Piccadilly Records - Latest Arrivals

Skream - Sweetz (2005 Flex) / Angry World / Keysound

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:20:43 GMT

Great anticipation has been building since news filtered out about this new Keysound plate. Two lost classics from Skream are contained, "Sweetz (2005 Flex)", which as the title suggests is a beat dating back to 2005, really melodic and showing a significant Detroit influence. On the flip is "Angry World", which is cinematic and swung in a manner most reminiscent of foundation dubstep pioneers Horsepower Productions. Both tunes hark back to a formative early era of dubstep, the times perhaps most associated with Brixton club 3rd Base: an era that we think Dusk and Blackdown will never stop loving. The artwork features, at Skream's own request, a capture of the renowned Big Apple store, epicentre of the dubstep scene.

Sweetz (2005 Flex)

Angry World

Secret Mixes Fixes - Gay Marvine Presents... Vol. 11 / Secret Mixes Fixes

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:15:38 GMT

Gay Marvine's back with more soul for your for the techno house set. Patrice Rushen "Haven't You Heard?", Eurythmics "Heaven", KTP "Certain Things Are Likely" and Divine "Psychadelic" all get the Secret Mixes Fixes refix.

HYH Jazz Interlude

Heaven

Certain Things

I'm A Lover Not A Fighter'

Various Artists - Shred Yr Face Tour EP (No Age, Los Campesinos, Times New Viking) / Shred Yer Face

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:03:09 GMT

How ace is this? To coincide with the tour of the same name, there's this mega limited 7" featuring a track each from all three bands on the tour: Los Campesinos bring us the "Death to Los Campesinos! (Death To Napoleon III Remix)", while No Age give us the distorted fuzz of "Revolving Credit For Kitty" and Times New Viking bring us "Anything Could Happen" which is a cover of The Clean - a new wave classic! All the tracks are either dead rare or previously unreleased so you really don't wanna miss out! This 7" is exclusive to Coalition Shops of which we are happy to say, we are one. If you don't know who or what The Coalition is check out their website at www.thecoalitionuk.co.uk

Los Campesinos! - Death To Los Campesinos ! (Death To Napoleon III Remix)

No Age - Revolving Credit For Kitty

Times New Viking - Anything Could Happen

JG Thirlwell - Manorexia: The Mesopelagic Waters / Tzadik

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:08:14 GMT

One of the most radical musical renegades since his early days in the 1980s as Foetus, JG Thirlwell has been expanding his musical language more recently through collaborations with classical musicians, improvisers and even robots! This CD is the long awaited third installment in his "Manorexia" trilogy, his most experimental instrumental grouping to date, and presents his dynamic music in colorful chamber arrangements for string quartet, piano, percussion and laptop. The compositions are in turn strongly rhythmical, cinematic and textural, disturbing yet beautiful.

Various Artists - Watch How The People Dancing / Honest Jon's

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:02:20 GMT

Subtitled "Unity Sounds From The London Dancehall, 1986-1989", this is a wicked 21-track collection of post-"Sleng Teng" homegrown Casio-reggae on London's "Unity Sounds" label, lovingly put together by Honest Jon's. The songs are a very unique-sounding hybrid of soulful reggae vocals and cutesy old-skool Casio keyboard and drum machines - all played live! The packaging is beautifully designed (by Will Bankhead) as a book, there's loads of photos and a very lengthy interview with sound owner and producer of the tunes, Ribs. Essential piece.

Kenny Knots - Watch How The People Dancing

Selah Collins - Pick A Sound

Errol Bellot - What A Wonderful Feeling

Raah Project - All Of Your Things / Will You Be There - Blue Daisy / Alex Patchwork Remixes / Summer Dawn

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:58:15 GMT

Bespoke transformative remixes of two tracks drawn from the wonderful coming from Black Acre wonderboy Blue Daisy hailing from outa Camden tahn, big with Queen Mary Ann Hobbs, Benji B: and Alex Patchwork fresh out of Gilles peterson's Brownswood stable.

Savath & Savalas - The Predicate (Dub Version) / Stones Throw

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:55:34 GMT

This entry into the Savath & Savalas book - etched by a new production entity we only know as 'The Predicate' (we think they’re the same cats known as “The Predicate Production Guild', who recently released a library album on Andy Votel’s B-Music label) fits perfectly. Who woulda thunk it - 'Catalan-folk-psych with minimalist-electronic-sensibilities' re-imagined as an excursion in neo-dub? Not us, but "The Predicate (Dub Version)" eases us into winter with just enough bounce to remind us of the warm days past.

F - Energy Distortion Part 3 / 7even

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:54:58 GMT

F - Energy Distortion / 7even

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:54:40 GMT

F is the alter ego of French producer and DJ Florent Aupetit. Florent discovered drum and bass as a teenager, an early enthusiasm which pushed him straight out to buy records and a pair of decks. Slowly after this he set foot on the production path, and began making drum and bass tracks using Fruity Loops. He began to develop a passion and deepen an interest in the emergent style of UK underground music called dubstep, and eventually started producing dubstep tracks as recently as 2008. His growing love for techno, and other minimal forms of dub led him to combine elements of both styles with stunning results.

French dubstep pioneer and 7even Recordings label head Greg Gouty was immediately captivated by the impeccable levels of production and fresh beats streaming from this talented newcomer. Following a succession of now sold out 12”s for 7even, F’s drops have time and time again grabbed attention from all the major players - Appleblim, Pinch, Martyn, Scuba, Headhunter, Joe Nice, Peverelist, Untold, Ramadanman are all rinsin’ the dubplates. In little over two years F has established himself as a pioneering force in new and emerging bass music.

Traversing different worlds, atmospheres and vibes, "Energy Distortion" features much sought after unreleased tracks ("0907", "Poka", "On The Corner", "Confined System" and "Hologram") and brand new material ("See The Light", "Chillin’", "Perspectives" and "Funk Injection"). The album has been beautifully cut and loudly mastered by Shawn Joseph and Jacko Adams at Optimum Studios in Bristol, the team responsible for 2009 albums by Martyn and 2562.

Chillin

Energy Distortion

Funk Injection

0907

Ian Britt - One Day / Jal

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:53:28 GMT

2005 Debut album from the Sheffield born alternative singer songwriter. Written by one man and his guitar and produced by a duo more used to putting together breaks and beats this album has a lavish, transatlantic and timeless feel to it. The songs themselves, although based in a traditional songwriter approach, have a strong sense of individuality and self; a diverse and eclectic air about the sound, not least because it was almost three years in the making. Strong and soulful vocals and tasty guitar work interspersed with interesting, dramatic arrangements.

Various Artists - Luk Thung! - The Roots Of Thai Funk / Zudrangma

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:51:28 GMT

Maft Sai comes up with the goods once more. Luk Thung means 'song of the child of the fields'. No cover versions here, only the rawest funk grooves with a deep Thai folk feel. As with volumes 1 and 2, the CD includes a fold out poster of the original record sleeves and labels. This time, presented in a hand made bamboo weave pouch.

Michael Rose / Upsetters - Observe Life / Observing Dub / Dug Out / Upsetters

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:50:32 GMT

Dug Out is a new label devoted to reggae reissues, run by Mark Ainley (Honest Jon's, London) and Mark Ernestus (Hard Wax, Berlin). The label will be centred on high‐quality vinyl reissues, especially from the digital era. For the label's second release we get some raw, stripped funk from the Black Ark, charged with atmosphere and aura. Done over as Zen tutelage, no doubt inspired by Rose's spar Niney, this is the 'Final Weapon' rhythm - that signature cowbell, tough, scrubby guitar, bass bubbling deep in the pocket, and the Upsetter mixing live on the spot. Adrian Sherwood revisited the song with Ari Up - but here is the hortical piece.

Ian Britt - Big Light / Ian Britt

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:50:24 GMT

Having parted from the label and management after his Debut "One Day i," Britt had to take matters into his own hands for his output. He entirely self-recorded this mini album in a tiny bedroom using borrowed, faulty, old equipment and tupper ware boxes for percussion. Even with this extremely lo-fi approach, the songs went on to pave the way for some great exposure in Holland of all places. The song “Dedicate” from the mini-album has been play listed on National Dutch Radio and from the material in this body of work Britt has appeared on Dutch TV and played many of the Music Festivals in the Netherlands over the last three years.

The material on "Big Light" carries on Britt’s unique and eclectic approach and there are some highly original arrangements, some curve ball interjections into the structures as well as lush vocal and instrument layering. It may sound like a lo-fi escapade into the unknown and the random, yet paradoxically; the songs retain an approachable, traditional and familiar feel to them throughout.

It’s a delightful little example of Britt’s D.I.Y work.

Spectacle - Prism / The Mask Of Sanity / Permanent Vacation

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:36:44 GMT

Some things just come together as a must! Spectacle is the new collaboration of Muallem & Benjamin Roeder. Their work may be understood, when thinking of the ideal classic cheeseburger: a perfect blend of great stuff makes a juicy whole. Both had the vision to incorporate their favourite ideas in order to come up with somethin fresh. Spectacle is not house, not disco, not techno – but still looks out for the moist elements of those. It's straight forward - two dudes, two sides, two tracks - for club use! Benjamin Roeder, well known to most from his GLXY clubnights - hosting some of the finest DJs worldwide - spends most of his time working as visual artist. Since years the scene is visualized by Roeder in tons of posters, sleeves & installations. Take a bite – join the ride!

Prism

The Mask Of Sanity

The Whitefield Brothers Feat. Edan & Mr Lif - The Gift - Oh No's Ethiopium Remix / Now-Again

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:15:32 GMT

This ultra-limited 45 single contains a special remix of the lead single from The Whitefield Brother’s recent "Earthology" album, with rappers Edan and Mr. Lif riding producer Oh No’s stilted sampling of some way dirty 70s Ethiopian funk an an all-new remix. The influence of Oh No’s recently-released hit Ethiopian-based album "Dr. No’s Ethiopium" is clear, and this release adds another entry in the long line of duets between these Boston reared MCs. B-side features an instrumental version of the remix.

Steely Dan - Peg / Caves Of Altimira / Do It Again / ABC

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:01:00 GMT

US repro time again!

Peg

Caves Of Altamira

Do It Again

The Drunk - Islay Edits / American Standard Recordings

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:57:01 GMT

Five years since his last outing on Rong Music and seven since the Freestyle Ltd. release, the 'guy with the expensive records' appears with a special package for American Standard! Obscure, feel-good edits are the order of the day with two aimed for the floor and two for the after-party. Look out for future works from this man of mystery!

Ardbeg

Bowmore

Lagavulin

Unknown

Kirk DeGiorgio - Ripple Effect / Time Spin / Rush Hour

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:40:00 GMT

After his recent releases on his own ART label, Kirk DeGiorgio has more than shown that he is back in full effect. This double A-sided 12” confirms just that! Two solid techno tracks that both are steaming dance floor tunes, yet both with a sophisticated, almost elegant touch.

Unknown - Woman Of Candy / International Feel

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:38:39 GMT

Sounds great! will definitely play it on the radio show - Tim Sweeney, Beats in Space
Sounds Great - Jim Stanton, Horsemeat Disco
Wicked man! - Nick Chacona
Love this new Woman Of Candy release!!! - DJ Rocca
Cool track - like the way it switches to the more organic feel halfway through - Dave Mothersole
Excellent Again - Nick Warren

Woman Of Candy

Clang Sayne - Winterlands / Clang Sayne

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:37:22 GMT

Imagine Tim Buckley’s Starsailor and Lorca band with Julie Tippetts channeling Tim’s drama and languor; imagine Beth Gibbons backed by Comus featuring Blixa Bargeld on guitar; imagine Sandy Denny at her most fervent joining the sessions for Mark Hollis’ solo record. "Winterlands" sounds like all of the above and none of the above, an extraordinarily idiosyncratic conception in its own right, and as oblivious to the restrictions of genre as all of the artists mentioned.

Clang Sayne are songwriter and founder Laura Hyland (voice and acoustic guitar), James O Sullivan (electric guitar ‘and objects’), Peter Marsh (plucked and bowed double bass) and Matt Fisher (percussion), and "Winterlands" was recorded live in single takes over 3 days of recordings, without edits or overdubs. The band have all played in jazz and improv in the past: Laura began singing in Dublin in the late 90s before moving to London, O Sullivan is guitarist with sound improvisation group TETRAS, Peter Marsh has played everything from industrial avant rock to Breton folk music, and Matt Fisher recently performed with the Steve Waterman Quartet. The lyrics are either Laura’s own or settings of literary texts as varied as Anais Nin, Dorothy Parker, William Stafford, and an anonymous 8th century Japanese poet. But this seemingly ‘serious’ background gives no hint of the sheer joy in playing these four musicians enjoy – there is an organic wholeness throughout that belies their basis in improv, every note demonstrating a confidence and a control that is deeply self-assured, while never either dry or ‘difficult’. Each song occupies its own very self-assured world, and each track is essential to the overall pacing of the record as a whole. These are definitely songs, despite their literary basis, and any knowledge of the latter is not necessary to respond to "Winterlands" on a purely visceral level.

"Winterlands" was initially released quietly last year, and "A Death And A Vision" featured on the Wire Magazine’s October 2009 Wire Tapper CD; This is an album that could have been recorded at any point between 1969 and the present day, music that transcends the background of its contributors or any expectation a listener might bring. What can seem formless can suddenly coalesce into a riff, a rhythm or a melody, and then head off into other planes of there, while still retaining an understated or unstated wholeness; Laura’s voice can whisper, soar, hiss or click, but never deviates from the discipline and the focus that Clang Sayne demonstrate throughout. This is simply wonderful and exciting music, constantly surprising, and ultimately an affirmation of the indefinable power of pure music and musicianship to take the listener to a whole other place.

DJ Asparagus - EP #1 - Wancha / GAMM

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:37:02 GMT

Part 1 for the new project from DJ Asparagus. Killer track on A-side using a well known accapella sample to maximum effects on a more housy tip. of course you know, and for sure you do like it. B-side, on a slightly funkier groove, is a perfect nu-soul dancer number. Perfect package for sure.

DIT - Long Gone EP - Inc. Prins Thomas Edit / Past Due

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:36:11 GMT

Past Due. - Jerome Derradji's killer disco reissue off shot label - is back with another wicked 12" featuring the ultra rare and avant-garde sounds of Colorado's best boogie unit known as D.I.T.

D.I.T. originally named The Destiny In Time Band released only 2 singles and one 12" between 1980 and 1983. These quickly became the stuff of legend fetching hundreds of dollars in the hands of avid connoisseurs and dealers.

"Long Gone" finds itself at the end of the band's arc, recorded after they relocated to Colorado and literally dominated the black club and college campus scene. By now, they've mastered the cosmic soul of Stevie Wonder and given it a distinctly exotic character, mixing in prototypical house production. It is probably the group's masterpiece, and incidentally their rarest release. "Get It Together" is another fine moment, taking the Stevie Wonder derivation a step further, virtually rearranging "Higher Ground".

But the simply and accurately named "Dance" is a strong debut. Spacey synths, hypnotic chants, and some banging cowbell make up for the lo-fidelity.

Prins Thomas, the superb cosmic disco producer from Sweden, famous for his joints on FULL PUPP, ESKIMO, MINDLESS BOOGIE, and his very own INTERNAJIONAL, flipped when he heard "Long Gone" and asked to reedit it right away. The result is not short of stunning and PRINS turned the original into a 7 minutes disco proto house madness. It is definitely another winner from PAST DUE! The label that brought you THE AMERICAN BOOGIE DOWN.

Long Gone

Get It Together

Dance

Long Gone (Prins Thomas Edit)

Duff Disco - Return Of The Duff / Duff Disco

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:25:39 GMT

Return Of The Duff

Return Of The Duff (Dub)

Nurse With Wound - Space Music / Beta Lactem Ring Records

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:38 GMT

Tears for spheres. Be warned: the sounds you are hearing are NOT marmots eating your tweeters, though you are best advised to apply volume lightly at first. Stapleton's astral weeks have been spent distilling sounds into sipping moonshine. Literal moonshine. After a viscerally present launch cycle, the Voyager Nurse Module is designed to be piloted by the out-of-body listener. With Lilith-like subtlety, the concrete powered craft makes its way ever closer to the edge of the galaxy. Which one? Who knows? Whichever it is, Vaclav Helhybel (Outer Space: Music) and Frank Perry (Deep Peace) are there, waiting to celebrate the space escapade with chilled cocktails and green friends.

Space Music - Excerpt 1

Space Music - Excerpt 2

Various Artists - Rumba Blues (How Latin Music Changed R&B Vol 1 1940 -1953) / Rhythm And Blues Records

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:28:46 GMT

Rumba to Rock’n’Roll and Beyond : Latin rhythms have infiltrated into every new branch of popular music that has emerged during the twentieth century. Jelly Roll Morton and W.C. Handy incorporated the Cuban habanera into early jazz and blues; the Argentinean tango found its way into twenties dance-band music; the Brazilian baion and bossanova styles wound their way through the sixties beat boom and were revived in the drum’n’bass of the nineties. But none had such an all-pervasive influence as the rumba. Its journey from the Middle-East through North Africa and Spain to the New World brought it into American dance halls in the thirties. The syncopated, rhythmic riffs of bandleaders such as Xavier Cugat helped to liberate dancers from stuffy foxtrots and waltzes, opening up an altogether more sensual world of excitement and exoticism. In post-war popular music, rumba is everywhere, from Dave Bartholomew’s Country Boy to the Clash’s Rock The Casbah, picking up Little Richard’s Slippin’ and Slidin’ and the Beatles’ Ballad Of John And Yoko along the way. Even hillbilly records featured rumba bass lines. Its 3-2 clave rhythm, which Bo Diddley stylised and made into his very own, became an integral part of American music and continues to cast its spell over popular music to the current day. All tracks have been carefully remastered to optimise the sound. An illustrated 32 page booklet includes detailed sleeve notes with a track-by-track commentary and an essay explaining the significance of each song.

Super Value Special Edits - LP & Cassette - Riccio Edits BLUE / Super Value

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:28:11 GMT

The Super Value reach 12" number 10, bringing that man Riccio back for another trio of treats for our lugholes. First up we have “Tonight”. Distant sounds of a glittery era blend perfectly with the sound effects of nowadays in a track that is as ever stopping as explosive on the floor. Side B opens with “Dance (With Me)”, which throws in a rather unexpected, slightly Latin flavoured intro. Clearly very rhythmic and extremely danceable, the tune becomes tingled with Philly sound, but in a Santa Esmeralda type of groove. The dance ends in a sultry-sexy way with “Love Fire”... Dirty dancing in Donna Summer’s "Love To Love You Baby" style. Funk and boogie are the core elements, still dressed up in housey-deep sauce.

Tonight (Riccio Edit)

Dance (With Me) (Riccio Edit)

Love Fire (Riccio Edit)

Lagartijeandio - Neo Bailongo EP / ZZK

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:31 GMT

Recent output from the # 1 Cumbia label ZZK has displayed a much toughened-up interpretation of the sound. With the imminent release of the Ghislain Poirrier remixes 12”, and now this debut EP from Lagartijeandio, they’ve hit their hardest level yet, emphasising heavyweight bass and a stronger rhythmic attack. While the flavours remain resolutely rooted in the South Americas, the overall feel marks a slide towards dubstep modes, and fans of the tropialia styles of Ghosts On Tape or Lazer Sword will find ZZK beginning to rattle the same bones. New kid Lagartijeando is from the town of Dolores, 200 km from the Argentine capital in the province of Buenos Aires. His sounds are a blend of the rural and the urban, melding the folkloric roots of the campo with the digital electricity of the ciudad. Lagartijeando is the alter ego of Matias Zundel, who through trips around Latin America has enriched and expanded the search for his sound. Bolivian lands have given him newfound inspiration, a lengthy excursion through the Mexican countryside woke him up to ancestral ideas. Meanwhile, he finds continued guidance for his sonic masterpieces in his hometown of Dolores, where fields and gauchos, Payadas, Malambos, Triunfos, Huellas and other folk rhythms merge with the clatter of modern day Argentine life. Lagartijeando’s ‘Neo Bailongo’ EP is one of the most deliriously interesting projects put forward yet by ZZK, featuring six tracks of the most high-pressure system-shaking Cumbia cut to wax to date. Muy reccomendido.

DJ Spinna - Thirst / Summer Madness / High Water

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:13:17 GMT

Two exclusive joints from Brooklyn's own DJ Spinna. "Thirst" features the unmistakable flow of Homeboy Sandman, while "Summer Madness" backs up with rhymes from Daniel Joseph and Fresh Daily.

Thirst (Feat. Homeboy Sandman)

Summer Madness (Feat. Daniel Joseph & Fresh Daily)

John Zorn - In Search Of The Miraculous / Tzadik

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:11:20 GMT

Inspired by esoteric spiritual practices, white magic, ritual, traditional myths and ancient legends, Zorn brings together a life long interest in mysticism with powerful lyricism to fashion this dynamic and evocative series of Odes for the New Millennium. Featuring the landmark extended composition "The Magus", one of Zorn’s most exciting new works, the music takes on a scintillating new edge—dramatic, hypnotic and mysterious. Performed by the remarkable Alhambra Trio enhanced by special guests Kenny Wollesen on vibraphone, Carol Emanuel on harp and Shanir Blumenkranz on Fender bass, "In Search Of The Miraculous" is a deeply moving listening experience - ecstatic music for young and old that touches on the sublime!

NHK - Special / Important Records

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:07:21 GMT

This follows NHK's sold out 12" on Raster Noton. This is Important's final release in a 4 record series featuring the work of the enigmatic Japanese artist Kouhei Matsunaga. NHK began in Osaka in 2006 between Kouhei and Toshio Munehiro. Their previous work, titled Unununium, can be found on the Raster Noton label.These experimental electro-rhythmic compositions sound incorporate beats, noise and a modern aesthetic.

Robot Koch - Death Star Droid Remixes - Inc. Blue Daisy / Loops Haunt Remixes / Project Mooncircle

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:07:20 GMT

In the slipstream of his successful album ‘Death Star Droid’, Robot Koch returns with an eight track EP of remixes from the album and two brand new tunes. The EP kicks off with new cut ‘Blind’ featuring Grace on vocals, who also sang on the album. Next up, Brooklyn band Body Language, who release on Machine Drum`s Normrex label, offer a surprising flip of Koch`s dubstep infused album tune ‘Gorom Sen’. Berliner fLlako, who recently grabbed the attention of the likes of Giles Peterson and Stones Throw, made a nice re-edit of the LP’s title track, then Phon.o (of CLP / Shitkatapult fame) took the club banger potential in ‘Gorom Sen’ to the next level, like Zomby and Boy 8 Bit jamming it out together. Upcoming beatmaker Shlohmo from San Francisco also remixed ‘Gorom Sen’, and his version’s already making some noise on the blogoshpere ahead of release. Glasgow bass crew Loops Haunt also latched on to ‘Gorom Sen’, delivering a heavyweight 10-minute remix. Portuguese producer Beat Laden gave the original sengalese vocal scatting a rerub and turned it into a solid club banger. And last but by no means least, Blue Daisy provided a sublime remix of the song ‘While’, one of the few vocal tracks on on the LP, with a version that does the cinematic original justice and takes it even further on a pure sound trip out “The sound of artifical intelligence discovering religion – essential listening” - Bobby Friction … “A gothic galactic aesthetic of ten ton beats and space age melodies” - Dazed And Confused.

Potentz Feat. Solo Banton & Soom-T - Mission EP / Police In Helicopter

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:06:31 GMT

South London producer Potentz hits the newest PIH wax with his deadly heavy bass roots deep medi stink skanky sound riddim called "Mission". MC Soom-T bombs the track with a raw and snotty toasting style, and after his big succes on the Mahanee Police riddim with huge rewinds and attention in the scene, Solo Banton destroys with his mad vocal on "Mic Check". Added bonus of "Emerging Suspense", a banging deep percussive bass monster inna sickness dubstep style, and the no-vocal original Potentz ‘Mission (Riddim)’ track.

Bob Dylan - Self Portrait / Sundazed

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:05:36 GMT

One of the most controversial albums in Bob Dylan's remarkable catalogue, the 1970 double-LP "Self Portrait" continues to exercise a considerable fascination amongst Dylan devotees. Released on the heels of the artist's game-changing "Nashville Skyline", "Self Portrait" offered a quirky assortment of studio and live tracks, encompassing Dylan originals as well as covers of familiar pop and folk numbers, recorded with an all-star musical cast.

At the time of its original release, the sprawling, unconventional "Self Portrait" generated an immense amount of discussion and disagreement amongst Dylan's admirers. The ongoing controversy surrounding the album has been fueled over the years by Dylan himself. At various times, Dylan has defended "Self Portrait" as a heartfelt artistic statement, dismissed it as a joke and described it as a concerted effort to escape the pressures of his unwanted status as the voice of a generation. Whatever the artist's actual intentions, "Self Portrait" retains a unique niche in the hearts of Dylan devotees, and is often cited as an early landmark in the birth of alternative country.

"Self Portrait"'s highlights include the Dylan originals "Wigwam", later featured in the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums; "Living The Blues", subsequently covered by artists ranging from Leon Redbone to Antony Hegarty; and "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)", which Manfred Mann had turned into a British Invasion hit in 1968. The latter song is one of a quartet of live tracks drawn from Dylan's legendary performance with The Band at the historic Isle of Wight festival, along with memorable versions of the Dylan standards "Like A Rolling Stone", "Minstrel Boy" and "She Belongs to Me". Also featured are Dylan's readings of a variety of outside material, ranging from his iconic interpretation of the rural folk song "Copper Kettle" to his distinctive takes on such familiar tunes as Paul Simon's "The Boxer", Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Mornin' Rain" and the vintage Everly Brothers hits "Let It Be Me" and "Take a Message to Mary."

Sundazed has restored this one-of-a-kind release to its original double-LP format. Mastered from the original analog master tapes, the album is pressed on high-quality, high-definition vinyl, with meticulously reproduced original gatefold cover art.

Gerardo Frisina - Samba Skindim / Schema

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:37:58 GMT

Various Artists - DJ Mehdi - Red, Black & Blue Remixes / Ed Banger

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:36:47 GMT

One of the founding fathers of the Ed Banger label, DJ Mehdi is one of their top notch artists, and deservedly so. Across this 19 track "Red, Black & Blue" compilation, Ed Banger give you the keys to a collection of amazing remixes which have helped shape the past five years of Mehdi’s prolific studio work.

Various Artists - Bustin' Out - New Wave To New Beat / Year Zero

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:33:35 GMT

"Bustin’ Out" is a startling snapshot of the musical ructions which sprang up after punk’s scorched-earth revolution. The music termed post-punk is well represented in many of its diverse strains by some of its prime movers.

This multi-hued set, compiled by Mike Maguire and the first set in the New Wave To New Beat series, is a fine testimony to the Post Punk Era 1979-1981, encompassing anything from Gary Numan’s austere electronic pop through 23 Skidoo’s atmospheric tribal boogie, passing via Killing Joke’s radical approach, often cited as a massive influence on anyone from Nirvana to industrial bands.

The set defies blanket description, but illustrates how the disparate post punk spirit captured the rest of the world, providing perfect examples of how music had moved on since 1977’s spring-clean, trampling fences like a herd of elephants in this exciting, unpredictable time.

Killing Joke - Almost Red

Bush Tetras - Too Many Creeps

Material - Bustin Out

Chris And Cosey - Heartbeat

Woods - I Was Gone / Woodsist

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:56:11 GMT

New single from New York City's leaders of the pack, some psyched out lo-fi tunes, in preparation of new album due in May. Woodsist do it again!!

Ben Swire - From Here To There / Preservation

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:55:45 GMT

The Preservation label presents "From Here To There", the debut album from San Francisco’s Ben Swire. While "From Here To There" can sit snugly in the canon of electronica, it’s played out with expansive vision and immediate warmth. Woven together with a deft sense of minimalism and melody using double bass, interlocking guitars and crisp percussion, the use of live instrumentation against densely layered field recordings finds great balance between elasticity and deep ambient underpinnings. The accomplished nature of "From Here To There" is the result of a diverse background working in music composition and sound engineering. Ben is a multi-instrumentalist who lived a spell in London, during which he came to collaborate on a single on the Ninja Tune label offshoot NTone with Riz Maslen, aka Neotropic. He also studied electronic music with noted electro-acoustic artist Charles Bestor, collaborated with experimentalists M Bentley and Joel Stern and has composed for film and new media. After writing, performing and improvising with various groups, Ben pushed his focus further with production techniques to sow the seeds for "From Here To There", his process clearly keeping an eye firmly on beautifully realised composition. Ben is also a photographer, his work having been shown in several US galleries. His photos of desolate landscapes grace the artwork of the album to become a visual touchstone for the music’s epic sweep and sense of affected space. For fans of Tortoise, Labradford and "Kid A"-era Radiohead. Mastered by Roger Siebel (Tortoise, The Sea & Cake and many more) .

Errors - Come Down With Me / Rock Action

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:13:44 GMT

"Come Down With Me" is the second album from Scottish 'post-electro' band Errors. Signed to Glaswegian post-rock legends Mogwai's label, Rock Action, the four-piece draw upon elements of their paymasters' post-rock influence, as well their own intelligent style of electronic pop. A bolder and more psychedelic album than it's predecessor (2008's "It's Not Something But It Is Like Whatever"), this is an modern and enthralling rock record. Includes the single "A Rumour In Africa".

Darryl says: Awesome electro inflicted avant rock and a huge step forward from their previous album.

A Rumour In Africa

Bridge Or Cloud

Supertribe

Antipode

Major Stars - Return To Form / Drag City

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:10:21 GMT

The tradition of loud rock and roll from the Mass-based team of Wayne Rogers and Kate Village goes back into the 80s as Crystalized Movements and then in the 90s when they were a part of Magic Hour before giving way to the inevitability of Major Stars.

"Return To Form" has got eight pieces, all heavy rocks, and a few of them come with power jams. There are also a few just under three minutes, distinguished by riffage that lifts ’em up. The guitar trio of Wayne Rogers, Kate Village and Tom Leonard is into their third full album in this incarnation, allowing them to have fused into a wall of distortion with myriad identities but singular purpose.

Darryl says: Loved Crystalized Movements back in the day, and this trio featuring Movements' Wayne Rogers and Kate Village sound just as good - fantastic fuzzed up psyche riffage.

Better Stay Down

Black Point

Only Now The Flames Blowout