Driven by fans raising £10,000 to help replace all equipment robbed after a Paris show in early 2017, a new album became the instant focus in the summer of 2017 for a rejuvenated The Lucid Dream.

‘Actualisation’ is soaked in the influence of acid house, amalgamated with dub and kosmische. It will again see them acknowledged for venturing into pastures new, setting themselves apart from ‘genres’, ‘scenes’ or what any other act are currently doing.

The album was penned over the summer of 2017 by Mark Emmerson (vocals/guitar/synths), using only the classic Roland 303/808 synths, bass and vocals as tools for writing. Inspiration for the writing was formed via continuous listening to the Chicago to UK acid house works of 1986-1992, the focus predominantly on the groove.

Several months on from those writing sessions and The Lucid Dream have completed their 4th album in 5 years. A record made for the dancefloor.

Recorded at Whitewood Studios, Liverpool, with Rob Whiteley, the album is produced alongside long-time collaborator Ross Halden (Ghost Town Studios, Leeds), with mastering via Dean Honer (All Seeing I/I Monster/The Moonlandingz).

The confrontational techno-punk of ‘Alone In Fear’ opens the album, a 9-minute attack fuelled by the frustration and anger spawned by Brexit, government and a realisation of what 2018 Britain currently is.
Recent single ‘SX1000’ (the first work from the album, unveiled via 12' vinyl in April this year) is the band’s first move into pure acid house. The acid house fusion runs throughout the record, represented furthermore by ‘Ardency’, a track already praised by live critics when aired live for the first time earlier this year as ‘even on first hearing, would’ve raised the roof of The Hacienda’.

The 2-part opus of ‘Zenith’ follows, commencing with a space-dub/house instrumental groove before building into a track that will go for your head as much as your hips. Only ‘Breakdown’ harks back to sounds of old for the band, a little reminder of the skull-crushing impact they can make when stripped to the bare bones. ‘No Sunlight Dub’ closes the album, a dark-dub that invites the classic acid-house tool (Roland 808) into the dub. The track makes a stop-off into drum ‘n’ bass/jungle along the way before rounding up in a manner suited to Lee Perry, King Tubby, Augustus Pablo and other Jamaican greats.

The Lucid Dream formed in Carlisle, Cumbria, in 2008. A string of sold-out 7″s was followed by the debut longer player, ‘Songs Of Lies and Deceit‘, in August 2013. The initial vinyl pressing of the debut album (500 copies) sold out within 2 days, and was backed by a main stage slot at Kendal Calling, and supports to Death In Vegas and A Place To Bury Strangers (full UK tour).

The bands 2nd album (‘The Lucid Dream’) was released in March 2015 to further acclaim. This included 2 BBC 6 Music sessions and plays across most shows on the station, as well as plays from BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens) and BBC Radio 2. Further press followed from Uncut, The Skinny, Louder Than War, and Drowned In Sound, who named the album #7 UK album of 2015. Supports to Clinic and A Place To Bury Strangers also coincided.

3rd album, ‘Compulsion Songs’ was released in September 2016, on Holy Are You Recordings. The vinyl pressing of the album sold-out within a day, prompting an immediate 2nd press, with pre-sales of the album topping 1,000 before release. The album was backed by a headline UK tour, and a main slot at Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia (for which they were singled out for major plaudits from The Quietus, The Skinny and Drowned In Sound). The album again received acclaim from the likes of Mojo, Uncut, Classic Rock Magazine, BBC Radio 2 (Huey Morgan) and across the board on BBC 6 Music (Lauren Laverne, Marc Riley, Tom Ravenscroft, Gideon Coe, Stuart Maconie).

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Lucid dream just keep getting better. after 2016's 'Compulsions Songs', they've returned for this distorted, acidic slice of propulsive action. Half way between smooth Factory Floor-y techno and post-punky indie, these Carlisle bunch are making big waves. This one is killer.

FORMAT INFORMATION

Coloured LP Info: 300 copies on limited red vinyl.

Generations of people have strived for harmony since those words were written, yet were at a point in history where we seem to be more divided than ever. Perhaps the question we should be asking is: how can we overcome our struggles with one another if we don't fully understand the one raging inside ourselves? There's never been a better time for an album that explores this tussling duality that Hellions guitarist and co-lyricist Matthew Gravolin describes as ͞the co-existence of a Jekyll and Hyde operating within a person at any one time." Rue is that album, and one that builds upon the marriage of theatrical dynamics and thoughtful lyricism that defined the genre-melding Australian quartets critically acclaimed previous offering, 2016͛s third collection Opera Oblivia. The resulting record is deeper and darker, with melodies that are more beautiful, and riffs, courtesy of guitarists Matt and Josh Campiao and drummer Anthony Caruso, that are more seismic. At its heart, Rue is a concept album dealing with our journey towards lasting purpose in spite of our flaws, though its authors agree it's open to interpretation. Even the title, Rue, represents multiple things, meaning both repentance and compassion. So what do Hellions rue? ͞The complexity of the human condition and, by extension, the world in its current state of affairs, they say. The tracks on Rue are divided into the pessimistic and humanitarian sides of life. 

FORMAT INFORMATION

Coloured LP Info: Blue and pink Splatter.

Originally released by Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Records on 24 May 1968 and soon hit the No.1 spot where it stayed for 6 weeks. Critically acclaimed and still featuring in albums-you-must-own-polls, it is by far and away the Small Faces’ best-known and most successful album. Includes ‘Lazy Sunday’, ‘Afterglow’ plus ‘Song Of A Baker’ and live favourite ‘Rollin’ Over’ - Newly remastered by Nick Robbins at Soundmastering with the full cooperation of surviving Small Faces member Kenney Jones. This is the best Ogdens’ has ever sounded!

50th Anniversary 3CD + DVD Earbook - 60-page hardback book edition contains 3CDs for mono and stereo versions of the album plus rare bonus material
DVD contains the Small Faces legendary TV performance of “Happiness Stan” for the BBC’s “Colour Me Pop” programme in June 1968, together with Peter Whitehead’s promotional film for ‘Lazy Sunday’.
In-depth sleeve notes by Small Faces authority and Mojo contributor Mark Paytress, interviews, rare photos and memorabilia.

50th Anniversary 3LP Box Set - Cut at half-speed by Matt Colton at Alchemy Studios to give a better dynamic response, more defined and accurate sound and extended low frequency and smooth high-frequency response. This is the best Ogdens’ has ever sounded!
For the first time ever, both mono and stereo versions of the album plus an LP of rare bonus material will be released together on one deluxe, limited edition box set, pressed on 180-gram audiophile red, white and blue vinyl.
Deluxe booklet loaded with material, including in-depth sleeve notes by Small Faces authority and Mojo contributor Mark Paytress, interviews, rare photos and memorabilia.

Following on from the phenomenal success of the RSD 2018 white vinyl edition of David Sylvian's album from 1999, we now present the album on 180gram black vinyl for the first time. Now expanded with the addition of four non-album tracks, "The Scent of Magnolia", "Albuquerque (Dobro #6)", "Cover Me With Flowers" and "Aparna and Nimisha ( Dobro #5)".

The artwork differs from the RSD edition and features a photograph by David's ex-partner Ingrid, plus some rare photographs by Anton Corbijn. 

FORMAT INFORMATION

2xLtd LP Info: 180 gram black vinyl.