Introducing Observers “The Age of the Machine Entities” an instrumental heavy metal reimaginin of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke's 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Observers is a new project fronted by Martin Kennedy whose ambient rock band All India Radio has seen music used in CSI, One Tree Hill and many more.

Canadian metal titan Devin Townsend even covered an All India Radio song that he fell in love with while on holiday.

Kennedy has also released over fifteen albums with Steve Kilbey of psychedelic rock legends The Church.

Kennedy says “I’ve been fascinated by 2001 A Space Odyssey ever since my mum took me to see it in the 1970s. It blew my mind. I started making my own 2001 inspired super 8 movies, I collected everything I could afford and I’m still obsessed with it into my adult years.”

“The Age of the Machine Entities” is entirely instrumental and takes us on a cosmic journey through melodic metal, atmospheric riffs and psychedelic ambient sequences with echoes of Gojira, Black Sabbath and Tangerine Dream and the early 70’s work of Pink Floyd. Indeed treats us to a searing metal version of the obscure but fan favourite “The Narrow Way Part 2” from the Floyd’s Umma Gumma.

The album was mixed by Joe Haley from Tasmania’s legendary Psycroptic and the line up is Rich Gray (Annihilator) on bass, Chris Bohm on drums, and guest soloists including Joe Haley and Jake Weber.

The all important visual aspect is brought to life by Ryan T Hancock (known for work with King Buffalo, ᴀɢɴᴏxɪᴀ, Robot God), who created the mesmerizing album artwork.

Observers' "The Era of Machine Entities" is a fusion of artistic brilliance that pays homage to the timeless mystery of "2001: A Space Odyssey.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Into The Eye
2. Frank Poole's Dream
3. Frozen Lattices Of Light
4. Strange And Beautiful
5. Pod Bay Doors
6. Moon Doom
7. Metaphor II
8. The Star Child
9. The Narrow Way Part II (Pink Floyd) 

Seemingly written against a backdrop of mutual heartbreaks and trauma, ‘Saves The World’ portrays the LA trio finding faith in one another, and in the sublime artistry of their songwriting.

A record rooted in redemptive qualities and propelled by its overriding narrative power, it’s sweetly fitting that Muna end ‘Saves The World’ with the promise of ‘It’s Gonna Be OK, Baby’. It’s the sound of three women moving beyond their past, their shared experiences deepening those creative bonds while moving into fresh space.

Ultimately 'Saves The World' is a bold, colourful, lyric return, one that is asserting while remaining utterly honest, completely true to themselves.

The cheekiest band in the land is back with ROCKMAKER, The Dandy Warhols' 12th studio album.

Produced and recorded by the band at their studio/funhouse The Odditorium in Portland, OR, ROCKMAKER sees the "Bohemian Like You\" hitmakers celebrate their 30th year together with a sprinkle of glitter on their grime. Accompanied by guests Debbie Harry, Slash, and Pixies' Frank Black, The Dandy Warhols wrangle paranoia, untangle anxious discontent, and lust after life while the dance grooves go deeper, heady drones get weirder, and riffage fit for bong rips hammers. ROCKMAKER is the Dandy's clearest statement yet, at no sacrifice to their outre leanings. This is the sound of outsider alt-psych fixtures looking in as the walls come down.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A soaring, grungy maelstrom of riffs and groove from Courtney and co, still very much full of the youthful fire that made them such a household name on the briliant 'Dandy Warhols Come Down'. Brilliantly dynamic, fiery rock and roll.

TRACK LISTING

1. Doomsday Bells 
2. Danzig With Myself (Feat. Black Francis) 
3. Teutonic Wine 
4. The Summer Of Hate 
5. I'd Like To Help You With Your Problem (Feat. Slash) 
6. The Cross / Root Of All Evil 
7. Alcohol And Cocainemarijuananicotine 
8. Love Thyself 
9. Real People 
10. I Will Never Stop Loving You (Feat. Debbie Harry)

When Paul Murphy released his critically acclaimed debut solo album, Claremont 56, in 2006, many thought it would be the first of many. In a way, it was, as in the years since he’s released a string of collaborative sets alongside Benjamin J Smith (as Smith & Mudd), and as part of underground ‘supergroups’ Paqua, Bison and Hillside. But that second solo album? Well, it just had to wait. In early 2023, Murphy finally decided to scratch that itch, roping in some of his most trusted collaborators (keyboardist and bassist Michele Chiavarini, percussionist Patrick Dawes, guitarist Dave Noble and HF International’s Kashif included) to lay down a sumptuous set of tracks that not only showcases his now familiar (bit hard to pigeonhole) neo-Balearic sound, but also proves how much he has matured as a writer and producer since 2006.

In The Garden of Mindfulness is richly musically detailed, expertly arranged and full to bursting with fluid instrumental solos, with Murphy and his collaborators serving up tracks that brilliantly blur the boundaries between languid jazz-funk, downtempo, vintage synth-laden krautrock, dubby grooves and sun-splashed soundscapes. It simply sparkles from the moment that opener ‘Eighty Three’ slowly rises like the morning sun, with gentle, undulating synth sounds ushering in a slow-motion jazz-funk excursion rich in twinkling electronics, spacey pads and warming bass. Recent single ‘Katanaboy’, a lusciously layered dub disco-infused dancefloor excursion in Murphy’s familiar style, raises the temperature a touch, before ‘Bonne Anse’ and the sublime ‘Unka Paw’ (whose combination of evocative fretless bass, extended electric piano solos, Clavinet licks and acoustic guitars is genuinely spellbinding) invite a combination of wavy shuffling and flat-on-the-back, eyes-closed appreciation.

And so it continues, with gorgeous title track ‘In The Garden of Mindfulness’ making way for the boogie-influenced, Japanese-British brilliance of ‘Hangsang’ (check the jaunty pianos, yearning breakdown and exotic melodies). Murphy’s long held love of warm, weighty bass, hypnotic disco grooves, colourful analogue synth sounds and jazzy guitars once again comes to the fore on ‘Way Of The Hollow’ before the album reaches a fittingly triumphant conclusion with ‘Late In March’.

A neat sonic summary of all that makes the set such a rewarding and entertaining experience, repeat listens reveals a wealth of musical details, from off-kilter triple-time drums and surprise bass guitar solos, to impeccable piano solos (provided by the immensely talented Chiavarini), fizzing jazz-funk synth doodles and stirring synth-strings. It’s a breathlessly brilliant way to end an album that was genuinely worth waiting for.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Eighty Three
A2. Katanaboy
B1. Bonne Anse
B2. Unka Paw
C1. In The Garden Of Mindfulness
C2. Hangsang
D1. Way Of The Hollow
D2. Late In March

"My Mood Wave is kind of an internal thought monologue," says Eggs singer and guitarist Holly. “It's a brain on a surfboard, trying to navigate the barrage of daily shit that gets washed up each day. It's a coping mechanism handbook for people who sometimes find the world too much.”

‘My Mood Wave’ has an uplifting contemporary feel, haunted by a West Coast retro vibe that pulses and shimmers with a gorgeously addictive melody that will float around your head for days.

TRACK LISTING

My Mood Wave
Crab Shell

On their Impulse! debut album, Washington DC’s experimental jazz punk trio The Messthetics (drummer Brendan Canty and Joe Lally of iconic punk band Fugazi, with guitarist Anthony Pirog) join forces with acclaimed jazz tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader James Brandon Lewis. Together, they widen the reach of decisive instrumental music through their overlapping of jazz, punk, funk, aggression and innovation.

TRACK LISTING

1. L’Orso
2. Emergence
3. That Thang
4. Three Sisters
5. Boatly
6. The Time Is The Place
7. Railroad Tracks Home
8. Asthenia
9. Fourth Wall

Another guaranteed party starter double sider from the Homehitters - these 2 club monsters knock it out of the park!

TRACK LISTING

1. Usher - Yeah
2. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - Get Low 

Miles away from the current UK jazz scene, a mysterious composer from the Nottingham area cooks raw and noisy library music with groovy jazz fusion and beat-heavy funk breaks tackling themes of satanism and witchcraft.

Having previously released music with Jazzman Records, Stones Throw subsidiary Now-Again and French label BMM Records, The Natural Yogurt Band presents the 7th album of his discography that marks an experimental turn.

"Spores" takes us on an obscure sci-fi journey into extra-terrestrial territories where tropical flutes, pianos, guitars and organs melt under corrosive electronic sounds, modular bird chirps and vintage drum machines sounds.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Natural Yoghurt Band's deliciously free and experimental jazz / library project is a true feast for the ears. Incomparable and infectious; it's a wild, untamed beast of electronics and improvisation that you're gonna love.

TRACK LISTING

A1.Vital Signs
A2.Children Of The Black Planet
A3.Life Forms
A4.Strange Life On A Distant Planet
A5.Exotic Creatures
A6.First Contact
A7.Obscure Jungle

B1.Warning Signs
B2.Followers Of A New Moon
B3.Gas Narcosis
B4.We Are Alone
B5.Possible Danger
B6.Unknown Landscapes

Unreleased, "lost" 7 inch off the Bruton library music album "Deep Funk". Two killer cuts by the Sound Stylistics: The Message is a piece of heavy soul featuring the vocals of late great UK soul singer Noel McKoy, Freedom Sound is a space funk groove with moog synth on top. Officially licenced from BMG Zomba Production Music in 2007, manufactured and forgotten. These 45s have just been unearthed from the pressing plant's storage room after more than 15 years.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Message
2. Freedom Sound

Adam Beyer shares his first Truesoul release in eight years, linking with Raxon for a rare collaborative outing. This year has been one of Adam Beyer’s most prolific of his career, so it seems fitting he’d end it with a return to Drumcode’s little brother imprint Truesoul. His last dance on Truesoul was way back in 2015 with the masterful quartet of rollers ‘Time Flies’, which highlighted the Ibiza summer back then. Meanwhile the Barcelona-based Egyptian Raxon has contributed a pair of EPs to Truesoul, ‘Heliopolis’ and ‘Cosmic Cure’, since his debut in 2017. A Raxon production is a special thing – otherworldly and colourful, inspired by the vastness of the universe. The pair took their time swapping ideas back and forth until Beyer shared the main bassline groove for the Day Mix of ‘The Signal’ and the collaboration immediately started to take shape. The track is built around a riveting call-and-response synth lead, while a mélange of gritty drums with a foot in electro, cosmic and psy, drive proceedings forward. The Night Mix increases the intensity, tuning the main melody for late-night, pumping dancefloor moments.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: European techno monolith Adam Beyer doesn't feature too heavily in our racks usually. But this techy monster for Treusoul was so filthy we just had to get it in! Seems nicely in tune with the industrial-edged rebel techno that's also doing the rounds at the moment.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Signal (Night Mix)
B1. The Signal (Day Mix)

Starring... Charli XCX, D-Block Europe, Dominic Sessa, Nia Archives, and Kristen McMenamy. Plus! High art, hard places, raw visions, the biggest small town in America, and a phone call with Goldie while he makes a pizza.

Part memoir, part social history, Revolutionary Spirit is the poignant, often hilarious story of a cult Liverpool musician s scenic route to fame and artistic validation. If Morrissey was the Oscar Wilde of the 1980s indie scene, Simpson was its William Blake, a self-destructive genius so lost in mystical visions of a new arcadia that he couldn t meet the rent. Simpson s career begins alongside fellow Liverpool luminaries Julian Cope, Ian McCulloch, Bill Drummond, Ian Broudie, Will Sergeant, Pete Wylie, Pete Burns, and Pete de Freitas at the infamous Eric s club, where, in 1976, he finds himself at the birth of the city s second great musical explosion.

Along the way, he co-founds and christens the neo-psychedelic pop group The Teardrop Explodes, shares a flat with a teenage Courtney Love, and forms The Wild Swans, the indie band of choice for literary-minded teens in the early 1980s, who burn bright and brief, in the process recording one of the all-time great cult hit singles, Revolutionary Spirit . Marriage, fatherhood, and tropical illness follow, interspersed with artistic collaborations with Bill Drummond and members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, among others. Following an onstage reunion with Cope at the Royal Festival Hall, Simpson discovers that seven thousand miles away, in the Philippines, he is considered a musical god.

Presidential suites, armed guards, police escorts . . .

you couldn t make it up, and, incredibly, he doesn t need to. Revolutionary Spirit marks the arrival of an original literary voice. It is the story of a musician driven by an unerring belief that artistic integrity will bring its own rewards, and an elliptical elegy to the ways it does.

Indie jangle-pop outfit, The Plastic Youth, are a Glasgow-based four-piece, infusing psychedelic undertones with sugary, infectious melodies, to create something uniquely nostalgic, yet fresh.

While delivering their distinctive brand of pure indie charm, The Plastic Youth have since recorded their debut album with producers, Gerry Love (formerly of Teenage Fanclub), and studio engineer/co-producer Ross Cameron, to be released March 2024.

With the first singles from their long awaited album, being championed by the likes of BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing, and with their upcoming single, “Frankie” to be released mid January, The Plastic Youth are making headway and gathering momentum for an exciting gig-packed year of releases.

The Plastic Youth’s long crafted debut album is a testament to the band’s musical odyssey and stands as something truly special. Produced by Teenage Fanclub’s Gerry Love and Riverside Studio’s Ross Cameron,The Plastic Youth are stitched into the cultural tapestry of Scotland. A youthful take on 60’s melody and harmony, alongside driving instrumentation is the band’s hypnotic offering to the Glasgow music scene. This album is a breath of blissful air. A new perspective.

TRACK LISTING

A1. No Beginning
A2. Wrong Crowd
A3. Big Thief
A4. Like You
A5. Frankie
B1. Time For Us
B2. Comfort
B3. Try For You
B4. Sweet Dreamer
B5. Clairo

Originally released in 1990, 'Same Place The Fly Got Smashed' was Guided By Voices’ fourth album in as many years. Roughly a concept album about an alcoholic named Joker Bob who goes on a bender, someone dies, and Bob gets the chair (“the electrifying conclusion”). From the moment the needle drops, the listener is served notice that this isn’t going to be an easy listen, as an argument taped off of a TV cuts to a basement recording of a lone, blaring electric guitar with someone yelling over the top. But for those brave enough to pass the opening hazards, there are wonders within.

This particular album has come to be held in higher and higher regard by fans, and they are correct to consider it a top-tier release. The story and sequence have a flow, and consideration for approachability is optional. Many of the crudest tracks reveal themselves as necessary stitches in the album’s tapestry. Yet it also contains all time greats like “Drinker’s Peace,” “Mammoth Cave,” the epic “Local Mix-Up/ Murder Charge,” and of course “Pendulum” with its immortal opening line: “Come on over tonight, we’ll put on some Cat Butt and do it up right!”—a rare break in the clouds on one of the band’s darkest albums.

This reissue, like the previous ones in this series, is a mostly faithful reproduction of the original pressing of 500 on the band’s own Rocket #9 label. And like the others, the virgin RTI vinyl is housed in a thick tip-on jacket, and includes Robert Pollard’s original handwritten lyric insert.

TRACK LISTING

1. Airshow ‘88
2. Order For The New Slave Trade
3. The Hard Way
4. Drinker’s Peace
5. Mammoth Cave
6. When She Turns 50
7. Club Molluska
8. Pendulum
9. Ambergris
10. Local Mix-Up
11. Murder Charge
12. Starboy
13. Blatant Doom Trip
14. How Loft I Am?

The Black Crowes are leaving the bullshit in the past. 15 years after their last album of original music, the Robinson Brothers present 'Happiness Bastards'- their 10th studio album. Some may say the project has been several tumultuous years in the making, but we argue it's arriving at just the right time. Call it brotherly love or music destiny that brought them back together, the highly anticipated record consecrating the reunion of this legendary band just may be the thing that saves rock & roll. In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, The Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock & roll. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at it's very best - gritty, loud, and in your face.

Since The Black Crowes reunited in 2019, they've made a triumphant return to form with over 150 shows spanning 20 countries worldwide, celebrating the 30th anniversary of'Shake Your Money Maker', the album that put them on the map. Upon their return from the road, they knew they needed something new to show for their lost time. The Robinson Brothers and longtime bassist Sven Pipien headed to the studio with producer Jay Joyce in early 2023 and the experiences of years past transcribed themself through the music as the band found their way back to their roots.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: It's a big surprise that the Robinsons have reformed to make another album fifteen years after their last studio outing as Black Crowes, so for it to have retained all of the intensity of their earlier work and to still sing with that unmistakeable Black Crowes energy is indeed something of note. Brimming with fiery Southern rock energy and beautifully produced, it's a delight to see BC back in the saddle.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Bedside Manners
2. Rats And Clowns
3. Cross Your Fingers
4. Wanting And Waiting
5. Wilted Rose F/ Lainey Wilson
Side 2
1. Dirty Cold Sun
2. Bleed It Dry
3. Flesh Wound
4. Follow The Moon
5. Kindred Friend

Ivan The Tolerable is the alter ego solo project of Middlesbrough based musical wizard Oli Heffernan. Aside from his solo work as ITT, Oli has played in numerous bands over the years including Year Of Birds, King Champion Sounds with members of the Ex, Detective Instinct, and Shrug, and has collaborated with icons like Mike Watts of the Minutemen, and J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.

Ivan The Tolerable started by accident in 2013 when Heffernan recorded a bunch of songs for his band at the time (Year Of Birds). These were a bit too left-field for a speedy garage band, so Oli decided to put them out on tape himself, and hasn’t looked back since with releases on Up In Her Room, Stolen Body Records and Library of the Occult to name just a few.

We are delighted to bring you our next entry from the Ivan The Tolerable archive reissue series, 2019’s ‘Wild Nature!’ Originally released on CD by Ack Ack Ack Records back in 2019, the album has now been remastered and repackaged, and will be released on super ltd edition orange wax. Here’s a bit about the album in Oli’s own words.

‘Wild Nature was originally recorded sporadically during the first half of 2019. It started life in one house, then I moved and it was finished in another. I remember screenprinting the original CD artwork on the sly at my old job during my lunch breaks and hand-assembled a small run of about 50 that are all long gone. I also remember walking around Albert Park early one morning in thick fog with a field recorder to capture the sounds that were then processed to form 23 Minutes Over Albert Park (condensed to 4 mins for the reissue due to time constraints). I think this was also the last album I recorded vocals on and also the last one I recorded completely by myself - all instruments, recording, mixing, mastering and artwork done by me at home. I know the first and last tracks were recorded as a birthday present for someone but I cant remember much about the other songs i'm afraid - 4 years is a long time in my speedy world. I've been asked a bunch over the years about a vinyl edition of this one - so here it is. Enjoy - especially everything that went through the delay pedal, which is sadly no longer with us.’
Peace,
Oli Heffernan,
Jan 2024

TRACK LISTING

A SIDE
1. Queen Of Quilts
2. The Contrarian
3. Black Ink

B SIDE
1. The Cat Song
2. 4 Minutes Over Albert Park
3. Rubbing Teeth
4. Queen Of Baths

The Razors Edge features the classic single ‘Thunderstruck’, the video for which has been viewed over a billion times on YouTube.

To honour AC/DC’s 50-year reign as the world’s greatest rock and roll band, the band’s catalogue will be available as gold coloured vinyl LPs. Each of these limited edition LPs comes with an album-specific 12”x12” print featuring new AC/DC 50 artwork, suitable for framing. 

New one from Mark Seven's Parkway Records camp and it's a dazzler from The Whole Truth who are a truly great addition to the modern funk and boogie scene!

Coming in three subtly varying flavours, "Lord, Quench My Soul" is based around a catchy gospel-tinged vocal hook: 'fill my cup!'. The original mix is possibly the most stripped back affair, allowing cascading synth lines to drip through squelchy boogie beats and that rubbery yet rugged bass. While the club mix decorates the mix with bolshy piano chords, the OG utilizes phazed guitar chops to equally great effect. On the garage mix, we see the bassline replaced by a more soundsystem-hefty option, as lead lines hover overhead suspended on dub delays. The production and instrumentation is superb throughout, with Mark's flair on the mixing desk sure to impress more intrepid listeners on repeat plays. Top draw Parkway Records tackle, delivered direct your lugholes! Most recommended.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Lord, Quench My Soul (Original Mix)
A2. Lord, Quench My Soul (Club Mix)
B1. Lord, Quench My Soul (Garage Mix)

Breakwater’s earth-shattering “Release The Beast” is unquestionably the standout song from their 1980 funk masterpiece LP Splashdown. It also came out as a now-hen’s-teeth-rare 7" in the same year and when it came to putting it out as a 7" again we just had to do it in a miniature version of the Splashdown sleeve. It’s one of the best album cover shoots of all time.

For the b-side, we’ve backed Breakwater’s biggest track with Be With’s favourite: the quietly majestic gem “Let Love In”, another winner from the same LP.

Possessing a sound and a feel that was lightyears ahead of its time, “Release The Beast” is a showcase for Breakwater’s phenomenal power-funk capabilities. The energy is astounding. It rips out of the grooves on a deep funk tip, with speaker-smashing, room-shaking drums competing with distorted funk-rock guitar, bumping bass and space-age synths. But it’s not without its compellingly haunting elements too. What else can we say? It’s a genius piece of music.

And, yes, of course this is the tune Daft Punk sampled for their 2005 track “Robot Rock”. Let’s be blunt, they lifted the Philly act’s funk-rock vamping pretty much wholesale. But to be fair to them we wouldn’t have messed with the perfection of the original either and those Parisians shone a much-needed spotlight on an innovative band from the halcyon period of post-disco funk.

On the flip, “Let Love In” is a smooth, easy glide that demonstrates Breakwater’s superb, sophisticated musicianship. The tight horn section and irresistible bass make for an undeniable groove. However, it also reveals a depth to their lyricism that’s often overlooked. In these dark days, the sentiment of the opening lines is truly one to we should all take to heart:

“It feels good to be friends with everyone, Walk around and the feeling’s in the air, No more hate can’t you see, This is really for me.”

A feel good hit for the summer if ever there was one. 

TRACK LISTING

A1 : Release The Beast (4:50)
B1 : Let Love In (4:35)

The duo, comprised of Joey Bradbury and Rowan Martin, admit the perception of the band has at times been "Marmite. Earnest to the point of cringe"- but the band's 2019 debut left an indelible mark on the UK independent scene and their influence can be traced across London. Publications such as The Guardian, Dazed, Dork, i-D, Loud + Quiet all championed the band early on comparing them to artists like Pet Shop Boys and Squeeze. The Rhythm Method return with a vastly different sound, and in their words a "cohesive masterpiece". The new album, produced by Bill Ryder-Jones and featuring Aoife Power of When young, is the first time they have recorded music in a proper studio, and is influenced by a "desire to live up to one’s potential,  making sure there’s no regrets on the deathbed". The Rhythm Method have been hailed by everyone from Mike Skinner to Michaela Coel.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
A1. Just A Boy’s Game
A2. I Love My Television
A3. Nightmare
A4. Dean Martin
A5. Have A Go Heroes

SIDE B
B1. Curse
B2. Please Don’t Die
B3. Peachy
B4. Black & Blue

Written in his own unmistakable voice and with a new afterword by the author, this is the frank and fascinating memoir by arguably the greatest bass player of his generation. Beginning with an East End childhood in a London barely recovered from the War, he takes us on a journey through the beginnings of punk and post-punk as a founding member of Public Image Limited, an illustrious forty-year solo career which has seen collaborations musical greats such as U2, Brian Eno and CAN and a Mercury Music Prize nomination through to the present day still playing to sell out audiences. Along the way we hear how Wobble navigated chronic alcoholism and marital breakdown and has emerged as a national treasure.

If you ever wondered how got his name, the answer is here: his teenage pal Sid Vicious gave it to him when he drunkenly slurred Wobble's real name, John Wardle.

Imagine you've made it. You and your friends have hit the big time in music and you're going to be a star. But then, quite suddenly, it's over.

Your best friends don't want you anymore, and you're on the outside. Perhaps they're tired of your bad habits, they think you're not good enough, or they sense you just don't want it as much as they do. Whatever the cause, you're a reject.

So, what do you do next?Featuring a player rejected by both Nirvana and Soundgarden who became a decorated special forces soldier, Britpoppers who spiralled into addiction before becoming novelists and missionaries, the terrifying story of Guns N' Roses' first drummer, super-rejecting band leaders, self-destroying rappers, troubled hard rock bassists and girl-band burnouts, The Rejects takes an intimate, thoughtful look at people who've been kicked out of bands, what they experienced and what came afterwards. Coming from a writer with twenty years' music industry experience, The Rejects is a sympathetic study of some of music's most fascinating characters, and what happens when the dream comes crashing to an end. The result is a compelling alternative history of popular music.

Discovered after spending 58 years on a dusty shelf in the Louis Wayne Moody Pictures vault, this previously unissued soundtrack contains a backpack’s worth of grieving guitars, somber surf, and haunting hiss, zipped tight with the teeth of abandonment, dashed dreams, moral ambiguity, fate, tearful goodbyes, and lukewarm diner coffee. Because the long arm of society nips at their heels... THEY MOVE IN THE NIGHT.

TRACK LISTING

1. Branko Mataja - Tuzna Je Nedelija
2. Steve Waltner - Tropic Waters
3. Bill Garland - Lonesome Guitar
4. Red Garrison & His Zodiacs - Taboo
5. Jody Reynolds - Tarantula
6. The Infernos - Restless Tides
7. The Dropouts - Purple Sea
8. Ron Heiss & The Low Notes - Far Away
9. Bailey’s Nervous Kats - Rumble
10. The Travelers - Melody Of The Moon
11. Tommy Dae’s High Tensions - Lost Horizon
12. Johnny Blue - Crying Guitar
13. The Floresents - Dreamtime
14. Kay Johnson - Walk Through The Valley
15. The Gospel Hawaiinaires - Life’s A Railway To Heaven
16. X-Cetra - Wasn’t There

The ever poignant yet exceedingly elusive Chorg Dorgon speaks on the new album by Charles Moothart, entitled Black Holes Don’t Choke: “For the sake of clarity, and its clarity that we seek, Charles has been a pillar of our musical experience since he began playing eons ago in the various projects and countless albums he has contributed to. Charles is a musician who has been constantly on the road for years playing in Ty Segall’s Freedom Band and Fuzz. When there has been a rare time away from those engagements especially in the post-pandemic scramble to catch up world of gigs and tours, he has been spending all of his time in his laboratory figuring out how to synthesize all of the info he has collected and musical ideas he has developed in the past few years since the last CFM record and subsequent shows for this new solo work. Just before the pandemic started, he was out playing solo shows in a project that revolved around an MPC sampler, just to give an example as to the wideness of his explorations. His result is Black Holes Don’t Choke. Love songs for the apocalypse. A prayer toward optimism amid chaos. A plea toward nature. The themes on this album are the themes of today. Charles appeals for us to visualize evolution. And with a signature, the music sounds exactly as you want it to. It sounds like Charles Moothart’s music only more evolved and with greater focus and direction. With greater textural dynamic and more sonic variation and realization, but never sacrificing the insane riff that he is clearly the master of. He gets to the point on this record. He is presenting a voice you can understand and rely on as you make your own journey into it. Create your own meanings. The record now belongs to the world. Because we all start a thought as that which is beginning-less and endless and at some certain point it becomes its own thought, takes it owns shape and becomes itself, separate from the thinker, separate from the observer. alive in the ether!”

TRACK LISTING

1. Roll
2. Hold On
3. Black Holes Don't Choke
4. Anchored And Empty
5. One Wish
6. Little Egg
7. Clock Rats
8. Time Lapse Choke
9. The Fire I Call Home
10. Crypts Crumble

Musician and visual artist Kim Gordon returns with her second solo album, The Collective, which will be released March 8th on Matador.

Recorded in Gordon’s native Los Angeles, The Collective follows her 2019 full-length debut No Home Record and continues her collaboration with producer Justin Raisen (Lil Yachty, John Cale, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Charli XCX, Yves Tumor), with additional production from Anthony Paul Lopez. The album advances their joint world building, with Raisin’s damaged, blown out dub and trap constructions playing the foil to Gordon’s intuitive word collages and hooky mantras, which conjure communication, commercial sublimation and sensory overload.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: An incendiary new outing from the one and only Kim Gordon. Blurring the boundaries between electronica, art rock and avant-pop, Gordon's unrelenting 'The Collective' is possibly her finest solo moment to date, and one of the highs of her legendary career.

TRACK LISTING

1. BYE BYE
2. The Candy House
3. I Don’t Miss My Mind
4. I’m A Man
5. Trophies
6. It’s Dark Inside
7. Psychedelic Orgasm
8. Tree House
9. Shelf Warmer
10. The Believers
11. Dream Dollar

RIYL: Stereolab, High Llamas, Deserter’s Songs era Mercury Rev, Death of A Ladies Man.

The Foreign Department is the second album by Astrel K, the solo project helmed by Stockholm-based British ex-pat, Rhys Edwards. Those already familiar with Edwards’ work will likely know him for fronting the cultishly great Ulrika Spacek, and given he operates as the principal songwriter in both projects, much of the same hallmarks of his cathartic, elliptical songwriting are present in Astrel K. Nonetheless, The Foreign Department feels like a rubicon moment of sorts, and the album that Edwards has unconsciously been working towards his entire creative life.

As a title, The Foreign Department offers an instructive guide for the listener, framing a life-in-transition/artist-in-exile document that maps two impromptu moves in twelve months for its songwriter: the first from London in pursuit of a relationship, the second between homes in Stockholm as that decade long relationship then suddenly dissolved. Indeed, diffusion, dissolution and reconstitution feel like appropriate touchstones for its recurring themes. Written amidst the flux of two states, at once isolated from home and then any established emotional anchor, the resulting eleven tracks came to represent a precognitive search for shifting identity and with it forming an unwittingly biographical record. It's commendable and somewhat telling that during this shake up, Edwards somehow landed upon his most realised and original work.

With a former life stripped away, there emerged an opportunity to reinvent a sense of self through art, now not just as a writer, but a composer also. Developing the confidence to arrange songs in ways he'd previously considered off-limits, while also taking cues from the opulent string and brass arrangements of records like Mercury Rev's Deserters' Songs and Death of A Ladies Man by Leonard Cohen, Edwards enlisted a range of performers to bring to life the mini-symphonies forming in his head. Perhaps it's inevitable that an album written while facing the consequences of being alone would eventually ossify around the process of bringing people together.

For all its troubled origins, The Foreign Department is a remarkably warm sounding collection. Edwards' lyrics are typically knotty and neurotic, dancing around the poetry of quarter-life anxiety, but the music itself is often joyous and even uplifting, the combination expressing that neat duality of melancholic euphoria. Edwards sings variously of crises, "torrid pieces of art", of "houses on fire" and not "having the guts for it", yet these troubling sentiments are framed by seemingly incongruous swelling strings, chirping horns or motorik percussion, creating that sense of pushing forward or floating above, of wrapping your troubles in dreams, a salve for the moments when you get a bit too much for yourself.

Lead single, 'Darkness At Noon', likely captures this all best. Named for the French idiom "midi a quatorze heures", the maddening idea of attempting the impossible for the sake of some greater possibly pointless cause, it directly grapples with the opposing notions of wanting and not wanting, of being here and being there at the same time. The conflicting and impossible self. It’s something Edwards addresses in the song at perhaps his most open, opining, “I know I want to be seen, but I hate most of what comes out of me”. And yet here is, putting it all out in the open and on the line, the dialectics of his enlightenment up on show.

TRACK LISTING

Heavy Is The Head
Darkness At Noon
By Depol
Brighter Spells
Firma
Birds In Vacant Lots
The Foreign Department
C Ya!
A Rudderless Ship
Daffodil
R U A Literal Child?

Coinciding with a sold-out tour, Pixies at the BBC, 1988-91 is being released on March 8th on 4AD. Being pressed for the first time on vinyl, it’s also going to be available on double CD.

Between 1988 and 1991 – during the band’s 4AD years – Pixies recorded six sessions for the BBC, five for John Peel and one for Mark Goodier. Catching the raw energy of the band’s live performances, these sessions felt immediately noteworthy, timestamping a moment when Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering were motoring out front.

Among the twenty-four tracks they recorded in this period (inc. two doubles - ‘Allison’ and ‘Wave of Mutilation’) are favourites from mini-album Come on Pilgrim and three of their four 4AD studio albums. Also recorded were three covers; reworks of The Beatles’ ‘Wild Honey Pie’, Eraserhead’s ‘(In Heaven) Lady in the Radiator Song’ and The Beach Boys’ ‘Hang On To Your Ego’, a track Black Francis covered a few years later on his debut Frank Black solo album.

Originally released on CD in 1998, this reboot now sees all tracks from the six sessions included and presented in chronological order. Something fans have been asking for. Coming as both a triple black vinyl LP and double CD, the sleeve is also new with a wonderful black and gold design by Chris Bigg now adorning it. A design that really stands out, Chris pays loving tribute to the band’s late-visual director Vaughan Oliver, using unseen archival Pixies imagery by long-time collaborator Simon Larbalestier.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: There are few bands that have such a stellar live reputation as The Pixies, and this release sees their incomparable BBC sessions committed to the physical format, in it's entirety. Their legendary peel sessions form 5/6 of the release, and then the Mark Goodier session from 1990 (including the arguably better sounding version of the brilliant 'Wave Of Mutilation') rounds out the sextet. Top stuff.

TRACK LISTING

John Peel Session 3rd May 1988
1. Levitate Me
2. Hey
3. In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)
4. Wild Honey Pie
5. Caribou

John Peel Session 9th October 1988
6. Dead
7. Tame
8. There Goes My Gun
9. Manta Ray

John Peel Session 16th April 1989
10. Down To The Well
11. Into The White
12. Wave Of Mutilation

John Peel Session 11th June 1990
13. Allison
14. Velouria
15. Hang On To Your Ego
16. Is She Weird

Mark Goodier Session 18th August 1990
17. Monkey Gone To Heaven
18. Ana
19. Allison
20. Wave Of Mutilation

John Peel Session 23rd June 1991
21. Palace Of The Brine
22. Letter To Memphis
23. Motorway To Roswell
24. Subbacultcha

Idris Muhammad is a American jazz drummer and bandleader and is one of contemporary music's most sampled drummers. His resume includes nearly 500 recording credits that range across the genre spectrum and 12 studio albums as a bandleader, including the 1976 House Of The Rising Sun. The album is arranged by David Matthews, also known as leader of the Dave Matthews Band (DMB), and produced by Creed Taylor, founder of CTI Records. The track "Sudan" is arranged by jazz trumpeter Tom Harrell. The album features several guest performances by New York studio aces, including Joe Beck, Don Grolnick, David Sanborn, Fred Wesley and Michael Brecker amongst others.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. House Of The Rising Sun
2. Baia (Boogie Bump)
3. Hard To Face The Music
4. Theme For New York City

SIDE B
1. Sudan
2. Hey Pocky A-Way 

Mr Lee Perry who in no uncertain terms defines the words musical genius, recorded some of the most inspiring, soulful, funny and weird / wild reggae music ever put down on tape. Working through all the manifestations of reggae from Ska to Roots and Dub, where his ground breaking 1973 ‘Blackboard Jungle’ LP, set the standards, he was an innovator. If this was not enough his recordings of THE WAILERS, many believe to be their finest work. Born Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover, Jamaica. He began his career at the grand age of 16, working for Clement ‘Coxone’ Dodd’s sound system, rising quickly to the position of record scout and organising recording sessions during his 3 year period 1963-1966. Restlessness and unsatisfied with credit he felt due to him he moved on to work with Producers J.J. Johnson and Clancy Eccles, the later of which would help him set up his ‘Upsetter’ label in 1968,which would see his first of many recordings telling the injustices done to him by previous employees. ‘The Upsetter’ track itself pointed at Mr Dodd but reflected back to Perry when he inherited it as a nick name along side many others during the coarse of his career, including ‘Scratch’, again taken from one of his recordings ‘Chicken Scratch’ recorded in 1965/1966. Perry’s work in 1968 with producer Joe Gibbs was fruitful and resulted in many successfulreleases, but again lack of credit and itchy feet, it was time to move on. But not without leaving his trademark recording summing up his feelings at the time ‘People Funny Boy’ this time aimed at Mr Gibbs. Still not having a studio of his own, Perry recorded at the various Kingston establishments of the time, Randy’s Studio 17 on North Parade, Dynamics on Bell Road and Harry J’s on Roosevelt Avenue where the bulk of the aforementioned recordings with The Wailers were carried out. During this time and the years that followed Perry has built up a vast catalogue of backing tracks / instrumentals, he had cut over a 100 releases on his ‘Upsetter’ label alone. A library of music that he has an uncanny knack of reutilising to work into something new when put against a new song / singer. This collection of rare and unreleased dubs stems from his 1971-1974 period. We can here on tracks like ‘Perry’s Jump Up’ Ska-ish up tempo chopping guitar cuts leading through to organ laden tracks like ‘Roots Rock Dub’. The sound moving to a slowed down rhythm on ‘Perry in Dub’ which would predominate his sound, when in mid 1974 he’d open his own studio at his home in the Washington Gardens district of Kingston. We hope this selection of lost treasures will add to the jigsaw that makes Mr Perry’s output now spanning over 5 decades so remarkable.

RESPECT.... JAH FLOYD.

TRACK LISTING

1 Perry In Dub
2 Three Blind Dub
3 Perry’s Rub -A- Dub
4 Perry’s Jump Up
5 Dub With Feeling
6 After Beat Dub
7 Problem With Dub
8 Roots Rock Dub
9 Good Will Dub
10 Skanking With Lee Perry
11 John Crow Skank
12 Kotch Up Dub
13 Funky Dub*
14 One Drop Rockers*
*CD Bonus Tracks

The Wedding Present’s third single originally released in 1986.

Company card inner, re-printed copy of original promo poster. Pressed on transparent blue vinyl.

Sleeve is a copy of original 12” release.

This Boy Can Wait is the unedited 12” version.

TRACK LISTING

You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends
This Boy Can Wait

Limited to 500 copies worldwide. Pressed on Violet vinyl. Includes poster.

Presented in the alternate 12” sleeve that was used for the original Creation release and includes all 3 tracks on 7” for the first time.

Originally released in 1986 and was one of the stand out tracks on the legendary C86 compilation.

In 2023, Mojo magazine ranked the song “Therese” as the 37th greatest UK indie record ever, citing it "a breathless romantic gulp of twin guitar twirl".

STAFF COMMENTS

Laura says: One the my favourite singles of all time! A glorious blast of romantic indie pop from Glossop's finest.

TRACK LISTING

Therese
Scar Tissue
I Feel

The acclaimed Montréal-based Swedish singer/composer from Thus Owls and The Moth presents her solo debut. Angell has also worked with Daníel Bjarnason (Ben Frost, Sigur Rós), Arve Henriksen (Supersilent), Lisen Rylander Löve (Midaircondo), Liam O’Neill (SUUNS), Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Patrick Watson and more. Erika Angell still remembers the first time she sang this way. The Swedish-born musician was three and a half years old, alone at dusk atop a hill, staring down at the landscape around her parents’ farm—tangled woods, darkening houses—and from somewhere deep inside her, she found a voice. It was a song without language, without any specific melody; it was flowing and easy and free. “This memory still defines the essence of living, to me,” she says. A memory of pure music: untamed, unhesitant, open-hearted. Four decades later, now based in Montreal, Angell is “coming back to the beginning, somehow” with a debut solo album that reaches back toward that early childhood evening on a hilltop, when the music was raw, solitary and boundless.

The Obsession With Her Voice is an expression of Angell’s inexhaustible love for art and music, a celebration of all the ways she has learned to articulate her instrument, a work of experimental exploration and feminist power that shimmers, cracks and shatters as it gathers the strands of one woman’s musical life. As a child, Angell was taught lieder and opera music by her choir-leader mother; as a teenager in the countryside, she spent all of her days studying jazz; later, she’d explore free improv and post-industrial electronics in a duo called The Moth. 14 years ago, Angell founded the acclaimed, Polaris-nominated band Thus Owls, whose five LPs have traversed jazz and indie rock’s outer reaches. Angell has also collaborated with artists ranging from Daníel Bjarnason (Ben Frost, Sigur Rós), Arve Henriksen (Supersilent) and Lisen Rylander Löve (Midaircondo) to Liam O’Neill (SUUNS) and Patrick Watson, as well as inaugurating the New Music trio Beatings Are In The Body with Róisín Adams and Peggy Lee.

The ten tracks on The Obsession With Her Voice form a riveting collage, blending Angell’s searing and searching vocals with synths and electroacoustics (mixed brilliantly by Sam Woywitka), Jonathan Cayer’s mazelike string arrangements, and incandescent drum improvisations by Mili Hong. Songs like “One”, “Temple” and “Open Eyes” are poetic, through composed song-sculptures, musing on identity and disagreement. “Never Tried to Run” evokes Angell’s childhood idol Nina Hagen, weaving a snaky, sultry portrait of change, while “Up My Sleeve” shivers with a vivid worldliness: the singer in a state of emergency, watching the flames climb higher. Angell never gives in to cold experimentation or the willfully abstruse; even a song like “German Singer,” which narrates a concert over processed vocal snippets and a metronomic pulse, is fundamentally an invitation: a tribute to art’s value, to its power to seduce.

Throughout, Angell pushes and processes her voice, plunging overtop noise and percussion, tracing melodies of fearless complexity, instantaneity and conviction. Listen for echoes of Scott Walker’s The Drift, Jenny Hval’s Blood Bitch, Brigitte Fontaine’s Comme à la radio and Sidsel Endresen & Stian Westerhus’s Bonita. “I was interested in the meeting-point between being ‘in’ yourself, ‘in’ your own world, and when you meet the outside,” Angell says. “I’ve never forgotten my evening on the hill—singing freely, without judging myself. Sending my energy out into the air. When I’m able to do that, bridging that breaking-point, it feels like a good thing. For the world, and for me too—to remind myself, and everyone, that we can do it.

That it’s allowed. We can hold all these real faces of ourselves, in front of each other, and show each other that attention.” The Obsession With Her Voice is Erika Angell’s attempt to express a feeling: a windswept one, raw and unfeigned. Songs that explode, music that trembles like a vibration on a string—a singer sharing an insight and also a wish. “The sting above the heart…” she sings on “Let Your Hair Down,” “What does it mean? What is art?” And: “How can I be it?” 

TRACK LISTING

1 Dress Of Stillness
2 Up My Sleeve
3 German Singer
4 Never Tried To Run
5 One
6 Open Eyes
7 Bear
8 Let Your Hair Down
9 Good And Bad
10 Temple

Love Makes Magic, the debut LP by JIM - aka Jim Baron of Crazy P & Ron Basejam notoriety - was released in June 2023 and the album has connected with an ever growing number of fans; lured in by great songs, Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter acoustics, 60’s psychedelic folk-rock, a dash of Balearic, discoid funk and a healthy dose of yacht-rock. The album was voted Album of the Year in the Bill Brewster Furtive 50 chart for 2023 - like a Balearic BAFTAs - and Still River Flow (Generalisation Dub) came 2nd in the tracks of the year... which was nice.

Disco Pogo, Piccadilly Records and Mr Bongo all gave the LP honourable mention in their end of year charts too. As you’d expect with an artist who has 25 years of dance music connections the accompanying remixes weren’t bad either... Crooked Man, Ruf Dug, Flying Mojito Brothers and Generalisation all came up with fine reinterpretations. Luke Unabomber hailed The Crooked Goth version of Phoenix as his track of the year. The vinyl run of the Crooked Mixes sold out in record time.

As the remixes racked up we considered collecting them together for a remix LP. And so here we are... presenting Love Makes Magic - The Remixes.

The five aforementioned mixes will be joined by five brand new ones from X-Press 2, Mang Dynasty, Chris Coco, Begin ( James Holroyd) and Brown Fang. Spanning pumping club bangers, perfect sunsets soundtracks and left-field electronica.

We love them.
We hope you do too..

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A stunning set of remixes from some of the hottest names in the electronic music world, for Jim's brilliant 'Love Makes Magic' LP, one of our collective favourites of 2023. Basking in the relaxed, Balearic waters of the original but twisted and coaxed around a variety of grooves, these pieces shine in a whole new light when viewed through a different lens, and show the talents of remixers and Baron alike. Brill.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Still River Flow (Generalisation Dub) Phoenix (Crooked Goth)
A2. Oxygen (Ruf Dug Remix)
B1. Ballad Of San Marino (Mang Dynasty Remix) Still River Flow (Begin Remix)
B2. Where The Leaves Are Falling (Brown Fang Remix) Across The Street (Generalisation Dub)
C1. Phoenix (X-Press 2 On Fire Remix)
C2. Oxygen (Flying Mojito Bros Refrito)
D1. The Ballad Of San Marino (Chris Coco Extended Dub Version)

The new album from cosmic country rockers The Hanging Stars. 'On a Golden Shore' is the follow up to 2022's 'Hollow Heart' and is the band's second album on Loose. Produced by Sean Read at Clashnarrow Studio. On A Golden Shore arrives as The Hanging Stars reflect on a year of triumphs. With an Americana Music Association Bob Harris - sanctioned award and a Nashville sell-out in Third Man’s Blue Room with Jack White approvingly looking on, they’re a leading light in the UK Cosmic Americana cohort. Their standing has allowed them to pay less attention to any preconceptions of what they are ‘supposed to be’. On A Golden Shore - their fifth album and their second for the pioneering Loose Music, following 2022’s Hollow Heart - finds them definitively themselves and presents a set of disparate songs whose fundamental linkage is the band that made them. On A Golden Shore was recorded at Edwyn Collins’ Clashnarrow Studios with Sean Read producing. Singer/guitarist Richard Olson, drummer Paulie Cobra, multi-instrumentalist Patrick Ralla, plus freshman bassist Paul Milne – laid down the album’s backbone over eight days. Mostly recorded live, even the solos done as a piece. Much is first take because trying better, it never worked as well. Pedal-steel player Joe Harvey-Whyte created and added his parts at his London studio bringing ‘shimmery psychedelic goodness’. Smartly sequenced On A Golden Shore proceeds in clusters of songs; commencing with the free and easy choogle of ‘Let Me Dream Of You’, encompassing the sunny glam of ‘Sweet Light’, the baggy Balearic waft of ‘Happiness Is A Bird’, the pan pipes and bongos of the exotic ‘Golden Shore’, through to the rolling banjo of ‘No Way Spell’ and the celestial cascades of ‘Heart In A Box’. Fashioned instinctively On A Golden Shore is ultimately an album of sensation as much as thought, filled with fleeting moments of blissful excess, and stumbling, rushing flutters of sound; its evanescent psychedelia, divine choruses, and shards of strings combine into an infectious, compelling Cosmic Heartbreak Boogie.

TRACK LISTING

1. Let Me Dream Of You
2. Sweet Light
3. Happiness Is A Bird
4. Disbelieving
5. Washing Line
6. Golden Shore
7. Silver Rings
8. I Need A Good Day
9. No Way Spell
10. Raindrop In A Hurricane
11. Heart In A Box 

One of the greatest live albums ever! Released in 1971 but recorded in 1969 this is a cool snapshot of the boys back in the day, Mick Taylor on extra guitar and storming versions of 'Street Fighting Man' and 'Love In Vain'.

The American version of "Out Of Our Heads" features an alternative sleeve design and amended track-listing, to feature two of the great Stones’ singles – The Last Time (and its menacing, folky B-side Play With Fire) as well as the classic, riff-driven Satisfaction – one of the defining moments in rock and pop history!

The Stones 1965 classic. A mixture of r'n'b classics and Jagger / Richards originals including the great 'I'm Free'. Iconic Gered Mankowitz sleeve and a great taster for the world changing records to come.

The Stones' 1967 concession to psychedelia. Mick, Keith, Brian et all wander into the unknown and come back with insane arrangements, unsettling dark patches and classic tracks in the likes of 'She's a Rainbow' and '2000 Light Years from Home'.

A power combo of funk heavyweights, see’s the legendary Kool and the Gang paired up with the Jamiroquai front man.

Taken from a live performance of killer track, “Hollywood Swingin” featuring guest vocalist Jay Kay, has now been reworked by duo Matt Early & Lee Jeffries the result is a track that pays homage to the original while injecting new energy and groove, making it perfect for both longtime fans and newcomers to enjoy on the dance floor.

Limited Vinyl Release Act Fast!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Hollywood Swingin Disco Dust Mix
B1. Hollywood Swingin After Party Mix

A lyricist, lawyer and a Londoner, legendary MC Essa has earned praise over the years from artists such as Nas and Mark Ronson, as well as performing and recording with legends like De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, Guru, Slum Village and Pharoahe Monch.

This 15-track album is considered one of the greats to emerge during UK Hip Hop's "golden era"; a vibrant time for the genre when artists such as Ty, Jehst, Roots Manuva, Klashnekoff, Skinnyman, Task Force, Doc Brown and Foreign Beggars were garnering huge fanbases, and an eco-system of shops like Deal Real, club nights like Kung Fu, labels like Lowlife, and stations like Itch FM were prevalent, while BBC 1Xtra was a mere infant.

'The Essance' includes production and features from luminaries such as Harry Love, Mr Thing, Lewis Parker, Kyza, Devise & Ben Grymm, to name a few.

Esteemed author Musa Okwonga says on the reissue liner notes "the most startling thing about 'The Essance' was its range. Yungun (Essa) was one of the few MCs who could perfectly walk the paths of hope and melancholy with equal ease, whose artist name belied the wisdom of his lyrics. Beyond that, his delivery was supremely self-assured, filled with a swagger he could always justify.

Yungun's gifts also extended to the stage, where he was one of the best young actors that many of his contemporaries had seen, and to languages, which saw him writing and rhyming in Spanish with a notable flourish. He was also someone who constantly walked between two worlds, excelling in one of the country's most competitive academic environments during the day and then delivering a soaring radio set by night. Raised in a vibrant vein of North London, endlessly curious about the world around him, Yungun's fine ear for music and passion for the variety of life made him someone who could reach all audiences.

'The Essance' is a beautifully-woven meditation on the human condition, one which takes you from the dancefloor to the summer afternoon barbecue to the bathroom mirror; yet it is also the opening statement of a unique career."

In the words of Essa himself "my key goal for this album was to span so many moods and styles that I couldn't be categorised, leaving me free to then go in whatever direction I chose. I was almost too successful with this – I would later struggle to pin down my own identity, both on and off the mic, as a rapper slash lawyer, of mixed-heritage, blessed to be able to enter many circles but feeling truly at home in none. As I write this, twenty years (plus a marriage and several children) on, I finally feel more at peace with being undefinable, and am getting better at bringing my full, authentic self into as many aspects of life as I can. I am grateful to be able to look both back and forward, with equal passion."

'The Essance' was followed with a collaborative album with DJ Mr Thing ('Grown Man Business'), then some years later on First Word with 'The Misadventures of a Middle Man' in 2014. There's also a forthcoming project in the works, due for release Summer 2024 with all-new material produced by Pitch 92. Both these releases also coincide with the 20th anniversary of the First Word label (named "label of the year" at the 2019 Worldwide Awards).

A timeless piece of work, 'The Essance' is true-skool boom bap through and through that stands up two full decades later, from the ethereal anthem 'Liquid Love', to the uptempo bounce of 'Dancing Shoes', to the grit of 'The Big Idea', to the thought provoking 'What Eye See Pt.2', to bangers like 'Push' or 'Spit Fire', this is an essential addition to the collection of any discerning hip hop head.

TRACK LISTING

1. In
2. The Big Idea (feat. Lewis Parker)
3. Push
4. The Art Of Celebration
5. Tea Break
6. Chef YG
7. Gringo Lingo (feat. Red & Nico Suave)
8. I.C.
9. What Eye See, Pt. 2 (feat. Devise)
10. City Breaks
11. Liquid Love
12. Everything Is Alright
13. Dancing Shoes (feat. Mr Thing)
14. Spit Fire (feat. Kyza Smirnoff)
15. Out

Meatbodies’ latest undertaking and borderline lost album, Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom, is their most varied and realized work to date. It’s a melodic, hook-filled rock epic in which frontman and lead guitarist Chad Ubovich faces the trials of sobriety, redemption, reinvention while literally learning to walk and play again. Resurrection not only accompanies the record, but its production as well, Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom examines themes surrounding love and loss, escapism, defeatism, hedonism, psychedelics and much more.

By 2017, Ubovich had reached a crossroads. After years of increasingly insane shows playing to heaving crowds with an ever-evolving and rotating door of personnel, fatigue had taken its toll and he realized another change was on the horizon. Retreating to the seedy Los Angeles underbelly—in search of meaning and a reset—he escaped into that world, ignoring his own well being, trying to forget his successes. It was at this point that Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom began to take shape—a project built by a man searching for new beginnings and his own sense of self. After sobering up, sessions began with longtime collaborator Dylan Fujioka. However, due to discrepancies with the studio, tensions were high and the plug was pulled. And as the world took a back seat, so did the idea of Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom. Not wanting to sit still at home, Ubovich began to comb through his previous demos, and, with that, 333 was born, the now de facto third Meatbodies album. Yet Flora was never far from Ubovich’s mind. When restrictions started to lift, Ubovich headed to Gold Diggers Sound in Los Angeles, backed by engineer Ed McEntee and a team of colleagues and friends, and completed the final act to the album. It recalls the searing Blue Cheer-meets-Iggy Pop-with-psychedelia that permeated previous releases, but adds new elements of shoegaze, classic alternative, Britpop, drone, and hints of country. Simultaneously an ode to ’80s LA punk and the rise of indie / alternative music in the U.K., it plays like a radio station broadcasting from the void.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: 'Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom' has all of the scuzzy groove and thumping psychedelic heft of their debut or the brilliant '333' from 2021, but shows that beneath the fuzz and chaos, there's a deeply melodic core breaking through. 'Hole' for example channels 90's grunge and sings with the bombastic percussion and multi-tracked guitars of Smashing Pumpkins or Silverchair. In all, a beautifully composed and stylistically diverse triumph.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Assignment
2. Hole
3. Silly Cybin
4. Billow
5. They Came Down
6. Trapped?
7. Move
8. I Believe In Pink (Interlude)
9. Criminal Minds
10. ICNNVR2
11. Psychic Gardens
12. (Return Of) Ecstasy
13. Gaste

The Dutch icon Orlando Voorn is releasing his second album for Deeptrax Records sublabel Contrafact! Having started his career in the early 80s with major influences of Parliament, Kraftwerk, Motown and P funk, he is now widely recognized as an ingenious (Detroit) house and techno producer with former releases on Juan Atkins’ Metroplex records and Kevin Saunderson’s KMS. "The Master 2" is the follow up to "The Master 1" as sees the producer explore brave new worlds of electronic jazz, Detroit techno and futuristic, yet highly soulful house music. Orlando Voorn has used aliases in the past to present and release various styles of music without limiting himself and is one of the most versatile producers out there. As well as expert sound design and brilliant use of textures and dynamics, the LP possesses a musicality that elevates it far outside the immediate dance music spectrum and gives is a universal appear and sophisication.  

TRACK LISTING

A1. Style Is Free
A2. Jazz Hoppin
A3. 6 Feet Away
B1. Venus
B2. Jazzism
B3. Drama At The Opera
C1. Swing That Jazz
C2. Infinite Fusion
D1. Aquarius
D2. Bizar Escape
D3. 6 Feet Away (Funk Mix)

Voyager invite Mike Storm to create his own sonic narrative. "The Pale Blue Dot"  is Mike's aural interpretation of the Voyager spacecraft missions. Each track gives its own take on the journey of spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, with a story board for each track contained inside this limited edition press.

Netherlands native Mike is no stranger to conceptual sci fi music, with numerous releases and albums on Axis Records, plus EP releases on Warm Up Recordings and Modularz to name but a few. The Axis affiliation is tangilbiel, with the whole LP more than tipping its hat to Jeff Mills' "Something In The Sky" series - proper intergalactic space techno with its own red shifted signature.

Mostly all his tracks are written live in one take, with no recall. This makes his music very unique in the digital DAW age. Recommended! 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Prologue - The Call Of Distant Worlds
A2. Pale Blue Dot - Earths Odyssey
A3. Interstellar Sojourn - Voyagers Departure
A4. Celestial Caravan - Across The Outer Reaches
B1. Echos Of Solitude - Voices From The Abyss
B2. Stardust Serenade - Tales Of The Cosmos
B3. Gravitys Embrace - Dancing Among The Planets
B4. Lullaby For Sol - Nostalgia Of Home
B5. Epilogue - Homecoming Of A Voyager 

The debut record by a new duo, Amkarahoi.

"Uncle Reed In The Purple Mine" conjures ghosts of 90s chill out tents, aqueous ambient, exploratory turn of the century IDM and echoes of jammy dub. Amkarahoi is named for a remote region of Eastern Siberia an intimidating car and boat journey from the nearest city - several songs are named after rivers - and the record was borne from a largely improvised show in Saint Petersburg, later overdubbed and mixed down in the studio. The combination of heady, melancholic synthscapes, unexpected samples and the loose, spontaneous nature of it’s genesis make for a unique, compelling proposition.

"Kirenga" alternately swells and submerges ravey pads and shifting kicks, coming up midway for air before plunging again, and "Cutima" peppers the stereo field with foreboding stabs, collapsing drums and faintly nightmarish ambience before emerging from the darkness with gently plucked erhu. "Handa"’s simple four note piano loop and cuckoo vocal sample lament blooms into an engulfing E rush, before "Mogoul" threatens serotonin syndrome with it’s loved up lead and stuttering morning after nostalgia. "Chininga" ekes out a gentle groove over which is laid a hazy, head nodding shimmer, and on "Djegda" they finally submit and throw down a speedy breakbeat for some more classically vintage fire twirling shapes.

Amkarahoi is Nikita Chepurnoi and Sergey Dmitriev. Chepurnoi has released records as Minereed on his own Echotourist imprint, and as part of The Patience and Copacabana on Hair Del. Dmitriev has made music as Purple Uncle for Echotourist, Hair Del and Nazlo

"Uncle Reed In The Purple Mine" was written, produced and mixed by Nikita Chepurnoy & Sergey Dmitriev. Mastered by Rashad Becker. Art by Susumu Mukai.

TRACK LISTING

Kirenga
Cutima
Handa
Mogoul
Chininga
Ichikta
Djegda
Minia

After releasing countless collectable and in-demand 7" singles and making a name for themselves in the contemporary raw funk and soul scene; and after working with the legendary Janko Nilovic For "Maze of Sounds" and "Two Tales For The Mind vol 1", The Soul Surfers drop their first 7" on Broc Recordz. "High Roller" is a reverb soaked, breezy afternoon funk jam, with nods to Surprise Chef and Khruangbin along the way. "Big Slick" meanwhile, revolves around a raw, untreated drum break whilst more reverby guitar chops lie atop a sparsely populated bassline.

Psychedelic collage cover made by the italian artist Riccardo Bettazzoni. Limited edition of 500 copies. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: More dusty, psychedelic funk with library leanings and a relaxed mood - file next to Surprise Chef and other releases on the killer Broc Recordz .

TRACK LISTING

A. High Roller
B. Big Slick

ATA Records are proud to announce the new album I Too Am A Stranger from The Sorcerers, following previous album successes The Sorcerers and In Search of The Lost City of The Monkey God, which garnered high praise from Mulatu Astatke Who's this? The Sorcerers? It's cool! This is great. Give me the CD man!" and recent Radio 6-listed 7" single Exit Athens, of which Giles Peterson said, "Great Stuff as always".

Recorded wholly at ATA Studios and produced by label head, Neil Innes, I Too Am A Stranger features the Sorcerers trio, (lead by Neil Innes) of Joost Hendrickx/Neil Innes/Richard Ormrod, with assistance from regular percussion collaborator Danny Templeman and up-and-coming Leeds trumpeter Olivia Cuthill. Joost and Neil's drum and bass bond is tighter than ever, and Richard is given free rein on baritone and alto saxophones, flutes, bass clarinet, vibes, and the wonderland that is the ATA vintage keyboard collection.

I Too Am A Stranger is a resolutely maximal endeavour, a layered recording both sonically and via many interwoven influences: as ever, the Ethiopique sound is front and centre [Bebaynetu, Kid Mahout, She Who Perceives The Sounds Of The World], but there are also references to the declamatory baritone sax-heavy chanbara soundtracks of Fumio Hayasaka [Yasuke In Roppongi, Oromo Moon], the fuzzed-out vibes sound of Vibrafinger-era Gary Burton [side openers The Warrior Code and He Who Kills With One Leap], and Moondog's popping woodblocks [Moth, The Dao Of The Sorcerers].

In truth, there is so much on this album to appeal to so many different listeners: tight – and new! – beats, exotic melody, far-out horns, references from within and without the worlds of Jazz, Library, Ethio, etc etc, as well as the wholly analogue ATA sound that satisfies DJs and audiophiles alike.

TRACK LISTING

1. He Who Kills With One Leap
2. Moth
3. Yasuke In Roppongi
4. Bebaynetu
5. The Warrior Code
6. Kid Mahout
7. The Road Forward
8. Oromo Moon
9. She Who Perceives The Sounds Of The World

Repro of this sought after 1969 reggae LP. Includes 10 classic tracks featuring top Jamaican session players such Val Bennett, Winston Wright, and Gladstone Anderson.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sitting On Top
2. Been So Long
3. Close To Me
4. Long Time
5. Standing In
6. Have Some Mercy
7. The Girl's Alright With Me
8. You Really Got A Hold On Me
9. I'm Not Begging
1.0 It's All Right

Produced by Henry Jenkins (Surprised Chef), cinematic funk combo The Diasonics are back with a limited edition 45 feat. an explosive version of soul stormer "Beggin'. Limited to 500 copies worldwide.

Produced and mixed by Henry Jenkins (Surprised Chef), Russian cinematic funk combo The Diasonics unleash a limited edition 45 featuring an explosive version of soul classic "Beggin'. Composed by Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina and initially brought to success by the Four Seasons of Frankie Valli in 1967, "Beggin" became a classic of the Northern soul scene in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. With a tight rhythm section, a super funky bassline and heavy wah-wah guitars The Diasonics version is an instant floorfiller. On the flip side the brand new track "Take One", an irresistible hammond-funk mover, full of heavy breaks and eastern spices.

Active since 2019 The Diasonics are five young and seriously talented Muscovite musicians: Anton Moskvin (drums), Maxim Brusov (bass guitar), Anton Katyrin (percussions), Daniil Lutsenko (electric guitar) and Kamil Gzizov (keyboards). In just a few years the band has amassed a cult following, releasing collectable and in-demand 45s on labels such as Funk Night Records and Mocambo Records. In 2021 they released their debut album "Origin of Forms" on Record Kicks produced by Henry Jenkins, producer amongst the others of the Australian cult instrumental band Surprise Chef. Thanks to the Diasonics's unique style that blends infectious Funk Instrumentals, East European flavours, abstract hip-hop and psychedelia, the album rapidly went sold out on vinyl and it's heavily praised on the international cinematic-funk scene.

TRACK LISTING

1. Beggin'
2. Take One

Darius Jones: The New York based composer and saxophonist draws connections between Fluxus and US avant jazz. By John Morrison

Steve Roach: Synthesizer worship with the Arizona ambient musician. By Ned Raggett; [Ahmed]: Revolutionary grooves from the radically minded Anglo-Swedish-French quartet. By Stewart Smith

Clarissa Connelly: The Scottish born, Denmark based multi-instrumentalist meditates on myth, memory and modernity via her singular songcraft. By Leah Kardos

Shovel Dance Collective: The London avant folk ensemble balance the trad and the weird. By Lucy Thraves

Invisible Jukebox: Ka Baird: Will the New York based artist lose their Bearings when faced by The Wire’s mystery record selection? Tested by Ryan Meehan

Unlimited Editions: Industrial Coast

Unofficial Channels: The Rest

Arushi Jain: The India born synthesist humanises electronics. By Vanessa Ague

Kulku: Berlin no-age ensemble prepare rare record release. By Oli Warwick

Harmony Holiday: Backstage with the pioneers of Black music. By Kehinde Alonge

Richie Culver: Outsider art and working class electronics. By Spenser Tomson

The Inner Sleeve: Raji Rags on D’Angelo’s Voodoo

Global Ear: Dublin DIY strategies against economic constraints. By Daniel Baker

Epiphanies: Aura Satz heeds the siren’s song

The Wire Tapper 64: A track-by-track guide to this issue’s free CD

BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 - MOJO MAGAZINE & UNCUT MAGAZINE "In early '77 I asked Grant if he'd form a band with me. `No,' was his blunt reply." Grant McLennan didn't want to be in a band. He couldn't play an instrument; Charlie Chaplin was his hero du jour.

And yet, when Robert Forster wrote Hemingway, Genet, Chandler and Joyce into his lyrics, McLennan couldn't resist a second invitation to become 80s indie sensation The Go Betweens. The friends would collaborate for three decades, until Grant's premature death in 2006. Beautifully written - like lyrics, like prose - Grant & I is a rock memoir akin to no other.

Part `making of', part music industry expose, part buddy-book, this is a delicate and perceptive celebration of creative endeavour. With wit and candour, Robert Forster pays tribute to a band who found huge success in the margins, having friendship at its heart.

The Rolling Stones embarked on the Licks World Tour in 2002 & 2003 to celebrate their 40th anniversary, featuring the band performing in arenas and stadiums, in addition to the occasional theater. In November 2002, the Stones arrived in Los Angeles to perform at a packed Wiltern Theatre, treating fans to a set heavy on rarities which feel right at home in such an intimate setting. While some of the hits are performed, this night at the Wiltern is for the rarely played classics, including “Stray Cat Blues”, “No Expectations” and a cover of “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” featuring a guest spot by the legendary Solomon Burke, who opened the show that night.

TRACK LISTING

3LP Tracklisting:
Side A:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Live With Me
Neighbours
Hand Of Fate
Side B:
No Expectations
Beast Of Burden
Stray Cat Blues
Side C:
Dance, Part 1
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke)
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Going To A Go-Go
Side D:
Thru And Thru
You Don’t Have To Mean It
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
Side E:
Rock Me Baby
Bitch
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Side F:
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice

2CD Tracklisting:
CD1:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Live With Me
Neighbours
Hand Of Fate
No Expectations
Beast Of Burden
Stray Cat Blues
Dance, Part 1
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke)
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Going To A Go-Go
Band Introductions
CD2:
Thru And Thru
You Don’t Have To Mean It
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
Rock Me Baby
Bitch
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice

Today's club culture all started with Northern Soul and its roots in the Mod all-nighter scene of London clubs. All the ingredients were there: DJs privy to the latest imports and advance promos, dancers fuelled by illegal uppers, venues which had scarcely opened when the pubs were all but deserted. The records, drugs and clubs have all changed, true, but the lifestyle is identical. Featuring classics from the Northern Soul Scene including Tom Jones, Ronnie Jones, Brotherhood of Man, Sonny Childe, Billie Davis, Tony Newman, Bats and more. Presented for the first time on orange colour vinyl and CD, this is essential for any funk and soul lovers.

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
1. Frankie & Johnny - I'll Hold You
2. David Essex - So-Called Loving
3. The Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache
4. Fearns Brass Foundry - Don't Change It
5. Clyde McPhatter - Baby You've Got It
6. Micky Moonshine - Name It You Got It
Side B:
1. Ronnie Jones - My Love
2. Fantastics - Ask The Lonely
3. Tom Jones - Stop Breaking My Heart
4. Billie Davis - Billy Sunshine
5. Amen Corner - Our Love (Is In The Pocket)
6. Danny Williams - Whose Little Girl Are You
Side C:
1. Eyes Of Blue - Heart Trouble
2. Bobby Hanna - Everybody Needs Love
3. Dave Berry - Picture Me Gone
4. John E. Paul - I Wanna Know
5. Elkie Brooks - The Way You Do The Things You Do
6. Jon Gunn - I Just Made Up My Mind
7. Adrienne Poster - Something Beautiful
Side D:
1. Brotherhood Of Man - Reach Out Your Hand
2. Sonny Childe - Giving Up On Love
3. Truly Smith - My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)
4. Stevie Kimble - All The Time In The World
5. Tony Newman - Let The Good Times Roll
6. The Bats - Listen To My Heart

Before releasing their lone self-titled debut album, one of the most rare rock records to be released in Europe in the 1970s, Paternoster provided the soundtrack for a film that could only have been made while the psychedelic movement was still in its first wave. The group’s first recordings presented here are the soundtrack for Herbert Holbaís 1971 hippie sci-fi film Die Ersten Tage (The First Days), screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, and interestingly played on Austrian TV in August of that year. The material issued here is the genesis of Paternoster and set the stage for the release of one of the world’s great rock albums with their self-titled debut the following year. The music has been painstakingly transferred directly from master tapes

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A: Cues 1-15.
SIDE B: Cues 16-30

Bananarama celebrate over 40 years at the top with the release of ‘Glorious - The Ultimate Collection’. With 40 tracks selected by Sara and Keren themselves, the album revisits every decade of the band’s career, with hits including ‘Cruel Summer’, ‘Venus’, ‘Love in the First Degree’, ‘Only Your Love’, ‘Preacher Man’, ‘Move in My Direction’ and more, along with two new singles, ‘Feel The Love’ and ‘Supernova’.

TRACK LISTING

LP (Transparent Red)
Cruel Summer (3am Mix)
Robert De Niro’s Waiting
Venus (Boys Noize Rework Edit)
Love In The First Degree
Preacher Man
Movin’ On (Disco Chic)
Move In My Direction
Look On The Floor
Love Don’t Live Here
Stuff Like That
Looking For Someone
Favourite
Masquerade
Forever Young
Feel The Love
Supernova

2CD / 3LP (Transparent Gold)
Really Saying Something
Cruel Summer
Robert De Niro's Waiting
Venus
More Than Physical
A Trick Of The Night
I Heard A Rumour
Love In The First Degree
Only Your Love
Preacher Man
I Could Be Persuaded
Movin' On [Disco Chic]
Last Thing On My Mind [Electrified]
Every Shade Of Blue
Take Me To Your Heart
Prove Your Love
If
Crazy
Move In My Direction
Look On The Floor (Hypnotic Tango)
Feel For You
Lovebite
Love Comes
Love Don't Live Here
Seventeen
Extraordinary
Baby It's Christmas
Now Or Never
La La Love
Stuff Like That
Looking For Someone
I'm On Fire
It's Gonna Be Alright
Favourite
Masquerade
Forever Young
Running With The Night
Cruel Summer (3am Mix)
Feel The Love
Supernova

Steve Wynn and Kendra Smith founded The Dream Syndicate in 1981 and the band was a mainstay of the Paisley Underground movement. Reformed in 2012 by Steve Wynn, the band is still touring and recording.

The LA Times said the Dream Syndicate “rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction.”

‘Live Through the Past, Darkly’ is available on CD or coloured vinyl double LP, with both formats including a DVD of the The Dream Syndicate’s ‘How Did We Find Ourselves Here?’ documentary.

DVD includes previously unreleased bonus video of a complete 1984 live show from The Roxy in LA.

The documentary includes Chris Robinson, Stephen McCarthy, Ryan Adams, Chris Cacavas, Chris D., David Fricke, Russ Tolman, Tim Devine, Tom Gracyk, Pat Thomas, Karen Schoemer, Kari Pearson, Scott McCaughey, Sandy Pearlman, Dan Stuart and Howe Gelb.

TRACK LISTING

The Medicine Show (1983) The Roxy
Still Holding On To You (1983) Club Lingerie
Halloween (1984) Tokyo
Forest For The Trees (1986) Roskilde Festival
Now I Ride Alone (1988) Vitoria Gasteiz
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (1988) Vitoria Gasteiz
That’s What You Always Say (2014) KEXP
How Did I Find Myself Here? (2017) KEXP
Glide (2019) WXPN
Bullet Holes (2019) WXPN
John Coltrane Stereo Blues (2023) The Lexington

Hard to find debut single originally released on Molesworth Records in 1988
Formed in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire after drummer Simon Scott met Guitarist Graham Garduilo in local band The Giant Polar Bears.

They were tour buddies to Ride and most of the late 1980s shoegaze bands. Simon Scott was stolen by Slowdive after a gig at the White Horse in Hampstead in 1990, where the Boo Radleys opened the three-band bill.

They split after releasing two albums. John Peel loved them and NME gave debut album Lovehappy 9 out of 10.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
Are You Happy Now
Side 2
How Can You Say (you Really Feel)

The Soninke collective consciousness finds its origins in a founding myth, a blood pact: the legend of Biida and the decadence of the empire of Ghana or Wagadu (evoked by Léopold Sédar Senghor as a land of plenty in his poem Le Kaya Magan). From the 3rd century AD, gathered in the region of Sahel, on the edge of the Sahara desert, the Soninko ruled over their kingdom and its capital Kumbi Saleh. According to folklore, they were blessed with abundant rain and nuggets of gold could be picked directly from the ground.

They owed this prosperity to a providential but cruel protector: the Wagadu Biida, a seven-headed serpent who lived at the bottom of the Kumbi well. Every year, as a reward for his favours, the Biida demanded an offering: the life of the most beautiful virgin woman in the community. Sacrifices took place for generations, until the 13th century AD, when fate chose Siya Yatabéré, Maamadi Sehedunxote's sweetheart...

Centuries later in 1977, Gaye Mody Camara, a young Soninke raised in Mali's Kayes region, settled in France to found his own empire. Initially selling wax, kola nuts and other goods in his Parisian outlets, he rapidly started distributing cassette tapes and eventually producing a multitude of recordings for his own label: Camara Production.

Crossing paths and collaborating over the next four decades with legendary artists, griots and industry moguls like Boncana Maïga, Jean-Philippe Rykiel, Ganda Fadiga, Diaby Doua or Ibrahima Sylla, Camara became one of the great independent music producers of his generation, and a pilar of the Parisian Soninke diaspora.

Released in close collaboration with Gaye Camara and with the assistance of Daouda N'diaye, one of A.P.S' (Association pour la Promotion de la langue et de la culture Soninké) historical members, this selection of songs and accompanying notes aim to shed a light on an intricate culture and its modern music, injustifiably unknown outside of West Africa and the various Soninko diasporas around the world.

From Malian Zouk to Mauritanian Reggae and other psychedelic groovers originally released on cassettes or digitally, we have given the utmost attention to bringing this music to a new format. It has been carefully remastered and pressed on 180g vinyl, with riso printed liner notes.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Really nice comp which shines a spotlight on this criminally undiscovered West African hub. There's a fresh, contemporary feel to a lot of the tracks, even though many of them date back some years. Progressive afrobeat rich in vitalic vocal parts and skilled instrumentalists; not to mention its evocative nature which takes easily-guided minds straight to the heart of its community.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Mamadou Tangoudia - Kori
A2. Halima Kissima Touré - Koolo Fune
A3. Lassana Hawa Cissokho - Ñogome

B1. Hadja Soumano - Nteri Diaba
B2. Naïny Diabaté - Sankoy Djeli
B3. Mah Kouyaté - Soso

C1. Halima Kissima Touré - Alla Da Fo Ña
C2. Ami Traoré - Tenedo
C3. Babani Koné - Soyeba
C4. Kaniba Oulé Kouyaté - Songne Bela

D1. Diaby Doua - Boliñaame
D2. Diobo Fode - Yexu
D3. Halima Kissima Touré - Duna
D4. Hadja Soumano - Ayebo

Get ready for an electrifying revelation as we delve into the mind-blowing credits of this extraordinary record! This record has an outrageous lineup as Moplen is let loose to brilliantly remix and reprise of Loose Change’s timeless masterpiece, “Straight From the Heart. A track that emerged from the creative genius of none other than Tom Moulton, the legendary maestro behind legendary Donna Summer’s iconic hits. But that’s not all! Enter the realm of Thor Baldursson, the brilliant mastermind known for his groundbreaking concepts and awe-inspiring arrangements. Together, the three of them form a disco dream team!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Edit supremo Moplen gets gifted the stems of this Loose Change mammoth. As you'd expect he more that does the track justice, giving it a fresh lease of life at the disco. No one handles an extension better than Moplen - ooooh matron!

TRACK LISTING

1. Straight From The Heart (Moplen Remix)
2. Straight From The Heart (Moplen Reprise)

Focus On Nature is the new studio album from celebrated post-psyche singer songwriter Nick Saloman and his band The Bevis Frond. Seventy-five minutes of glorious melodies that span 60s psych, English folk, Seattle art-punks The Wipers, the buzzsaw pop of Dinosaur Jr and Hendrix-esque explorations. There’s always an element of playful Englishness to their music.

Heavily influencing the likes of The Lemonheads, Teenage Fanclub, Elliot Smith, Pavement and Dinosaur Jr, the cult icons have produced another off-kilter mix of melodic piano-led melancholy, acoustic ruminations, scratchy garage rock with a punky edge and full-on guitar histrionics.

Like its much-praised predecessor, ‘Little Eden’, the new record studies the world’s weariness but fills out a bigger canvas; fast food and global warming, broken hearts and long gone nights out, everyday immortality and being God’s gift all share space. It’s like Townshend at his most thematic; Big Star in all their acoustic glory, perfectly balancing the punky garage rock combo who end up running on ‘Empty’ with Gilmour breaks that elevate it all to grandeur.

“Still mixing pop, punk and psych to giddy effect.” The Guardian

“Self-reflection is twinned with a rueful survey of the current state of the nation.” Uncut

TRACK LISTING

1. Heat
2. Focus On Nature
3. God's Gift
4. Vitruvian Man
5. A Mirror
6. Leb Off
7. Here For The Other One
8. Happy Wings
9. Empty
10. Wrong Way Round
11. Mr Freds Disco
12. Jack Immortal
13. Hairstreaks
14. Maybe We Got It Wrong
15. Brocadine
16. Big Black Sky
17. The Hug
18. I Can't Breathe
19. Hung On A Wire

Faye Webster’s songs are direct lines to the human subconscious, and Underdressed at the Symphony documents what happens once you begin to build a new self from the ashes of your old routines. This rebirth isn’t flashy or definitive, but is instead a series of seemingly mundane moments that, scattered across weeks and months, sneak their way toward something like healing. Yes, there’s a breakup in play, but Webster is not documenting the heartbreak of a breakup so much as she’s navigating the contours of heartbreak itself.

Recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas with her longtime band, Webster is accompanied on Underdressed at the Symphony by Matt Stoessel’s arcs of shimmering pedal steel, the plaintive, unhurried drums of Charles Garner, and, occasionally, additional guitarwork from Wilco’s Nels Cline, among many other crucial players. The title of the album refers to Webster’s post-breakup compulsion to visit the symphony on a whim, usually buying a ticket at the last possible second. “Going to the symphony was almost like therapy for me. I was quite literally underdressed at the symphony because I would just decide at that moment that that's what I wanted to do,” she says. “That's what I felt like I needed to hear. I got to leave what I felt like was kind of a shitty time in my life and be in this different world for a minute.”

That strain of lightheartedness with a melancholic backbone permeates the album, and is the major driving force behind “Lego Ring,” which features Atlanta multi-hyphenate Lil Yachty, the only guest voice on the entire album. Yachty’s ghostly warble floats just under Webster’s voice, jabbing through empty space, trembling over a low rumble of bass. The song is also a sort of release—a buoyant moment that cuts through the sadness. “I think I hit a point in songwriting during this record where I was just like, man, I said a lot.” Webster says. “I'm just going to sit down and sing about this ring that I really want.” Like the rest of the album, Webster isn’t providing answers, nor is she on some epic journey of healing and self-care. Instead, she’s choosing to just live, to document heartbreak and ridiculous moments right next to each other, until they start to blur together, becoming real enough for us all to feel.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A soaring, swooning selection of beautifully penned ballads, grooving guitar lines and cracked vocoder vox from the brilliant Faye Webster. 'Lego Ring' is for me, one of the top bangers of the year thus far. A perfectly mixed cocktail of synth-pop, indie and with wisps of country woven through her compositions, Webster is a true talent. Brilliant.

TRACK LISTING

1.Thinking About You
2. But Not Kiss
3. Wanna Quit All The Time
4. Lego Ring
5. Feeling Good Today
6. Lifetime
7. He Loves Me Yeah!
8. EBay Purchase History
9. Underdressed At TheSymphony
10. Tttttime

The Pheromoans are tenants of an unruly domain. Over the last 18 years the group have evolved from garage rock primitivists to auteurs of their own curious sound; a frothy brew of loose electronics, refractory rock and humdrum musing. Their songs are mutable, capricious, unreliable narrations, often withholding as much as they reveal. Russell Walker’s understated vocal has always been the band’s unifying focus, it is wry, unsparing and wilfully honest. Walker’s lyrics are an observational tour de force, sometimes droll, yet often tipping over into unlikely pathos. With previous releases on Upset The Rhythm, Convulsive and Alter, 2024 will witness The Pheromoans return with lucky album number 13, entitled ‘Wyrd Psearch’ (out March 1st on Upset The Rhythm).

‘Wyrd Psearch’ was recorded in Lewes throughout 2023. This was undertaken by founding member James Tranmer, his keen instinct for how the band should sound shaping many of the creative decisions. Joined by new guitarist Henry Holmes, the five piece doubled down on a decidedly breezy, melodic approach. Scott Reeve’s drumming is ever brisk, whilst Daniel Bolger explores AOR peripheries on keyboard and bass. “Wyrd Psearch finds us on relatively zestful form” affirms Walker “whether it be merrily recalling the Jason Williamson / Tim Lovejoy Covid summit, or mentally bathing in the pleasures of lunch hours spent strapped to a listening post in Borders.” With The Pheromoans there is always a familiarity at play, only broken and reassembled, like a bygone sitcom gone rogue in your memory. This contributes to the group’s peculiarly British outsider perspective, one that shouts from the sidelines, but never goes unnoticed.

Subjects covered lyrically on ‘Wyrd Psearch’ include “mid-life crises, male pattern baldness, and thwarted artistic and personal ambitions” according to Walker himself. “Nothing is off limits for scrutiny, even rural arts communities” he concludes. Lead single ‘Downtown’ swings with chiming guitars and finds Walker mid-breakdown trying to persuade a loved one to accompany him into the town centre to collect controlled medication and wind back the clock to happier times. “I want to keep you in cotton wool until pay day” he confides. ‘Cropped to Death’ and ‘Father Austin’ are ruminative and more relaxed in nature, whilst ‘Twibbon Wife’ is a more energetic effort, all jabbed synth chords, circuitous basslines and rampant drum fills. ‘Faith in the Future’ similarly bounds along with reverie.

Walker claims that the album’s title is an expression of his frustration at the ubiquity of people claiming things are eerie or weird / wyrd in the present cultural milieu. The artwork for the record is designed as an actual word search too, a knowing nod to how we all grapple for meaning amongst the absurdity of each day. Leaning into ‘weird’ as a coping mechanism is not on The Pheromoans’ agenda however. This album holds little sway with the supernatural, it’s not enough. The overriding impression given by ‘Wyrd Psearch’ is of a band renewed with ideas. There’s no trouble finding the right words, they’re hitting their mark, keeping up with the commentary. ‘Wyrd Psearch’ is a document of The Pheromoans mastering their unquiet moment.

TRACK LISTING

01. A Brash Child
02. Downtown
03. Father Austin
04. The Inland Road
05. 00’s Wyrking
06. Twibbon Wife
07. Faith In The Future
08. It’s A Little Bit Different
09. General Mojo
10. Compound Shock
11. Cropped To Death
12. Pop-up Companion

Best known for his work in WAH! and its off various off shoots. He began his career in bands with friends Julian Cope, Ian McCulloch and Pete Burns, before gaining nationwide attention under his own various project names with a string of singles 'The Story Of The Blues', 'Come Back', 'Sinful, 'Seven Minutes to Midnight' and later, the LFC anthem 'Heart As Big As Liverpool'.

Wylie's 'Heart As Big As Liverpool' is especially popular within the city and with Liverpool Football Club supporters, being used in the official Hillsborough tribute video. In 2008 Wylie performed at the opening ceremony of Liverpool's European City of Culture tenure.

'Teach Yself WAH! - A Best Of' is a new compilation bringing together music from across his numerous musical names. Wylie has hand-picked 20 songs, highlighting key points from each period in his illustrious career. As well as including his early singles and the songs which brought him chart success, he has also chosen deep cuts including the original version of his collaboration with Big Hard Excellent Fish, available for the first time since it's intial 12" only release. 

TRACK LISTING

CD Tracklist:
1. Remember
2. The Story Of The Blues (Part One)
3. You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
4. Hope (I Wish You’d Believe Me)
5. Talking Blues (The Story Of The Blues: Part Two)
6. Come Back
7. Diamond Girl
8. Fourelevenfortyfour
9. Sinful – Song Of The Sinful Angel
10. The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies – A Party Song
11. Loverboy
12. Free; Falling (In Love With You)
13. Heart As Big As Liverpool
14. Better Scream 2024
15. Seven Minutes To Midnight 2024
16. Somesay
17. Big Hard Excellent Fish – Imperfect List (Original Version)

LP Tracklisting:
1. Remember
2. The Story Of The Blues (Part One)
3. You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory
4. Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me)
5. Sleep (A Lullaby For Josie)
6. Talking Blues (The Story Of The Blues: Part Two)
7. Come Back
8. Diamond Girl
9. Fourelevenfortyfour
10. Sinful - Song Of The Sinful Angel
11. The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies - A Party Song
12. Loverboy
13. Is That What Love Is All About?
14. Free; Falling (In Love With You)
15. Heart As Big As Liverpool
16. Better Scream 2024
17. Seven Minutes To Midnight 2024
18. Somesay
19. The Seven Thousand Names Of WAH!
20. Big Hard Excellent Fish - Imperfect List (Original Version)

Brand New Remastered Versions.

The June Brides debut single originally released in 1984 on The Pink Label.

Both tracks are from fresh transfers from the master tapes which were then remastered by Jason Mitchell at LOUD Mastering in Taunton in early 2021.

The June Brides are true innovators, hailing from the first wave of British indie, with fans that include Manic Street Preachers (who covered their song “The Instrumental” as a tribute) , Morrissey and Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch.

They have always been regarded as pioneers, and one of the most beloved of the bands that formed the original UK independent music scene, which has since been tagged as C86.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
In The Rain
Side B
Sunday To Saturday

English alternative rock band The Blinders' return with third album, 'Beholder'.

The perfect introduction to their album, 'Brakelights' drips with a dark atmospheric intensity which equally lurks across the albums other 9 tracks. Beholder shares a frenetic energy with their previous albums, but there's a new depth both lyrically and musically to the album.

With a visceral urgency live to more than match the likes of contemporaries IDLES or Fontaines DC, The Blinders live shows are brooding and intense, recalling the dark atmospherics of The Bad Seeds or peak-period Bunnymen.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Swimming with gothic influence, but kept moving along with propulsive percussion and throbbing post-punk bass, The Blinders' new outing 'Beholder' has all of the moody drive and melodic leaning of their previous two but refined into a finely honed melodic powerhouse. Reminiscent of several bands but with a sound all of their own.

TRACK LISTING

1. Ceremony
2. Brakelights
3. While I’m SVll Young
4. At Any Hand But Hers
5. Always
6. Iggy Got Camaro
7. Waterfalls Of Venice
8. Nocturnal Skies
9. Swallowing Static
10. All I Need

Karen Dalton's 1969 Capitol debut is finally back in print! Light in the Attic is thrilled to present a brand new edition of this heart-wrenching & bluesy introduction to the intoxicating world of Dalton and her deep well of musical secrets.

World-weary and filled with the blues, Dalton’s unsurpassed interpretive depth and emotional range were like no other. Recorded for Capitol in 1969, It’s So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best spans generations of classic American songwriting–covering classics by Lead Belly, Fred Neil, and Tim Hardin. While no longer with us in the physical, Karen’s growing musical presence is stronger than ever and worthy of re-examination by both the converted and the uninitiated alike. This new re-release serves as the definitive, all-analog version of Dalton’s stunning debut, featuring remastered audio from the original Capitol masters, the original 1969 artwork in an expanded gatefold jacket, unseen photos by album photographer Joel Brodsky, and an essay interviewing Karen’s friends and music collaborators, from album producer and bassist Harvey Brooks to musician Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders.

TRACK LISTING

1. Little Bit Of Rain
2. Sweet Substitute
3. Ribbon Bow
4. I Love You More Than Words Can Say
5. In The Evening
6. Blues On The Ceiling
7. It Hurts Me Too
8. How Did The Feeling Feel To You
9. Right, Wrong Or Ready
10. Down On The Street

Atlanta’s original Eccentric Soul labels - Jesse Jones’ Tragar and Note - captured critical regional R&B, soul and funk from 1968-1976.

Compiling 34 tracks and sprawled across two LPs, this 15-year anniversary deluxe edition appears on vinyl for the first time.

Featuring rare-as-hens’-teeth 45s by Eula Cooper, Tee Fletcher, Richard Cook, Frankie & Robert, Tokay Lewis, Nathan Wilkes, Chuck Wilder, Bill Wright, Sonia Ross, Sandy Gaye, Four Tracks, Young Divines, and several others the label can’t fit on a hype sticker.

TRACK LISTING

Tee Fletcher - Down In The Country
Bill Wright - You Got A Spell On Me
Eula Cooper - Shake Daddy Shake
The Knights - Tipping Strings
L. Daniels - Nitecap (inst)
Frankie & Robert - Sweet Thing
Franciene Thomas - I’ll Be There
Richard Cook - Somebody Got’a Help Me
Frankie & Robert - Love (It’s Been So Long)
The Knights - The Hump (inst)
Chuck Wilder - The Clown
Tokay Lewis - Who Wants Me Now
Nathan Wilkes - Now That I’m Wise
Langston & French - Tumbling Down
Eula Cooper - Heavenly Father
Tokay Lewis - What Can The Matter Be
Richard Cook - Love Is So Mean
Bill Wright - You’re The Only Thing I’ve Got Going For Me
Sonia Ross - Every Now And Then
Sandy Gaye - Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone
Bobby Owens & The Diplomats - Messing Around
Bill Wright - How Can I Hit The Ball
Tee Fletcher - All Because Of You
Eula Cooper - Standing By Love
Four Tracks - Charade
The Young Divines - Deep In Your Heart
Eula Cooper - I Need You More
Chuck Wilder - Why
Sonia Ross - Let Me Be Free
Eula Cooper - Try
Young Divines - Ain’t That Sharp
Franciene Thomas - Too Beautiful To Be Good
Sonia Ross - Breaking My Heart
Four Tracks - You Mean Everything To Me

Volume II of a new Light Sounds Dark two part compilation plunging further into the occult and mystery frequencies. A terrifying front cover lending insight at what black magik lays instore for the listening ritual. As usual, LSD procure sounds from completely unheard of seams, the resulting witch's cauldron of musical mayhem likely to challenge even the highest order sonic shamans. 

Limited copies, won't hang around long! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: This might be the scariest edition of Light Sounds Dark we've ever had. From the occultist demon charging at you on the sleeve to the cauldron of gurgling electronix and sonic witchcraft contained on the black magik wax; it's a hauntingly arresting journey from our astral planing spirit guides. Confront your inner shadow and book a meeting with the cosmic serpent!

Volume I on a New Light Sounds Dark two part compilation, plunging further into the occult and mystery frequencies. A terrifying front cover lending insight at what black magik lays instore for the listening ritual. As usual, LSD procure sounds from completely unheard of seams, the resulting witch's cauldron of musical mayhem likely to challenge even the highest order sonic shamans.

Limited copies, won't hang around long! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: This might be the scariest edition of Light Sounds Dark we've ever had. From the occultist demon charging at you on the sleeve to the cauldron of gurgling electronix and sonic witchcraft contained on the black magik wax; it's a hauntingly arresting journey from our astral planing spirit guides. Confront your inner shadow and book a meeting with the cosmic serpent!

2 more rap classics on one slice of 7" vinyl - this time a pair of neck snapping bangers from Common. Limited numbers as always, these don't hang about!

TRACK LISTING

1. The 6th Sense
2. The Light

Another amazing Dirty Blends edition with three tracks of heavy jak beat and OG Chicago warehouse flavours.

The A side kicks off with Kincaid presenting a dark and menacing composition played and created with blood and sweat behind the vintage music boxes to come with this 12 minute cranium splitter - "Circuit Collapse".

Cliff Solomon honors the timeless work of originators Boyd Jarvis & Timmy Regisford with an '85 flavoured exercise of proto-house entitled "Battle Cry". With drum machines you'd associate more with the boogie genre, plus expert keyboard sections and sound effects, this retrograded house track will definitely devastate today's dancefloor leaving people scratching their heads as to its origin.

The Jak and Lex Lathan collaborate on "The Call (On The Edge)". recorded at Nation HQ and perhaps the most twisted and discordant offering out of the three. Warped vox, detuned synths and deranged licks smothering a straight up jak beat rhythm. Seriously wild stuff for the more adventurous DJ and dancer - TIP! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Dirty Blends can do no wrong in my book at the moment. There's no one out there daring to take on the dark passion of jak beat with such authority. With each release they seem to get closer to the spirit of Ron Hardy... if you don't know - get to know.

TRACK LISTING

A1. William Kincaid - Circuit Collapse
B1. Cliff Solomon- Battle Cry
B2. The Jak & Lex Lathan - The Call (On The Edge)

The Last Dinner Party present a new 7” vinyl to celebrate their debut single release ‘Nothing Matters’. This limited-edition Crystal Clear transparent 7” release features the hauntingly beautiful 'Nothing Matters' on the A-side and a stunning stripped back acoustic version of 'Nothing Matters' on the B-side.

Often cited as the masterwork of French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg, Histoire De Melody Nelson features actress, amour, and inspiration Jane Birkin, arranger/conductor and co-conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier (L’Enfant Assassins Des Mouches), and a tight,hand-picked crew of top shelf U.K. session musicians, including Big Jim Sullivan, Vic Flick, Brian Odgers, and Dougie Wright. Originally released in 1971, this is an essential album for the discerning music lover.

Our initial reissue marked the first time that Histoire De Melody Nelson was ever made available domestically in the U.S., now available in two brand new très chic color variants. Dispelling countless myths, hearsay, and rumors surrounding Nelson, New York-based writer Andy Beta contributes a stylish essay for your edification, while the maestro himself chimes in with a period Q&A interview from France’s Rock N Folk Magazine, originally published in June 1971.

TRACK LISTING

Melody
Ballade De Melody Nelson
Valse De Melody
Ah ! Melody
L'hôtel Particulier
En Melody
Cargo Culte

In the 1970s, Betty Davis defied genre and gender by pushing her voice to extremes and embracing the erotic. She articulated a kind of pre–punk, funk–blues fusion that had yet to be normalized in mainstream music — a style that few musicians have come close to replicating. As one of the first Black women to write, arrange, and produce her own albums, Betty was a visionary who disregarded industry boundaries and constraints. Raw, unapologetic, and in full control, Betty paved the way for generations of future artists who said ‘funk you’ to the music industry and social norms.

In 1975, Betty Davis’s star was on the rise. With the backing of Island Records and a new band, Funk House, Betty’s third album, Nasty Gal, leans into the hyper-sexualized persona with which her critics were so obsessed. She raps, purrs, shrieks, and moans on top of Funk House’s manic funk-rock and lays claim to the “bad girl” anthems that now saturate the music industry. Mastered from the original tapes, Nasty Gal showcases Betty’s groundbreaking work as a performer, writer, and producer.

TRACK LISTING

Nasty Gal
Talkin Trash
Dedicated To The Press
You And I
Feelins
F.u.n.k.
Gettin Kicked Off, Havin Fun
Shut Off The Light
This Is It!
The Lone Ranger

USA underground legend Strategy (Peak Oil, Idle Hands, Further, 100% Silk) returns with his 20th album that repurposes the chill-out subgenre to withstand the heat of armageddon.

On "The Wet Room", Cascadian experimental music fixture Strategy set out repurpose chill-out for improved resilience under the strains of record-breaking heatwaves. Syrupy bass workouts, generative freeform bubblers, captured freak transmissions, uneasy soundbites, buried secret messages, dubbed-out mixing board sessions coalesce into a purposeful, yet liquid, choreography. 

Fans of the West Mineral / Huerco / 3XL universe and some of the recent trip-hop inspired releases from last year should defo check!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Under the radar downbeat / dub engineer Strategy returns with another unfathomably deep exercise in echo chamber science and precision bass workouts. If you liked his "Dub Mind Paradigm", you're gonna love this.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Sun Comes Down
A2. Deadly Rainbow
A3. No Defects
A4. Mysteries Inside The Dogmind
A5. Heat
B1. Meanwhile Moon
B2. Ride Rite (Dub)
B3. Numeros
B4. Freshmosphere

Unreleased lo-fi goodness from the Lee Tracy & Isaac Manning catalog with a little drum work in the studio from ECLA to give it a little more oomph. Fliiped with 'Jesus Going To Clean House', one of the most popular tracks from the LP, a track is so insanely good I had emails from heads who refused to believe it was not a concocted fake rarity, but no, this is the real deal and on 45 now, one time deal 500 only, pic sleeve, you know what to do.

TRACK LISTING

1. Foxy Lady
2. Jesus Going To Clean House

DJ Moplen has outdone himself with this reimagining of Machine’s disco classic. Sticking purely to elements from the original, he’s managed to completely redesign the song, starting with an extended version of the soulful piano intro. Punching up the kick drums and handclaps moves the track into house territory, complemented by a funky guitar riff that was completely buried in the original. When the bass enters front and center Moplen practically forces you to the dancefloor, leaving you vulnerable to August Darnell’s controversial lyrics. Fresh from a career-making start with Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, lyricist/vocalist Darnell’s collaboration here with Machine was only months from his next incarnation as Kid Creole. Just like those groups, Darnell here fills his song with the politics of race, religion, and sexuality under the guise of a great beat. This release features that rarest of things: a dub just as good as the original. Rather than just removing the vocals, Moplen again rearranges the song, removing the slow intro and building a killer groove from the ground up. As well as the 1979 version, and an acapella reprise, this 12” also features the 1994 Timmy Regisford house mix that captures the dark energy of the song perfectly.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Moplen Remix
A2. Moplen Dub
B1. Original 1979 Version
B2. 1994 Timmy Regisford Remix
B3. Acapella Reprise

The Who’s 1982 tour, which was all in North America apart from two warm-up dates at the Birmingham NEC in England, was their last to feature Kenney Jones on drums and they wouldn’t tour again until 1989. The tour promoted the recent “It’s Hard” album, which had been released in June 1982, and the set list included a number of tracks from that album, some of which the band would only play live on this tour. This release features the show from the second of their two nights at New York’s Shea Stadium and was recorded on October 13th 1982. Although a couple of tracks have appeared on compilations, this is the first official release of the audio from the full show.

TRACK LISTING

3LP:
A1. Substitute
A2. I Can’t Explain
A3. Dangerous
A4. Sister Disco
A5. The Quiet One
B1. It’s Hard
B2. Eminence Front
B3. Behind Blue Eyes
B4. Baba O’Riley
C1. I’m One
C2. The Punk And The Godfather
C3. Drowned
C4. Tattoo
D1. Cry If You Want
D2. Who Are You
D3. Pinball Wizard
D4. See Me Feel Me
E1. Love Reign O’er Me
E2. Long Live Rock
E3. Won’t Get Fooled Again
F1. Young Man Blues
F2. Naked Eye
F3. I Saw Her Standing There
F4. Summertime Blues
F5. Twist And Shout

2CD:
(CD1)
1. Substitute
2. I Can’t Explain
3. Dangerous
4. Sister Disco
5. The Quiet One
6. It’s Hard
7. Eminence Front
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Baba O’Riley
10. I’m One
11. The Punk And The Godfather
12. Drowned
13. Tattoo
14. Cry If You Want
(CD2)
1. Who Are You
2. Pinball Wizard
3. See Me Feel Me
4. Love Reign O’er Me
5. Long Live Rock
6. Won’t Get Fooled Again
7. Young Man Blues
8. Naked Eye
9. I Saw Her Standing There
10. Summertime Blues
11. Twist And Shout

The Selecter were one of the key bands of the ska revival in the late 70’s and one of the few racially and sexually integrated bands on the scene. Vocalist Pauline Black wrote about sexism, racism, and social issues. Their debut release was the AA side of The Specials single ‘Gangsters’ in the summer of 1979, which only consisted of Neol Davies and John Bradbury (of The Specials) before quickly forming a full band by the end of the year. Releasing their follow up single ‘On My Radio’ which reached No. 6 in the UK charts. Their debut album ‘Too Much Pressure’ was released in February 1980 and reached No. 5 in the UK charts. The album also included two further hit singles ‘Three Minute Hero’ and ‘Missing Words’.

TRACK LISTING

Vinyl Tracklisting:
Side A
1. Three Minute Hero
2. Everyday
3. They Make Me Mad
4. Missing Words
5. Danger
6. Street Feeling
7. My Collie (Not A Dog)

Side B
1. Too Much Pressure
2. Murder
3. Out On The Streets
4. Carry Go Bring Come
5. Black And Blue 
6. James Bond

Next year is Ipecac’s 25th Anniversary, and they couldn’t have made it this long without the support of independent record shops. To start the celebrations, they’re releasing the 2005 album from General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners on vinyl for the first time ever… and it’s only available to independent retailers, pressed on Silver Streak coloured vinyl.

The release teams up Mike Patton, the legendary frontman for Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk and countless others, with one of the most respected DJ crews in all of hip-hop, The XEcutioners.

The collaboration came about after both factions performed a few improvisational live shows together. With the sweet scent of chemistry soon wafting through the air, it was decided to take it a step further - collaborate on a full-on recording. What you get are 23 tracks that approximate a head-on collision between hip-hop and the wild and whacky world of Ipecac.

TRACK LISTING

"X-Men Doctrine And Declaration: Target=40:40:11N 73:56:38W"
"General P. Counterintelligence: Target=37:47:36N 122:33:17W"
"¡Get Up, Punk! 0200 Hrs. (Joint Special Operations Task Force)"
"Roc Raida: Riot Control Agent / Combat Stress Control"
"Improvised Explosive Device 0300 Hrs."
"¡Vaqueros Y Indios! (Joint Special Operations Task Force)"
"Precision Guided Needle-Dropping and Larynx Munitions (PGNDLM)"
"Duelling Banjo Marching Drill"
"Battle Hymn Of The Technics Republic”
"¡Fire In The Hole! 0400 Hrs. (Joint Special Operations Task Force)"
"Convulsive Antidote For Nerve Agent Autoinjector (CANAA)"
"Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO) …or... "How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love the Turntables""
"Surprise Swing Insurgency / Tabla and Tongue Twist Counterattack / "Dragon Seeks Path""
"¡Kamikaze! 0500 Hrs. ("Take A Piece Of Me")"
""We'll Paint This Town" -- Throat and Phonograph Fire Support Coordination Measures (TPFSCM)"
"Imitative Electromagnetic Deception (IED) / Digital Nonsecure Voice Terminal (DNVT)"
"A.W.O.L. Block Party Brawl 0600 Hrs."
"Eastside Multichannel Tactical Scratch Communications (EMTSC)"
"¡Pimps Up, Aces High! 0700 Hrs. (Westside Swashbuckling Parade)"
"Warcry / Infrared R'n'B Hallucination / Jungle Operations Exfiltration System"
"L.O.L. - ¡Loser On Line! (Hate The Player, Hate The Game)"
"Low Altitude Vocal Parachute Extraction System (LAVPES)"
"Battle Damage Assessment And Repair / White Flag Surrender / "Wake Me Up In Heaven""

The memoir from Joel Gion, the tambourine playing frontman of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, one of the great contemporary cult American rock and roll bands.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre are one of the great contemporary cult American rock and roll bands. At the peak of their anarchic reign in the San Francisco underground of the mid '90s their psychedelic output was almost as prodigious and impressive as their narcotic intake. Immortalised in one of the most unforgettable rock and roll documentaries of all time, DIG! alongside their friends/rivals/nemeses, The Dandy Warhol's, in their early years when the US were obsessed with grunge, the BJM felt like a '60s anachronism. But with albums like Their Satanic Majesties Second Request and Thank God for Mental Illness, and incendiary, often chaotic, live shows, they burnished their legend as true believers and custodians of the original west coast flame; a privilege and responsibility which continues to this day when the band have a bigger and more dedicated audience than ever.

Joel Gion's memoir tells the story of the first ten years of the band from the Duke Seat. A righteous account of the hazards and pleasures of life on and off the road, In the Jingle Jangle Jungle takes use behind the scenes of the supposed behind the scenes film that cemented the band's legend. Funny as hell, shot through with the innocence and wonder of a 'percussionist' whose true role is that of the band's 'spirit animal', In the Jingle Jangle Jungle is destined to take its place alongside cult classics in the pantheon of rock and roll literature like Playing the Bass with Three Left Hands, Head On, and 45 by Bill Drummond. It will also feature a foreword by Anton Newcombe, fellow member and founder of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Dirty Blends hit us with their 10th release. I don't think a label has epitomized the OG spirit of Trax, the Muzic Box, and those early tape experiments by Adonis, Ron Hardy et al so well. Proper primitive, primordial warehouse tackle that gets right inside your body!

The A-side comes from new label member Grizzly Knuckles with "Caviar" - an edit of Jackmaster Dick's Revenge's (real alias) 1986 release, "Sensuous Woman Goes Disco" - but utilizing a much less x-rated vocal snippet, revolving around food rather than explicit sexual material. 

The B-side comes from label head The Jak who recreats the drum rhythms of Jesse Saunders with his KPR, taking us back to the mosh pits of The Reactor or Medusa with another stripped back exercise in jak beat. 

Dirty Blends - strictly for the most outrageous nightclub weirdos! Recommended. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The Dirty Blends jak beat enslaught continues in earnest with a double header from label stalwarts Grizzly Knuckles and The Jak. Chicago historians will recognize "From The Old Days Past", a clever tweak of Jackmaster Dick's make-you-blush booty track (also used quite recently by Paranoid London). This stuff is so powerful and carnal; almost has me tearing off my clothes ready to slam dance.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Grizzly Knuckles - Caviar Ensemble
B1. The Jak - From Old Days Past

A collection of unreleased tracks from the early 90's "Jumpin' & Pumpin'" era, when FSOL hid behind various guises. Generally revolving around bleep, hardcore and ambient house; three, then-recently-established genres that FSOL would explore and develop on throughout the extensive discography. A lot of these tracks have been out of print and quite sought after for many years, making this anthology quite a special releases for fans of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans' boundary-pushing project. 

TRACK LISTING

01. Sightings
02. 1st Calling
03. Across The Rivers
04. Great Danger
05. Corridor Lm3
06. Shes So Automatic
07. Keep Walking
08. In A Cage
09. Under The Rock
10. Visual Attack
11. You Might
12. Garden Bridge
13. We Bring It
14. Kremlin Taped
15 .travellers
16 .just Look
17. 831am

Back in 2020 The Whole Truth dropped a heap of gospel inspiration on Parkway in the shape of “Lord, Quench My Soul.” Three years later and they’re back stronger than ever.

The original "Believe" is an intense call for hope, featuring some amazing hooks and instrumentation that reference the sound of classics yet still bring new flavors.

Parkway boss Mark Seven has stretched the piece out into two further mixes, injecting time and space to create club friendly mixes that are high on hope!

Altogether it’s more timeless magic from the collectable proto-house / boogie label. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: With one of the most iconic sound signatures, Parkway is the leading label when it comes to new takes on classic proto-house and electro-boogie sounds, with a reliable formula curatedn by label head Mark Seven. The Whole Truth return to the label for a dazzlingly good, Zanzibar flavoured cut with the usual bonus dub and club mixes for various stages of the party. Expert stuff as always.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Believe (Original)
A2. Believe (Club Mix)
B1. Believe (Life After Dub Mix)

Fucked Up’s now classic 2008 album "The Chemistry Of Common Life" synthesizes numerous diverse impulses into an expansive epic about the mysteries of birth, death, and the origins of life (and re-living). Merging elements of hardcore songwriting with up to 70 tracks of guitars, organs, winds and vocals, (including 18 guitars on the first single, the fatalistic “No Epiphany”), the music remains iconoclastic and startling, with Pink Eyes’ vocals front and center. Guest musicians, of course, abound, notably gorgeous voices such as Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls and Toronto’s Katie Stelmanis.

TRACK LISTING

1. Son The Father
2. Magic Word
3. Golden Seal
4. Days Of Last
5. Crooked Head
6. No Epiphany
7. The Peaceable Kingdom
8. Black Albino Bones
9. Royal Swan
10. Twice Born
11. Looking For God
12. The Chemistry Of Common Life

Picking up right where they left off over ten years ago, 'Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life' sees Little Man Tate deftly tap into the band's original unremitting magic with a fresh, fully-grown twist.

TRACK LISTING

1. Cheap Stolen Kisses
2. Under Cover Lovers
3. Down In The Gutter
4. You Rub Me Up The Wrong Way
5. 23
6. Get Up Get Out
7. Kiss And Just Be Friends
8. Two Lives
9. We Can Be The Gossip
10. One Last Song
11. You Know You're Turning Me On *
12. Beautiful, Deadly & Mine *

*CD Only Track

For more than 30 years, singer-songwriter and guitar hero Mary Timony has cut a distinctive path through the world of independent music, most recently as vocalist and guitarist of acclaimed garage-pop power trio Ex Hex (Merge) but also as a member of seminal post punk band Autoclave (Dischord), celebrated leader of the deeply influential Helium (Matador), multifaceted solo artist (Matador, Lookout!, Kill Rock Stars), and a co-founder of supergroup Wild Flag (Merge). Described by Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein as “Mary Shelley with a guitar” and dubbed “a trailblazer and an innovator” by Lindsey Jordan a.k.a. Snail Mail, Timony has distinguished herself as one of her generation’s most influential. Although she has remained a cult hero and critical favorite since the early ’90s, Timony’s many triumphs have long been counterbalanced by crippling doubt and self-nullification.

Her fifth solo album, Untame the Tiger, approaches these emotions head on. Her first solo release in 15 years is a startling document of an artist fully coming into her own power during the fourth decade of her career. It is the product of lessons learned during life-altering struggle. The mystical, acoustic-driven Untame the Tiger emerged after the dissolution of a long-term relationship and was bookended by the deaths of Timony’s father and mother. The album was recorded during a two-year period during which she was the primary caregiver for her ailing parents. The tectonic psychic shift Mary experienced due to this loss informs many of her lyrics.

Standout track “No Thirds” “is a song about losing everything and having to keep on going,” says Timony. “I wanted the verses to sound like a wide-open barren space, like driving across a desert, because that is what the song is about—losing people and the feeling that your future is a giant, wide-open blank space.” The stripped-back acoustic instrumentation of “The Guest” conjures Sweetheart-era Byrds. Timony describes it as a song sung directly to loneliness: “I was imagining loneliness as a house guest who keeps knocking on your door. I thought it would be funny to say loneliness is the only one who always comes back.”

Untame the Tiger does not eschew Timony’s guitar hero reputation; in fact, “Summer” relishes in it, a straight-up banger that you’d be half tempted to call “no frills” until its initial garage rock stomp breaks into the unexpected bliss of a twin guitar solo conclusion. “I wanted the recording to have the energy of the Kinks, early Dio and Elf, or Rory Gallagher,” she explains. “I was also listening to a lot of Gerry Rafferty’s first solo album and was inspired to have two simultaneous guitar solos.” Untame the Tiger picks up the thread woven through Timony’s freak-folk-anticipating solo albums of the early ’00s. Basic tracks were recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, with Timony backed by Dave Mattacks, drummer of legendary British folk-rock band Fairport Convention. “Mattacks is a hero of mine and one of my favorite musicians of all time. He is a true legend.

I never in a million years thought he’d agree to play on my record,” says Timony. “Before the session, I had a panic attack and had to go sit alone in the parking lot… Once we started playing together, it felt so great that the fear subsided and turned into excitement. His playing felt instantly familiar, which makes sense because it’s the foundation of many of my favorite records.”

Untame the Tiger was produced by Mary Timony, Joe Wong, and Dennis Kane. The album was recorded over the course of two years at Studio 606, Magpie Cage, 38North, and in Mary’s basement. Additional engineering by J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines). Musicians include Chad Molter (Faraquet, Medications), David Christian (Karen O, Hospitality), and Brian Betan-court (Cass McCombs, Devendra Banhart, Hospitality). The album was mixed by Dave Fridmann (MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev), Dennis Kane, and John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile, Waxahatchee).

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. No Thirds
2. Summer
3. Dominoes
4. Looking For The Sun
5. The Guest
SIDE B
6. Don’t Disappear
7. The Dream
8. Untame The Tiger
9. Not The Only One

Musician and writer Karl Bartos has long been admirer of Weimar-era culture. During his time in Kraftwerk, he helped create the stunning track 'Metropolis', directly inspired by a band viewing of the classic 1927 Fritz Lang film of the same name.

The original orchestral music composed for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari by Giuseppe Becce had long been lost and in 2005, after watching the film, Bartos imagined what it would be like to create an entirely new one in the 21st Century in his home studios in Hamburg. Now with crystal clear images, digitally restored by the Friedrich-Wilhelm -Murnau-Foundation, the film is visually the best quality it has ever been, and now, with Bartos' soundtrack, there is impressive sound to go with the haunting vision. Narrative film music and sound design for Robert Wiene's classic 1920 psychological thriller.

For the task, Bartos ransacked his own library of musical compositions, recreating pieces he had written as a young classical musician in his pre-Kraftwerk days whilst creating new sounds, melodies and textures. The intention was not simply to write a film score per se. This was to be an immersive listening experience with special sound effects to match the action as we enter the film as both spectator and participant. A creaking door, footsteps on gravel, the turning of pages in a ledger, a half-heard fragment of dialogue are seamlessly synchronised to the action on screen. By taking the characteristics of Expressionism in the arts, and transferring them into film making, a disturbing, distorted depiction of reality enwrapped and entrapped the viewer.

The subjective replaces the objective. We are sucked into a parallel world lit in menacing chiaroscuro, where dimension, proportion and perspective are all off skew. From the convex polygon-shaped windows of precipitously sharp-inclined buildings to the surreally odd tables and chairs with long spindly legs to be found in preposterously small and oddly shaped rooms, alienating camera angles and impossible vanishing points, the town of Holstenwall in which much of the action takes place, is the world of the imagination, not the empirical world of our own eyes and ears. 'The cinema image must become an engraving,' the film's set designer Hermann Warm said. We can hear melodies that lie within the tradition of the Baroque Age of Bach, the early Romanticism of Mozart, the dissonance of Schoenberg, the unsettling metric play of Stravinsky and the harshly dramatic repetitions of Philip Glass.

From outside of the classical tradition there is the folklorist bricolage of the fair- ground barrel organ tempered playfully by some psychedelic backwards musique concrete along with some melodies which would not have been out of place on a Kraftwerk album from the classic era. All the time the listener is on a journey, sounds move in and out, music weaves and entwines, the soundscape is immersive and intoxicatingly rich. It is music which is, by turns, beautiful, amusing, playful and profoundly dis- quieting and it is perfect fit for the aesthetic of era-jumping in the actual film. Dr. Caligari's action switches from the then present day to the past century and even further back before rebooting back to the imagined present. 'There's something about this film. No matter how often you watch it, it keeps its secrets. Who is mad and who is not always remains a question of interpretation,' says Bartos. The film remains an enigma, but now one with the soundtrack and soundscape it deserves.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: It's a classic format isn't it, wise synth maestro crafts found-sound collage (in this instance it's his own 'lost sounds' that got 'found'), over classic psychological thriller. It's on Bureau B, and Karl Bartos and it's an absorbing and beautifully crafted listen. What's not to love.

TRACK LISTING

1. Prologue
2. Scary Memories
3. Atonal Floating
4. Full Of Life
5. In The Town Hall
6. At The Funfair
7. A Mysterious Crime
8. At The Funfair 2
9. The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari
10. Jane's Theme
11. March Grotesque 2
12. Janeâs Theme 2
13. Shadows
14. Tragic Message
15. Suspicion
16. Tragic Message 2
17. The Plan
18. A Dark Figure
19. Caligari's Theme
20. Arrest Of The Suspect
21. Caligari's Theme 2
22. Worried Jane
23. Interrogation
24. Jane's Fear
25. Francis's Observation
26. Cesare's Attack And Escape
27. Safe And Sound
28. Francis At A Loss
29. Caligari's Deception
30. Lunatic Asylum
31. In Search Of The Truth
32. Out In The Field
33. The Director Rants And Rages
34. Scary Memories 2
35. Who's Mad Here?
36. Francis Rants And Rages
37. Epilogue

Originally released in 1984, following the band’s evolution from the Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and then simply The Cult, Dreamtime finds the outfit featuring Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, pivoting from their goth and punk roots into something eclectic, aspirational, and adventurous. Rife with lyrical references to the indigenous cultures of the Americas and Australia, and set against a more bombastic and muscular musical backdrop, Dreamtime hints at what would envelop the band over the next four decades, a dedication to their wholly unique songwriting, both musically and thematically, and the frenzy that was soon to come with the release of Love only a year later.

TRACK LISTING

1. Horse Nation
2. Spiritwalker
3. 83rd Dream
4. Butterflies
5. Go West
6. Gimmick
7. A Flower In The Desert
8. Dreamtime
9. Rider In The Snow
10. Bad Medicine Waltz

One of the country's most underrated singer-songwriters, John Bramwell, returns to the fray with a remarkable new album The Light Fantastic via Townsend Music.

Anyone who has heard John's work with seminal Manchester band I Am Kloot, will be cheered by the news of this impending release. Nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2010 for their acclaimed Sky At Night album, I Am Kloot never quite received the widespread success their music deserved.

This new album is a masterclass in emotionally charged and melodically driven tunes for the adventurous. All 12 tracks were written by John except for 'Nobody Left But You' which he co-wrote with album producer Dave Fidler.

"After both my Mum and Dad died, I started writing these songs to cheer myself up," John admits with typical candour. "The themes are taken from my dreams at the time. Wake up and take whatever impression I had from what I could remember of my dream and write that."

Despite the sentiment, the songs are surprisingly uplifting. And will no doubt sound great live.

TRACK LISTING

1. Leave No Traces
2. A World Full Of Flowers
3. It's Just You
4. The Light Fantastic
5. Here It Comes
6. A Sky Full Of Thunder And Lightning
7. I Am The Sky
8. Days Go By
9. The Element Of Truth
10. I Feel Me
11. Nobody Left But You
12. Illegalised

Coming off the heels of 2022's A New Kind of Love, A Trip To The Moon sees Ghost Funk Orchestra diving even deeper in the worlds of film music, exotica, and psychedelic surf rock. The aim is to create a layered and collaged listening experience with more elements than you could possibly pick out in a single listen.

The guitars are fuzzy and flooded with spring reverb, and the horns are arranged in a studio big band fashion. It's full of big compositions with garage rock attitude.

Influences range everywhere from Eddie Palmieri and Esquivel to The Lively Ones, Dusty Springfield, and War. The tracks are tied together by real recorded transmissions from the Apollo moon missions. The concept for the album is a story about a woman stranded on earth by her cosmonaut partner, left to ponder his whereabouts and whether or not he'll make it back from the cosmos alive.

TRACK LISTING

Opening
Eyes Of Love
Where To?
To The Moon!
Achluo
Nova
Helios
Into The Abyss
Again
A Solar Wind
Space Walk
Casadastra
A Rare View
Totality
Infinite Dar

As the empowerment of the ’60s gave way to the societal bankruptcy of the ’70s, a turned-on Black music emerged to soundtrack the agony of America at a crossroads. Tracked at DB Sound in Silver Spring, Maryland by producer R. Jose Williams, Your Funny Moods is built around the rhythms and keys of drumming wiz James Purdie. Remastered here from the original analog tapes, this 50th anniversary edition is peak group harmony soul from the Chocolate City.

TRACK LISTING

A1. I Need Your Love
A2. Town Called Nowhere
A3. Struggling Man
B1. Your Funny Moods
B. I’m Looking Away From My Past
B3. Seems Like The Love We Had Is Dead And Gone
B4. We Share Love

Whitelands are Etienne, Jagun, Vanessa and Michael and they are ostensibly a shoegaze band ever since Etienne stumbled across Slowdive’s KEXP session in his recommended videos on YouTube a few years ago. However, they come at the resurgent, Gen Z-soundtracking genre from a refreshingly different angle thanks to their mishmash of musical backgrounds. There’s also the fact that their line-up is fully PoC in what is traditionally seen as a predominantly white genre.

“There’s an underlying narrative that it’s OK for white men to be romantic, sensitive, emotional and make dreamy music and, by contrast, young Black men should be making angry music,” says Vanessa. “We’ve all grown up with these stereotypes and therefore I think people are mystified when they see Whitelands.” “I consume a lot of media,” says Etienne of his wide range of influences. “Videogames, music, news, paintings, manga, animations and film are my go-to, especially anime. There is this drive to want to understand and feel the whole weight of an expression. So, the songs are based on other songs, pictures, aesthetics, ‘vibes’, an emotion someone else felt. Fundamentally, you are what you eat.”

As a result of this diet, the lyrics are stunning, dealing with everything from unbalanced relationships and vulnerability to depression, being diagnosed with ADHD and, on the new single ‘Tell Me About It’ (featuring vocals by Dottie from the band’s Sonic Cathedral labelmates deary), trying to navigate love following that diagnosis.

The album is bookended by two poetically political songs – ‘Setting Sun’ and ‘Now Here’s The Weather’ – that deal with imperialism, racism and performative ignorance.

“We’ve experienced tokenism, micro-behaviours, envy and resentment,” concludes Vanessa. “So we feel we have to continually prove ourselves. We know we’re making a positive impact, but I want Whitelands to really break some barriers.”

STAFF COMMENTS

Liam says: Massive shoegaze tip!!! I've been loving their track 'Tell Me About It' (which is complete ethereal bliss) for the past month and thankfully the rest of this LP from Whitelands lives up to the anticipation. With sprinklings of DIIV, Slowdive and even an appearance from fellow gazers Deary, 'Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day' is proper reverb drenched goodness that manages to avoid the derivative trappings many modern shoegaze acts can sometimes fall in to. It also has the Slowdive seal of approval as it was mastered by drummer Simon Scott, with the shoegaze legends also taking Whitelands out on tour with them - so how's that for a recommendation? MEGA!

TRACK LISTING

1. Setting Sun
2. The Prophet & I
3. Cheer
4. Tell Me About It
5. How It Feels
6. Chosen Light
7. Born In Understanding
8. Now Here’s The Weather

A superb 12” slab of rare South London British Jazz-Funk, originally released in the UK in 1984 by Jamaican-born producer Tony Williams, the man behind the seminal Funk Masters’ jazz-funk masterpiece, ‘Love Money’.

Nat King Cool’s stunning in-demand one-off single release ‘Checking Out’ sounds like a blend of MFSB’s ‘Mysteries of the World’ meets UK Brit- Funk, complete with very cool flip-side instrumental. Originally released on the tiny Tai Wan label, this track sounds fresh.

An absolutely essential 1980s Brit-Funk 12” tune, fully remastered from tapes, bespoke exact reprolabels, pressed on pristine vinyl and housed in groovy Soul Jazz / Funk Masters house bag.

TRACK LISTING

1. Checking Out
2. Checking Out (Instrumental)

Consisting of Colorado-based singer-songwriters Josephine Foster and Andy Bar, then later David Pajo of Slint and Tortoise, The Children’s Hour released one studio album (2003’s SOS JFK) and supported Billy Corgan’s Zwan on a tour of North American arenas before parting ways. Going Home is a collection of unreleased material that might have constituted a second album at the time, a beautiful reminder to the world of their passionate, low-key and refined indie rock style.

TRACK LISTING

1. Leader Soldier
2. Dance With Me
3. Bright Lights
4. Rainbow
5. Adoption Day
6. Anna
7. Wyoming
8. Going Home 

Four elusive, somewhat previously unofficial club remixes of the iconic "Papua New Guinea" come together on one 12" vinyl EP. All underground dance hits now in demand.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tasty remixes of one of the biggest dance tracks of all time. Two jungle remixes, one breakbeat and one for the house brigade. Lovely jubbly.

TRACK LISTING

1. Papua New Guinea (Soul Central Remix)
2. Papua New Guinea (L. Major Remix)
3. Papua New Guinea (Nishesque Remix)
4. Papua New Guinea (Dee Montero Remix)

The Snuts present Millennials: a sharp, snarling 10-track run of firecrackers, out February 23rd, 2024 on the band’s newly set up label Happy Artist Records - via The Orchard From start to finish, top to bottom, Millennials has been made entirely to The Snuts’ script. The result: a tight, taut, fat-free masterclass in songwriting and production. The Snuts have a chart-topping and top 3 albums under their belts, songs that attack subjects affecting the youth of today, and an arsenal of adoring fans up and down the country. As these four lads from Whitburn, West Lothian vowed four years ago, The Snuts wanted to be risky. And with Millennials, The Snuts have followed through on that promise. On their third album they’ve followed up, changed up and – fully, wholeheartedly, joyfully – revved up.

TRACK LISTING

1. Gloria
2. Millionaires
3. Yoyo
4. NPC
5. Butterside Down
6. Novastar
7. Dreams
8. Wunderkind
9. Deep Diving
10. Circles

Deluxe CD Bonus Tracks
11. Mexico
12. Right Hand Girl
13. Jam_5.mp3

More jak beat from the on-fire Dirty Blends crew. This one's mad as a box of frogs, recalling the crazed genius of Steve Poindextor and early Lil Louis madness. All three tracks revolve around slam dance repetition, primordial jack patterns and pure Chicago spirit. Not for the fainthearted - strictly for the freaks! Recommended and limited. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: There's simply nothing like the Dirty Blends cartel out there at the moment. Revisiting the embryonic spirit of Chicago house music, when it was literally just a drum machine and a sampler, they manage to capture a primitive energy that's more intoxicating than half the other shit out there made with tons more equipment! Essential stuff for fans of Ron Hardy, Jamal Moss, Trax Records, Steve Poindextor, Adonis, Lil Louis etc etc.

TRACK LISTING

A. The Falcon - Sound The Alarm
B1. Grizzly Knuckles - Mad Bell
B2. The Jak - Aftermath

‘Mr. Machine’ is a record that put them alongside names as Steve Reich and Philip Glass, but with considerably more groove. More than anything, Daniel, Jan and Paul are keen that the Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble are not written off as a curiosity.

“Often people focus a lot on this whole "cross-over" aspect,” says Brauer. “We wish people would simply notice we have good chords, melodies etc. and take the music as it is. Because we make it the way we feel, and not for other, let's say purely conceptual reasons. Some only seem interested in how it’s made. Some reviewers perceive us as minimal techno, some as modern classical, some as nu jazz and so on. But we don’t divide the world into techno and nontechno.”

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A rhythmic, hypnotic selection of classical instrumentation and cyclic music-concrete riffs, underlaid by pulsing bass and snapping jazzy percussion. It's dance music made by nature, or like that bit in Spaced where tyres does the 'everyday raving' bit.

TRACK LISTING

1. Mr. Machine
2. Bop
3. You Make Me Real
4. Pretend
5. Mi Corazon
6. On Powdered Ground (Mixed Lines)
7. Teufelsleiter
8. 606 ‘N’ Rock ’N’ Roll

Blessings of the Highest Order compiles all of Thou’s Nirvana covers, originally recorded and released piecemeal on various EPs, splits, and tributes from 2009 – 2018. The songs feature guest appearances from Emily McWilliams (Silver Godling), Melissa Guion (MJ Guider), Rebecca Levy (Turboslut), Isidore Grisoli (High), and Jennifer Murphy (that one Thou tote). The record features artwork by New Orleans’ underground, BDSM, xerox freakaleek “Trashboy.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Blew
2. School
3. Stain
4. In Bloom
5. Territorial Pissings
6. Scentless Apprentice
7. Aneurysm
8. Floyd The Barber
9. Sifting
10. Milk It
11. I Hate Myself And I Want To Die
12. Dive
13. Even In His Youth
14. Endless, Nameless
15. Something In The Way
16. Where Did You Sleep Last Night? 

In August of 2012, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit assembled in their home state of Alabama in front of a couple of sold-out concert halls to record their first live album, Live From Alabama.

After years of hard touring, the critically-lauded band has gelled into a versatile rock and roll squad that is equally at ease performing Muscle Shoals soul to hardcore country to balls-out rock. Live From Alabama's tracklist mines some of Isbell's most popular songs and includes a pair of inspired covers in Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane" and Candi Staton's "Heart on a String."

TRACK LISTING

1. Tour Of Duty
2. Decoration Day
3. Goddamn Lonely Love
4. Heart On A String
5. Danko / Manuel
6. In A Razor Town
7. Alabama Pines
8. Outfit
9. Cigarettes And Wine
10. TVA
11. The Blue
12. Dress Blues
13. Like A Hurricane