb-shrouded poetic swoons, shadowy folk, grunge-pop band workouts and haunting, fingerpicked epics. My Woman is an exhilarating complement to her past work, and one for which Olsen recalibrated her writing/recording approach and methods. The album was sequenced in an A-side and B-side format, featuring the punchier, more pop/rock-oriented songs up front, and the longer, more reflective tracks towards the end. Olsen says it’s not necessarily a feminist-leaning record but does deal with “the complicated mess of being a woman.” [Limited edition purple color vinyl pressing also available.]
Primitive Weapons – Future Of Death CD (Cooking Vinyl)
Primitive Weapons carries forth the tradition of this original post-hardcore spirit but does so in a thoroughly forward-charging way, bearing no shred of retro-glorification. It is an eight-song thrill ride, full of tribal thunder, hard grooves, dire screams, luminous guitars, and massive, mournful choruses that haunt for days. [Vinyl edition due September 16.]
The Prophet Hens – The Wonderful Shapes Of Back Door Keys CD/LP (Occultation)
The Prophet Hens’ new album delivers on the tuneful jangly promise of their debut album, Popular People Do Popular People. Adventurous songwriting, strong melodies, richly detailed, dramatic storylines sometimes reminiscent of an Antipodean Neko Case. “Chills meets Belle And Sebastian pop alchemy.” – The Finest Kiss
Ramones – Live… Montevideo… November… ’94 CD (Echoes)
The Ramones, live from Montevideo, Uruguay on November 14th, 1994. The South American leg of The Ramones tour in support of their then-recent Acid Eaters LP (1993) finds the band performing with co-headliners and lifelong Ramones fans Sepultura. This is the entire El Dorado 100.3 FM broadcast of the show.
Scott & Charlene’s Wedding – Mid-Thirties Single Scene CD/LP (Fire)
Third album from the Australian slacker rockers. Album track “Don’t Bother Me” is an irresistible pumped up slacker pop anthem, which recalls The Lemonheads at their best. “Delivered” plays out as if Pavement had been bowing at the altar of The Velvet Underground instead of The Fall, all tied together with a Bowery rasp as if Richard Hell had grabbed the microphone. Discordant guitars and ‘90s indie rock groove-laden “End Of The Story” is a tale of love lost and obsession whilst “Distracted” and “Hardest Years” unveils the low points of travelling and depression with nod towards their 2013’s Any Port In A Storm LP.
Sex Stains – Sex Stains CD/LP (Don Giovanni)
Pulling from late ‘70s and early ‘80s post-punk, Sex Stains’ music alters between thought-provoking punk, infectious dance rhythms, angular guitar sounds and cacophony.
Shield Patterns – Mirror Breathing CD (Gizeh)
Mirror Breathing ebbs and flows through hypnotic beats, ethereal and tender piano-led songs to more aggressive, heavily experimental, free-jazz elements. Where its predecessors took a more stark, electronic and processed approach, Mirror Breathing is an altogether warmer, more cinematic record.
Quentin Sirjacq – Far Islands & Near Places CD/LP (Karaoke Kalk)
Sirjacq studied piano at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague between 1999 and 2004 as well as music composition at Mills College between 2005 and 2006 where he studied under Fred Frith. Far Islands features a wide range of keyboard instruments, adding rich layers to the central piano: Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, marimba, vibraphone and glockenspiel.
Skye + Ross – Skye + Ross CD/LP (Cooking Vinyl)
Skye & Ross is the duo of Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey, two-thirds of the UK trip-hop group Morcheeba. Their eponymous debut sounds like a natural evolution for the group from their Morcheeba days, sans the more hip-hop inclined Paul Godfrey (Ross’ brother and the remaining third of Morcheeba). “I think it’s slightly more organic. There’s a lot more live instruments,” Godfrey said. “There’s not as much hip-hop influence — no scratching, no rapping — and the guitars are much louder.”
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – The Commandments According To SCAC CD (SCACUNINCORPORATED/Virtual Label Group)
“It has been twenty-four years since Slim Cessna parted ways with The Denver Gentlemen, that grand progenitor of the peculiar strain of Gothic Americana unique to the Mile High City, to form Slim Cessna’s Auto Club with a group of talented peers. Many bands with a long and successful run like that would stick close to its roots. But rather than rest on well-earned laurels, the Auto Club challenged itself to break with well-worn modes of operating for the new record.” [Vinyl edition due September 23.]
Soundwalk Collective and Jesse Paris Smith feat. Patti Smith – Killer Road CD/LP+MP3 (Sacred Bones)
“Patti Smith is still doing her thing. Soundwalk Collective and Smith’s daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, have joined the punk legend, author, and poet to collaborate on a wonderful ambient poem entitled Killer Road. The piece is a transfixing existential meditation on the tragic death of Velvet Underground collaborator Nico, who died while riding her bike on the island of Ibiza in the summer of 1988. The words are extracted from some of the last poems Nico wrote, and they hauntingly foreshadow her death while contemplating the ever-elusive meaning of life. Soundwalk Collective envelops Smith’s voice with found sounds and samples of Nico’s signature harmonium for an alluring immersion into the last thoughts and expressions of a mystic artist.” — Stereogum
Starless – Starless CD/LP (Marina)
The self-titled debut album from Starless is the lushly orchestrated brainchild of Paul McGeechan, keyboard player of Love & Money from Glasgow. It’s an epic and unique album, widescreen in scope and ambition, featuring such illustrious collaborators as Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile), Karen Matheson (Capercaillie), Julie Fowlis and Chris Thomson (The Bathers).
Tokyo Black Star – Fantasy Live 1999 CD (World Famous)
Tokyo Black Star is a trio led by New York-based international DJ Alex from Tokyo; Tokyo-based sound engineer and music producer Isao Kumano; and “man of mystery”, analog equipment and otaku musician Kenichi Takagi. Fantasy Live 1999 is an epic forty-minute long meditative live audio painting for your “mind, body & soul” soundtracking the beautiful psychedelic mix of colors that is Matsuyama’s stunning cover painting.
toyGuitar – Move Like A Ghost CDEP/12” (Fat Wreck Chords)
A six-track dose of toyGuitar’s unique blend of edgy garage rock, ’70s protopunk, and melodic pop.
The Ukrainians – Evolutsiya: 40 Best And Rarest 1991-2016 2xCD (Eastblok Music)
Len Liggins of The Ukrainians talks about the band and the release: “Our music is borne from the meeting of east and west, Ukrainian and British, and the genetic make-up of the band reflects this… Because of our ‘musical influences’, Ukrainian folk music and western rock music, it feels natural to record our thoughts and emotions in this ‘hybrid’ style… Many labels have been attached to The Ukrainians in an effort to categorize us. ‘Cossack Punk’ is one we particularly like, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.”
Various Artists – The Grasso Brothers Present: We Know How To Boogie CD/LP (BBE)
Compiled by Italian DJ and purveyor of rare vinyl Gino Grasso with the assistance of his brother Federico, We Know How To Boogie is a joyful romp through the finest forgotten dancefloor disco and soul from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Various Artists – Kompakt Total 16 2xCD/2xLP (Kompakt)
Kompakt’s Total compilation series hardly needs an introduction: they rummage through the Kompakt releases, selecting favorites from the past year that reflect Kompakt’s best and unsaid tracks, compiled and packaged as a cohesive whole. Total 16 is a dynamic assortment and comprehensive profile of Kompakt’s current label portfolio, including both newcomers and veteran producers in peak form. Total 16 includes tracks from Michael Mayer, Matias Aguayo, Jürgen Paape, Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Lake Turner, The Field, Kaytlin Aurelia Smith, Weval, The Orb, Teebs, Blond:ish, Patrice Bäumel, Coma, Robag, Komon & Will Saul, Ben Westbeech, The Modernist, Sonns, Wassermann, The Silent Ones, Jonas Bering, Dave DK, Ulrich Schnauss, Frankey & Sandrino, John Tejada, Hunter/Game, Redshape, Clarian, Rex The Dog, Maceo Plex, C.A.R., Reinhard Voigt, Terranova, and DJ Hell.
Cristian Vogel – The Assistenz CD/LP+MP3 (Shitkatapult)
Enduring vectors of underground music — dub, electro, acid, funk — are rebuilt from the molecular level, from Vogel’s skewed vision.
Porter Wagoner – Definitive Collection CD (Real Gone Music)
Waylon Jennings once said that Wagoner “couldn’t go pop with a mouthful of firecrackers,” and these 40 songs prove it. This isn’t cry-in-your-beer country; it’s more like punch-in-the-gut poetry.
Seth Walker – Gotta Get Back CD/LP (The Royal Potato Family)
“Gotta Get Back opens up with the funky ‘High Time,’ a song co-written with longtime collaborator Gary Nicholson and referencing Walker’s newly adopted home of New Orleans, which proved to be a fount of inspiration for the songwriter, who penned a number of tracks there including the swampy ‘Fire In The Belly’ and Caribbean-influenced ‘Dreamer.’ On ‘Back Around,’ a collaboration with Oliver Wood, Walker channels his love of classic gospel, while ‘Movin’ On’ melds elements of country, soul, and Paul Simon-esque folk, and ‘Way Past Midnight’ utilizes dual drummers to capture the buzz of and excitement of his first trips to New York City. Though travel and movement are recurring themes throughout the record, the heart and soul of the album lay in the idea of home and family, of looking to the past in order to find your way into the future.” – Glide Magazine
Warhaus – We F**ked A Flame Into Being CD/LP+MP3 (PIAS America)
“Essentially the solo project of Maarten Devoldere of the Belgian group Balthazar, We F**ked A Flame Into Being (a direct quote from Lady Chatterley’s Lover) sees Devoldere abandon some of the dark, Editors-like indie rock for dark and at times intimate pop/torch music that references Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Serge Gainsbourg in the first outing under his Warhaus alias.” – Backseat Mafia
Dionne Warwick – The Warner Bros. Recordings 2xCD (Real Gone Music)
Twofer collection of Warwick’s complete Warner Bros. singles and previously unreleased tracks. The singles collection includes all 21 of the A and B stereo single sides that Warwick recorded for Warner Bros. featuring such tracks that hit Billboard’s Hot 100, R&B and Easy Listening charts as “Once You Hit The Road” and “If We Only Have Love.” The rarities package, meanwhile, presents 19 tracks that never came out on LP or as singles, and present Warwick working with such legendary producers as Ashford & Simpson, Thom Bell, Jerry Ragavoy and Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Marcus Antonius Wesselmann – Ensemble Works II CD (Neos)
Neos presents its third release featuring Cologne-based composer Marcus Antonius Wesselmann (born in Germany in 1965). The internationally renowned Ensemble Modern performs the works, conducted by Franck Ollu. Wesselmann has, according to one critic, shot from zero to 60 with the concert program partly documented in this CD.
y La Bamba – Ojos Del Sol CD/LP (Tender Loving Empire)
“For the Portland, Ore., band Y La Bamba, creativity and talent have combined and crystalized to form a unique sound. That sound is the sum of many individual musical experiences and influences, but it also reflects a shared vision. Most importantly, on the new Ojos Del Sol, it sounds as if the group is having a blast playing music. The biggest step forward on the new record lies in how y La Bamba uses Luz Elena Mendoza’s voice: It’s employed like a musical instrument, as part of an ensemble sound. That may sound easy, but it’s difficult to pull off. Singing delicately in her upper register, she seems enmeshed in the instrumental arrangements, which gives her bicultural storytelling an almost otherworldly feel. Ojos Del Sol represents a major step forward for y La Bamba, not least because it fully establishes Mendoza as one of the most innovative and exciting young vocalists around.” — NPR
Zomby – Ultra CD/3xLP (Hyperdub)
“Zomby marks his first new gear on Hyperdub in eight years with the elusive club constructions of Ultra. Fourteen tracks that sculpt a neon-lit blend of eski grime, hardcore junglist futurism and cyberpunk UKG blues. Coming nine years after his first 12″, Ultra showcases all the styles and sounds that are the core of Zomby’s sound, echoes of street level Wiley Kat grime filtered through a knowledge of hard to find UK hardcore tunes that even the deepest old school jungle YouTube channels couldn’t throw up. Showing just how deep his connections run, the set calls on a jaw-dropping list of producers to help signify his sound. Rolling up the highly anticipated Burial track, ‘Sweetz’ flexes a stoned hardstep vocal loop over a drenched drum shuffle and that melts into the backdrop of Burial’s trademark Metal Gear Solid atmospherics. Ultra is a sick LP and if you have ever rinsed any records by Zomby, Burial, Aphex Twin, Wiley, Rufige Kru, Metalheadz, Reinforced, Dumpvalve, Dream Catalogue etc. etc. then this is about as good as they come. There’s a sound in London and we call it Zomby.” — Bleep
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Helmut Lachenmann – String Quartets DVD (Neos)
Helmut Lachenmann on the wonderful performers on the piece: “Meeting and working with the musicians of the Stadler Quartett: one of my most precious memories and experiences — accuracy and euphony, even and especially in the ‘extraterritorial’ realm of noise and reverberations, and finally, along with their willingness to probe new performance techniques: inspired music-making and exquisite artistry. In short, everything needed to make an audience alert and attentive — and a composer happy. One cannot express gratitude, words are bound to fail.” NTSC region-free.
What Happened, Miss Simone? DVD+CD/Blu-ray+CD (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
What Happened, Miss Simone? was created using recently unearthed audiotapes, recorded over the course of three decades, of Nina telling her life story to various interviewers and would-be biographers. From over 100 hours of these recordings, the film weaves together Nina’s narrative, told largely in her own words. Rare concert footage and archival interviews, along with diaries, letters, interviews with Nina’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, friends and collaborators, along with other exclusive material, makes this an authentic, personal and unflinching telling of the extraordinary life of one of the 20th century’s recordings artists.
This Week’s Vinyl Exclusives:
Hasil Adkins – Chicken Walk [Reissue/1984] LP (Jambalaya)
Raised in Boone County, West Virginia, the son of a coal miner, Hasil Adkins grew up in poverty in a tarpaper shack on coal company property, where he taught himself to play after hearing Hank Williams on the radio. The legend goes that he didn’t realize Hank had a band backing him up, and that’s why Hasil learned to play guitar and drums at the same time. Adkins wrote tons of amazing original material beginning in the 1950s, which “explored an affinity for chicken, sexual intercourse, and decapitation.” Chicken Walk is a 14-track compilation of his recordings from the ‘50s.
All Hail The Yeti – Screams From A Black Wilderness LP (Minus Head Recordings)
Released last May on CD – now available on vinyl. All Hail The Yeti is a modern metal band from Hollywood, evoking the likes of Acid Bath and Pantera with a healthy dose of Mötley Crüe-style excess and infectiousness.
Angel Witch – Angel Witch [Reissue/1980] LP (Real Gone Music)
Vinyl reissue of one of the records that helped launch the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre in the early ‘80s. Pressed on red and yellow “flame” marbled color vinyl.
The Beautiful Losers – Nobody Knows The Heaven [Reissue/1976] LP (Lion)
If The Beautiful Losers’ lone LP Nobody Knows The Heaven had been released in 1971, everyone would point to T-Rex as an influence, and call it “glam folk”; fast forward to today and it’s hard not to think “loner,” and draw comparisons with the music of Devendra Banhart. The music drips with deep nostalgia for the decadent “beautiful people” who lived and breathed and then found a home in the songs of Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen, pervaded throughout with a kind of psychedelic sadness. All of this is expressed by means of long jagged acid guitar runs (or in acoustic strums) supported by Moroccan percussion and heavy bass lines.
Craig Bell – aka Darwin Layne LP (Ever/Never)
To many, Craig Bell is is the bassist guitarist/singer with Mirrors and Rocket From The Tombs, two bands that were among the foundation stones upon which the Cleveland, OH music scene of the 1970s was built. Aka Darwin Layne is comprised of 11 historic recordings, both live and studio, featuring Craig’s songwriting and his bands Future Plan, The Plan, The Bell System, and The Rhythm Methodists, along with selections by Saucers, Mirrors, and The Bridgeport Bad Boys.
Luke Bell – Luke Bell LP (Bill Hill)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Luke Bell is a country singer of seriously old timey tradition. He was born in Wyoming, where he grew up working on a ranch, dropped out of school to make music, and now he’s in Nashville, the country music capital of the world. And that’s not all—his music sounds like you could have heard it in the same honky tonk Hank Williams used to play (with the exception of a little profanity). ‘Sometimes,’ the first single off Bell’s new self-titled album, is a two-step worthy tune about the mixed feelings he has about leaving his girl behind. ‘So now I sit alone, but mostly I don’t mind/ except every now and then at closin’ time/ there’s a sweet memory/ at the bottom of my glass,’ he croons with his old soul voice, transporting you straight to the stool next to him at the whiskey joint. Makes you wanna wipe those honky tonk tears off his face” – The Fader
Bibio – The Serious EP 12” (Warp)
Following his most recent LP A Mineral Love, Bibio returns with a new collection of songs featuring vocals from Olivier St Louis. Available on a limited run of clear vinyl, The Serious EP is a collection of four chilled out, soulful tracks.
Black Foxxes – I’m Not Well LP (Spinefarm)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Debut album from UK trio blending raw punk noise with infectious pop hooks.
Blend Mishkin & Roots Evolution (feat. Skarra Mucci & Mandinka Warrior) – Original 7” (Nice Up)
One of the most popular tracks from 2015’s Survival Of The Fittest LP finally gets a single release and remix treatment from Reggae Roast’s Vibration Lab. Taking the track in a deeper, more digital direction, the veteran duo have crafted a classic slice of modern dancehall, reminiscent of the legendary sounds of Gussie P. and that timeless ’90s vibe. Flip it over for a dubwise version.
Bloodshot Bill and Shannon Shaw – Honey Time b/w True 7″ (Slovenly)
On this sureshot 7” the duo couples vocal duties with a raving blaster for the A-side, and flip-flop the mood with a sultry kissing-floor crooner on the lower deck. Absolute perfection from two of the world’s most beloved rock ‘n’ rollers, and printed in a gold foil slathered sleeve for even more shebang for your buck.
Blowout – No Beer, No Dad LP (Lauren)
“A lively celebration of buoyant, noodling guitar work & fast-paced, crashing drums accompanied by lead singer Laken Wright’s light, sincere vocals”—Stereogum. For fans of: Waxahatchee, Swearin’, Promise Ring. Orange color vinyl.
David Brent & Foregone Conclusion – Life On The Road [OST] LP (Caroline International)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Since The Office ended in 2003, the world has been starved of David Brent (Ricky Gervais). He popped up in the American version of The Office, as well as featuring in the odd segment for Comic Relief (most recently with Doc Brown for their song “Equality Street”), but now he’s back and bigger than ever! New movie and soundtrack Life On The Road sees the former reality TV star turned rep head out on tour with his band Foregone Conclusion to try and achieve his dream of being a rock star.
Massimo Catalano & Remigio Ducros – La Fatica [Reissue/1971] LP (Intervallo)
Massimo Catalano, skilled jazz trumpet player, with Remigio Ducros, composer, piano player and author of some rare and extremely refined library albums. The beautiful La Fatica is a weird, hard-to-file item, mixing avant-garde, prog moods, electro rhythms, jazz and musique concrète.
Certain Creatures – Pleasure Principle 12″ (Transfusions/Medical Records)
Five tracks of uncompromising techno from Brooklyn producer Oliver Chapoy. Crucial material for fans of Surgeon and Regis.
The Chrome Cranks – Diabolical Boogie 3xLP (Bang!)
Subtitled Singles, Demos & Rarities: 1992 B.C. – 1998 A.D. A brutal compilation of rare and unreleased material by the New York City monsters of swamp noise during the ’90s.
Nels Cline – Lovers 2xLP (Blue Note)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Lovers is an expansive double-album that Nels Cline has dreamed of making for over 25 years. Inspired by the likes of Bill Evans, Jim Hall, Gil Evans, Johnny Mandel, Henry Mancini and others, Cline finally realized his ambitious mood music project with an ensemble of 23 stellar musicians conducted and arranged by Michael Leonhart.
Cold Cave – The Idea Of Love b/w Run The Day 7” (Heartworm Press)
With an already prolific number of releases, Cold Cave has become a name synonymous with the contemporary resurgence of darkwave and synth pop sub-genres. This picture disc 7” is released on the toes of his upcoming US tour.
Ornette Coleman – Change Of The Century [Reissue/1960] LP (Doxy)
The second album by Ornette Coleman’s legendary quartet featuring Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, Change Of The Century is every bit the equal of the monumental The Shape of Jazz To Come (1959), showcasing a group that was growing ever more confident in its revolutionary approach and the chemistry in the band members’ interplay. When Coleman concentrates on melody, his main themes are catchier, and when the pieces emphasize group interaction, the improvisation is freer.
Alvin Curran – Natural History [1983] LP (Black Truffle)
First-ever vinyl issue of Alvin Curran’s Natural History, originally released on cassette by Edition Giannozzo Berlin in 1983. A founding member of the radical electronic improvising group Musica Elettronica Viva, since the early 1970s Curran has developed an idiosyncratic body of solo work that occupies a unique position in the post-Cageian experimental tradition. Natural History consists entirely of field recordings from Curran’s archive, arranged as a series of “still lifes.” Sounds recorded over the course of nearly twenty years, at Curran’s home in Rome or while traveling: constructions sites, insects, children’s toys, a piano being tuned, foghorns, lovemaking, a singing neighbor. It is, as Curran says, an attempt to “put the sound of the entire world on a cassette tape.”
Delia Derbyshire and Elsa Stansfield – Circle Of Light LP (Trunk)
Trunk Records present a highly important and previously unreleased soundtrack for Circle Of Life, created in 1972 by musician Delia Derbyshire and artist Elsa Stansfield. The soundtrack is a mix of concrete ideas, sound design, tape manipulation, natural environmental sounds and birdsong. The recording was originally commissioned by director, producer and art collector Anthony Roland for his 1972 film about the slides of radical stills photographer Pamela Bone.
Drosofile – Drosofile 7″ (SDZ)
Debut single of this Franco-American band formed by Will Foster (Guinea Worms) and Nicolas Murer (Mulan Serrico). Two intense and noisy songs fueled by the everyday void, inner conflicts and the constant feeling of being outside of oneself. RIYL: Brainbombs, Country Teasers, Teenage Panzerkorps, Metal Urbain, A.H. Kraken.
Eros And The Eschaton – Weight Of Matter LP+MP3 (Bar/None)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Eros And The Eschaton’s second album is filled with the kind of shoegazer and psychedelic sounds that got them voted the Best Pop Band in Denver by the readers of Westword Magazine. It’s a Neil Young & Crazy Horse guitar-inspired album, dialing in tones akin to The Walkmen while maintaining the airy psychedelia of their debut, Home Address For Civil War.
Bernard Fevre – Orbit Ceremony 77 LP+MP3 (Medical Records)
Lost LP from 1977, rebuilt from original tapes, by the creator of Black Devil Disco Club. The quirky, cosmic library music found on this long-deleted ’70s science-fiction-themed album if full of burbling synths and off-kilter melodies. Spacy Moogs, weird clavinet, and cosmic analog drum machines: it’s all here. 180gm mustard color vinyl.
The Fleshtones – The Band Drinks For Free b/w Love My Lover 7″ (Yep Roc)
First single from The Fleshtone’s new album – also released this week. A-side and title track is non-album.
Fu Manchu – We Must Obey [Reissue/2007] LP (Beat Generation)
Fu Manchu – Signs Of Infinite Power [Reissue/2009] LP (Beat Generation)
180gm vinyl reissue of the SoCal stoner rock band’s tenth and twelfth albums, respective.
Gallant – Ology 2xLP (Mind Of A Genius/WB)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Gallant was not rushed to market. Gallant is the wise, lucky beneficiary of development and time. Or we are. Zebra, the EP that Christopher Gallant released in 2014, was adrift in a stylized haze; but on Ology, the 24 year-old singer’s soulful voice is front and center, and his intent clear. This debut album is a study of his anxieties and insecurities, and musically, it walks a careful line between the feuding impulses of contemporary R&B. Some examples: ‘Episode’ edges toward disco, if Nile Rodgers were to take ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ under his wing. ‘Open Up’ has notes of James Blake. ‘Miyazaki’ pulls in a phrase from Groove Theory’s ‘Tell Me,’ with Gallant drinking from the same ’90s-flavored well as fellow Maryland natives Abhi//Dijon and other young alternative R&B acts blowing up Soundcloud. Ology is the latest example of R&B that converses with folk and rock and dub and trip-hop and Sufjan and Top 40 in the way that everybody who listens to music does, and has for their whole life, not in no PBR&B type of way, but in a way that doesn’t serve radio formats. Instead, Gallant’s music serves us” – NPR
Jerry Goldsmith – Rudy [OST/1993] LP (Varese Sarabande)
First time pressing on 180gm gold color vinyl. Inner sleeve and jacket include many images of the Notre Dame campus and football team and a note from “Rudy” himself.
The Haters – Future Cheers [1986] LP (Urashima)
Urashima present the first vinyl version of The Haters’s Future Cheers, originally released on cassette in 1986. The Haters are a noise and conceptual art troupe from the United States. Founded in 1979, they are one of the earliest and most well-known acts in the modern noise scene.
Heart – Beautiful Broken LP (Concord)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. “Heart, essentially sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson – has a problem. A good problem, but a problem nonetheless. When you’ve FINALLY been recognized as a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame band – Good LORD, why did that take so long? – you’re almost at the legacy stage. If you’re still making music, everything you put out is compared to the stuff you did that got you enshrined in the first place. And you can be gol-dang sure someone will say, ‘Yeah, but it’s not (fill in the blank).’ Well, OK, let me be the one to say it. Beautiful Broken, the 16th album from the sisters and whichever players they choose to surround themselves with in this current incarnation, isn’t Dreamboat Annie and it’s not Little Queen. So what? Bleeping. What? The album actually has only three new songs on it, and technically the title cut was a bonus cut on Fanatic, Heart’s 2012 LP. The rest are reimagined versions of songs that appeared on Passionworks (1983), Private Audition (1982), and Bébé Le Strange (1980). The cut that’s getting the biggest press is ‘Beautiful Broken’ partly because Metallica’s James Hetfield chimes in on vocals with Ann Wilson, and even adds a few lyrics to the song. But the tune I love the most – and I mean love – is a new one, ‘Two,’ sung by Nancy Wilson. A rolling poignant ballad, it showcases a voice that’s often overshadowed by her sister’s Maria Callas-quality operatic vocals. Grade: A.” – Cleveland.com
Hu Vibrational – The Epic Botanical Beat Suite – Boonghee Music 4 LP (Meta)
Hu Vibrational’s The Epic Botanical Beat Suite – Boonghee Music 4 mixes deep percussive African rhythms and Afro-jazz with elements of hip-hop and electronica. Recorded and mixed at Bill Laswell’s state of the art studio, this is the fourth album for Hu Vibrational.
Isis – Oceanic Remixes Remixes/Reinterpretations [Reissue/2004] 2xLP (Hydra Head)
An epic reinterpretation of an epic album, 2002’s Oceanic. Those asked to contribute remixes were all artists with whom Isis had direct involvement as tourmates and/or profound admiration, including Christian Fennesz, Tim Hecker, Mike Patton, JK Broadrick, James Plotkin, Thomas Köner, Venetian Snares, Deadverse, Destructo Swarmbots, Speedranch, Ayal Naor, and Teledubgnosis.
Paul Wine Jones – Stop Arguing Over Me [2006] LP (Fat Possum)
Classic Fat Possum style blues, released as part of the label’s 25th Anniversary reissue series. Originally released in 2006, now available on vinyl for the first time.
Le Villejuif Underground – Le Villejuif Underground LP (SDZ)
Self-titled debut album by Parisian band Le Villejuif Underground led by Australian expat Nathan Roche (previously in bands like Marf Loth and Camperdown & Out). Mature, ramshackle rock and roll and garage pop with sharp lyrics. RIYL: The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Kevin Ayers.
Linkin Park –Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keynes [Reissue/2008] 2xLP+DVD (WB)
Standard black vinyl repress. Live At Milton Keynes captures Linkin Park on its 2008 Projekt Revolution Tour in front of 65,000 fans in England.
Mare – EP [Reissue/2005] 12” (Hydra Head)
Mare remains one of the enigmatic entries in the Hydra Head roster of artists, as this eponymous EP represents the band’s one and only recording. The band had a short run from 2004 to 2007, emerging out of Toronto’s death/tech-metal community. On the five songs of Mare, the band assembled a menacing composite of styles and forms — sludge-metal, math-rock, classic prog idioms, and the diaphonic harmonies from Bulgarian chorals.
Mauthausen Orchestra – Murderf*ck [1983] LP (Urashima)
Urashima present the first vinyl version of Mauthausen Orchestra’s Murderf*ck, originally released on cassette in 1983. Mauthausen Orchestra, aka Pierpaolo Zoppo, is a part of Italian industrial scene, who has contributed to the advent of the power electronics/harsh noise scene.
Dan Melchior – Red Nylon Valance 7″ (SDZ)
A fantastic garage psych-pop single by one of the best songwriters going.
Merzbow – Lowest Music 2 [1982] LP (Urashima)
First-time vinyl edition of the legendary Japanese noise producer’s 1982 album — originally released on cassette only.
Steve Miller Band – The Joker Live In Concert LP (Sailor)
It’s been a little over 40 years since the Steve Miller Band released their much-heralded record, 1973’s The Joker, and now the band is marking that milestone with a special live album.
Mouse On Mars – Lichter 10″+MP3 (Infinite Greyscale)
Lichter is the first piece in a new series of electroacoustic dub compositions by Mouse On Mars. It is a massive, lurching, up-tempo percussive epic. Like much of Mouse On Mars’s output, Lichter deftly traverses a varied sonic landscape, encompassing elements of jazz, dub, krautrock juke and psychedelia. Lichter incorporates trigger robots built by Sonic Robots’s Moritz Simon Geist and features Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner’s long-time collaborator Dodo NKishi on percussion. Neon-pink vinyl, single-sided with silkscreened B-side.
MX-80 Sound – Out Of The Tunnel [Reissue/1980] LP (Ship To Shore Phone Co.)
MX-80 Sound – Crowd Control [Reissue/1981] LP (Ship To Shore Phone Co.)
With their dizzying mix of free-jazz sax, thrashing guitars and absurdist lyricism, MX-80 Sound remains one of the great undiscovered bands of the late ’70s / early ’80s post-punk scene.
Old Mate – It Is What It Is LP (SDZ)
Old Mate began as a solo-project by Bitch Prefect’s Pat Telfer. They now became a real band that consists of seven to ten musicians including members of Peak Twins and Wireheads. It Is What It Is is moody melodrama ala Bauhaus or Nick Cave gone dole-wave.
Asie Payton – Just Do Me Right [2006] LP (Fat Possum)
This posthumous complement to Payton’s only studio disc is something of a revelation. Not only does it confirm that he was a great blues and soul singer (just check out “Back To The Bridge,” with its “In The Midnight Hour” riff, or the lazy groove of “I Got A Friend,” with its percolating wah-wah guitar line) but it shows the man could play funk too. “1000 Years” roars out of the speakers straight to the dancefloor, powered by some unexpected horns and “Need My Help” has all the power of a latter-day Hendrix song. The result is a soaring testimony to someone who was an unsung great in his lifetime. Part of Fat Possum’s 25th Anniversary reissue series. Originally released in 2006, now available on vinyl for the first time.
Pearl Jam – Hail, Hail [1996] 7” (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Who You Are [Reissue/1996] 7” (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Off He Goes [Reissue/1996] 7” (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – No Code [Reissue/1996] LP (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Given To Fly [Reissue/1997] 7” (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Wishlist [Reissue/1998] 7” (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Yield [Reissue/1998] LP (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Pearl Jam’s fourth and fifth albums are back in print on 150gm black vinyl, along with each of their accompanying singles.
Peymont – Cibernetica [Reissue/1971] LP (Intervallo)
A real gem of electronic experimentation with an unknown artist; many believe Piero Umiliani, Luigi Malatesta or Egisto Macchi used this Peymont alias. Automated controls, auto-regulation, information theory — abstract, uncommon and rarely used concepts at the time of the recording — deeply influenced Cibernetica.
Poom – 2016 2xLP (Poom)
Poom differ from the French song scenery with their electronic sounds inherited from the French touch, their love for funk and disco and a hint of symphonic orchestra. The influences of French artists such as Michel Legrand, Daft Punk, Gainsbourg or Air are apparent on 2016. [CD edition due September 30.]
Rik And The Pigs – Life’s A Bust 7” (Feel It)
Side A boasts two cuts of completely savage and hook-filled punk—exactly the kind of snot and filth that you’d expect from Rik & Co.
Mulan Serrico – Discret LP (Crudités)
Discret is a dark and danceable synth-pop album from French artist Mulan Serrico. Hints of lo-fi electronics, new beat, minimal techno and acid house support puzzling French lyrics.
Sam Shalabi / Alan Bishop & Sam Shalabi – Mother Of All Sinners (Puppet On A String) LP (Unrock)
Unrock’s string-oriented Saraswati Series presents the first part of their actively anti-Western sub-series with Mother Of All Sinners, featuring Osama Shalabi and Alan Bishop. Shalabi, an expert oud player (Shalabi Effect & Land Of Kush), breathes his own sense of space and time through the epic “Tamara,” an 18-minute melodic, delightful improvisation. “Faith Of Our Fathers” sees Sam Shalabi and Alan Bishop run free, lose form, find intensity, and wound up creating a contemporary version of oriental psychedelic free form.
Social Distortion – White Light, White Heat, White Trash [Reissue/1996] LP (Epic/Sony Legacy)
Limited white vinyl reissue of the punk/alt. rock band’s fifth album.
Steaming Coils – Breaded [Reissue/1988] LP+7″ (Medical Records)
From the underground Los Angeles scene in the mid-’80s arose a couple of musicians that created off-kilter, complex and yet exquisitely crucial art rock. The duo comprised of Brad Laner (Savage Republic and much later Medicine, Electric Company, etc) and David Chrisman (3 Day Stubble), Steaming Coils was a project that also involved multiple other like minds from the L.A.F.M.S. (Los Angeles Free Music Society) amongst other misfits and kooks. 180gm color vinyl with bonus 7” featuring tracks from their unreleased fourth album.
Symmetry – Yes b/w Jackie’s Eyes 7″ (Italians Do It Better)
Two of Italians Do It Better’s favorite Symmetry tracks. Icy blue color vinyl.
These Hidden Hands – Vicarious Memories LP+MP3 (Hidden Hundred)
Although loosely an instrumental electronic album, Vicarious Memories makes extensive use of guitar and vocals and features prominent guest vocal contributions from underground Berlin based musicians Julia Kotowski and Ale Hop.
Variant – Sequential Sleep [ver1.2] 2xCD (Echospace)
Echospace present the secondary edition of Variant’s Sequential Sleep, a beautiful complement to the original, but at the same time, entirely unique. Taking the foundation and elements of the first volume and stripping it back into the ether; dubbed out and treated from reel-to-reel tape creating an almost vaporous atmosphere all of its own — deep, organic and mystical.
Various Artists – Boomstix!: More Blues & Rhythm, Popcorn, Exotica & Tittyshakers Volume 10 10” (Stag-O-Lee)
Various Artists – Shadrach: Blues & Rhythm, Popcorn, Exotica & Tittyshakers Volume 9 10” (Stag-O-Lee)
Amazing and danceable tunes from the late ’50s and early ’60s — a handful of Popcorn dancefloor smashes, a few grinding tittyshakers and awesome rhythm & blues — most of them with an exotic twist.
Various Artists – Kingston Allstars Meet Downtown At King Tubbys 1972-1975 [Reissue/2004] LP (Kingston Sounds)
Kingston Sounds follow up with another great compilation in the shape of Kingston Allstars.
Bunny Lee productions are once again under the spotlight, with rare tracks from Freddie McKay, Horace Andy, Jimmy Riley, Cornel Campbell and many more. Kingston Sound have travelled to Jamaica and listened to hours of master tapes to develop this collection.
Various Artists – Merritone Rock Steady 1: Shanty Town Curfew 1966-1967 2xLP (Dubstore)
In 1966, the Merritone label was founded as a subsidiary of Federal Records when the Ska beat was slowing down it’s tempo to take a next musical form called rocksteady. From the sons of Ken Khouri, Paul and Richard, engineers at the Federal Records to even employees at their pressing plant — everybody involved at the label followed the Merritone productions with passion. [CD edition due October 7.]
Various Artists – Tendres Ténèbres LP (Crudités)
In line with previous compilations — but this time on vinyl — the Crudités label present Tendres Ténèbres, fifteen variations on the themes of lullabies and sleep. Includes side-projects of French underground sensations Elg and Cheveu. Features: Gabrielle Maes, Ray Yours & The F, Space Blue, Mulan Serrico, Olie Boue, Nicolalala, Maria Violenza, Delacave, Youkounkoun, Charlène Répétition and Elatu Nessa.
Vertical Horizon – Everything You Want [1999] LP (SRC Vinyl)
First time on vinyl. Vertical Horizon’s major-label debut finds the band strengthening their acoustic jam rock with prominent electric guitars, anthemic hooks, and a clean radio-ready production that brings them in line with the likes of the Wallflowers. [Limited edition white or translucent red editions are available.]
Vince & His Lost Delegation – Vince & His Lost Delegation 12” (SDZ)
Self-titled debut album from Vince Posadzki’s new band. Posadzki previously played in garage punk sensations The Fatals, BobPopKillers, The Chimiks and Destination Lonely, as well as a stint drumming for acclaimed acid revivalists Aqua Nebula Oscillator.
Violence Creeps – The Gift Of Music 12” (Total Punk)
Six tracks of lurching, gnarly punk about isolation, sexual frustration, and rage.
The Wead – By The Way b/w And I And She 7″ (Slovenly)
A previously unissued 1966 teen garage punk acetate from Columbus, Ohio’s The Wead.
Cassettes:
Carre – Grey Scale (Alter)
Carre present a cassette release of Grey Scale, originally released as a CD in Japan in 2015. Using a mix of synthesizers, custom made electronics and guitar, Japanese duo Carre build their distinctive take on industrial music from the ground up. The music on Grey Scale was composed for an exhibition by Carre and painter Sakura Kondo. The result saw Kondo’s abstract paintings come to life as bite-sized industrial wormholes, evoking thoughts of a more textural Conrad Schnitzler or some sort of lost Cabaret Voltaire bedroom recording.
Mozes & The Firstborn – Great Pile Of Nothing (Burger)
Second album from the Dutch garage pop band.
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