New Releases for August 26, 2016
CDs + Vinyl:
Æthenor – Hazel CD/LP (VHF)
Fifth album from the group of eclectic travelers that includes Stephen O’Malley (Sunn O))), KTL), Daniel O’Sullivan (Ulver, This Is Not This Heat, Grumbling Fur, etc.), Kristoffer Rygg (Ulver), and Steve Noble (Brötzmann Trio, N.E.W.). Atmospheric and layered, Hazel features bits and pieces of identifiable rock-moves peeking out from under a thick blanket of hard-to-identify drift.
The Album Leaf – Between Waves CD/LP (Relapse)
Nearly twenty years into a career that has seen Jimmy LaValle exercising his creativity across the realms of film scoring, sound collage, and electronic/rock music, via instrumental and vocal-driven compositions alike, LaValle and The Album Leaf deliver yet another sonic triumph with Between Waves. Born out of a thorough reinvention of LaValle’s creative process and approach, Between Waves is The Album Leaf’s first proper full-length record in over six years and the first to be recorded and produced as a complete band, and was written with greater emphasis on the group dynamic. From the moody evolution of “Glimmering Lights” to the wistful trip-hop stylings of “New Soul” and beyond, Between Waves is a gorgeous collection of euphoric melodies and emotionally charged multi-instrumental soundscapes.
David Anthony – The Powerful Now CD (Shanachie)
The Powerful Now delivers Anthony’s trademark acoustic soul melded with elements of hip-hop, rock and dance music.
Apocalypse Blues Revue – Apocalypse Blues Revue CD/LP (Provogue)
Swampy soul/blues filtered through rockabilly.
Loren Auerbach with Bert Jansch – Colours Are Fading Fast 3xCD (Earth Recordings)
Released last April on vinyl – now available on CD. There’s an idea in Japanese culture which suggests that true beauty can only be achieved through imperfection, as its opposite is unattainable. Colors Are Fading Fast is a case in point. Though Auerbach’s voice is sure, it has a tenderness about it that is truly endearing — to listen to her sing is almost an invitation — close your eyes and you could be sitting with her in her living room, a hot cup of tea by your side. Her two albums (Playing The Game and After The Long Night) are included here, alongside In Moonlight’s Grace — a third disc of previously unheard and unreleased material, transferred and remastered from original tapes.
The Bad Plus – It’s Hard CD (Masterworks)
The Bad Plus’ eleventh studio recording sees the leaderless trio of bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, and drummer David King returning to the distinctive deconstruction of pop forms that first drew them international attention almost two decades ago. Recorded this past April at NYC’s Brooklyn Recording with longtime engineer Pete Rende (Joshua Redman, Bill McHenry), It’s Hard spans both era and inspiration as The Bad Plus offer new perspectives on this collection of covers (Crowded House, Kraftwerk, Prince, Johnny Cash, Cindi Lauper, Peter Gabriel, Barry Manilow, Maroon 5, etc.). [Vinyl edition due October 7.]
Banks & Steelz – Anything But Words CD/2xLP (WB)
“Interpol’s music … it’s like if RZA had been born in the rock world”—RZA. Banks & Steelz is the ongoing collaboration between Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Interpol’s Paul Banks. “While the cross-pollination of hip-hop luminary RZA and Banks, an artist known for moody early-2000s indie rock, suggests experiment for experiment’s sake, their chemistry on record is palpable, blending Interpol’s icy remove with RZA’s disjointed flow. ‘We’re both hard workers in the studio,’ explains RZA, who was first tipped off to Banks’ work when his manager suggested they duet. They clocked more than 200 sessions and crafted ideas for around 40 songs, meticulously landscaping the sonic terrain. ‘If I was to say I met someone who works as hard as me in the studio, it would be this young man right here,’ RZA continues. ‘He’ll do it over 30 times. To me, that’s cool, because that’s how some of the best records are made, some of the best films are made that way. I respect him as an entity.’ Antyhing But Words features guest appearances from Kool Keith, Florence Welch, Method Man, Masta Killa and Ghostface Killah, the latter of whom appears on lead single ‘Love + War.’” — SPIN
The Beach Boys – Becoming The Beach Boys: The Complete Hite & Dorinda Morgan Sessions 2xCD (Omnivore)
In September of 1961 Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Mike Love stepped up to a microphone together for the first time at the home of Hite and Dorinda Morgan to demo The Beach Boys’ first three songs. Between that September date and March 1962, before signing a seven-year contract with Capitol Records on May 24, 1962, they committed nine songs to tape under the direction of Hite and Dorinda Morgan. Some iconic, others obscure—“Surfin’,” “Luau,” “Lavender,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” “Judy,” “Beach Boy Stomp” (aka “Karate”), “Barbie,” and “What Is A Young Girl Made Of”— Every complete take, false start, master take, and every second of studio banter during these historic recordings is gathered on this collection.
Lurrie Bell – Can’t Shake This Feeling CD (Delmark)
The blues guitarist showcases all the passion, depth, rawness and uniqueness that keeps him at the top of many ‘Real Deal Chicago Blues’ lists.
Brother Moses – Legends CD/LP (Missing Piece)
Sophomore album from the Fayetteville, Arkansas-based indie rock band.
