"Lush Life" (1958) is among John Coltrane’s best endeavours on the Prestige (and Music) label. One reason can easily be attributed to the interesting personnel and the subsequent lack of a keyboard player for the August 16, 1957 session that yielded the majority of the material. Coltrane (tenor sax) had to essentially lead the compact trio of himself, Earl May (bass) and Art Taylor (drums). The intimate setting is perfect for ballads such as the opener "Like Someone in Love". John Coltrane doesn’t have to supplement the frequent redundancy inherent in pianists, so he has plenty of room to express himself through simple and ornate passages. May provides a platform for Coltrane’s even keeled runs before the tenor drops out, allowing both Earl May and then Art Taylor a chance to shine. The fun cat-and-mouse-like antics continue as Taylor can be heard encouraging the tenor player to raise the stakes and the tempo – which he does to great effect.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1.Like Someone In Love
2.I Love You
3.Trane’s Slow Blues

Side B
1.Lush Life
2.I Hear A Rhapsody

Originally Released January 27, 1992. With a few EPs and a mini-album (Scar) having set the scene, Spooky is Lush’s 1992 debut studio album. A key text for British indie music after the turn of a decade, it was produced by label mate Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and features the singles “Nothing Natural,” “For Love” and “Superblast!.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Stray
2. Nothing Natural
3. Tiny Smiles
4. Covert
5. Ocean
6. For Love
7. Superblast!
8. Untogether
9. Fantasy
10. Take
11. Laura
12. Monochrome

Originally Released June 13 1994. Featuring the singles “Desire Lines” and “Hypocrite,” Split is the second full studio album by Lush. Produced by Mike Hedges - famed for his work on The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds & Siouxsie and the Banshees’s A Kiss in the Dreamhouse – and mixed by Alan Moulder, Split sees the band hit a more direct sound whilst retaining their almost pitch-black feel.

TRACK LISTING

1. Light From A Dead Star
2. Kiss Chase
3. Blackout
4. Hypocrite
5. Lovelife
6. Desire Lines
7. The Invisible Man
8. Undertow
9. Never-Never
10. Lit Up
11. Starlust
12. When I Die

Originally Released March 5 1996. Lush’s final studio album, Lovelife, dealt “Britpop the feminist counterpoint it sorely needed,” (Pitchfork). Produced by Pete Bartlett (Therapy?, Kitchens of Distinction), it features three of the band’s biggest singles in “Single Girl,” “Ladykillers” and “500 (Shake Baby Shake),” with Jarvis Cocker also featured on first-half closer “Ciao!”.

TRACK LISTING

1. Ladykillers
2. Heavenly Nobodies
3. 500
4. I’ve Been Here Before
5. Papasan
6. Single Girl
7. Ciao!
8. Tralala
9. Last Night
10. Runaway
11. The Childcatcher
12. Olympia

The seminal recordings that make up Lush Life were taped during a transitional period in John Coltrane's musical career. He had first joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955 and would form his own celebrated quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones in 1960. In the intervening years, he overcame his narcotics addiction and began to expand on his own musical ideas while experimenting with both the Thelonious Monk Quartet and the Miles Davis Sextet (featuring Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley). Lush Life was constructed with material from three different sessions, all of which produced additional material issued in other albums. While Side A is in trio format with no piano, Side B features a quintet showcasing Donald Byrd and Red Garland.

Contains new specially prepared liner notes by Penguin Guide to Jazz's writer Brian Morton and by Paris' prestigious Jazz Magazine.

"All aspects of Coltrane's conception during this period are well-illustrated on the album: the classic simplicity and haunting loveliness of the Coltrane ballad technique is here. For sheer beauty of approach and execution, his work has rarely been equalled." - ***** Franz Kofsky, DownBeat

TRACK LISTING

1. Like Someone In Love
2. I Love You
3. Trane's Slow Blues
4. Slowtrane
5. Lush Life
6. I Hear A Rhapsody
7. While My Lady Sleeps

Released in early 1961, Lush Life was assembled from previous unissued tracks from three recording sessions at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 and 1958.

John Coltrane’s Prestige years began when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955. During the next few years, when he was either with Davis or the Thelonious Monk Quartet, he functioned as both leader and sideman for this label. These recordings document the first part of his relatively short but highly influential time in the spotlight. Lush Life, a combination of standards and a blues, treated in the unique Coltrane manner - sound wedded to material in a completely personal way - contains three tracks without a piano. This is the first time he recorded in this manner, other than when Monk was 'strolling,' and it offers another aspect from, and of, Trane. 

Following the news that all three Lush albums are going to be reissued, Emma Anderson, the band’s co-founder, has announced her debut solo album, Pearlies, which will be released by Sonic Cathedral on October 20, 2023.One of the most underrated British songwriters to emerge from the era that encompassed shoegaze and Britpop, she has teamed up with producer James Chapman (aka Maps) for this collection that combines effervescent electronic pop with psych and folk textures with lyrics covering themes such as confronting your fears, embracing independence and moving on in life.

It arrives fully formed with a burnished beauty (aided by the mastering skills of Heba Kadry) that belies its somewhat protracted creation, which began with Emma feeling disillusioned after Lush’s 2016 reunion came to an abrupt end. Left with songs and bits of music originally intended for the band, she began working with cellist and string arranger Audrey Riley and Robin Guthrie, formerly of the Cocteau Twins, both of whom encouraged her to sing her own songs. Covid put a temporary halt on proceedings, but the decision had been made. When Sonic Cathedral introduced her to James Chapman at the start of 2022, Pearlies quickly took shape and blossomed into a masterpiece, the perfect mix of Emma’s incredible, idiosyncratic songwriting and James’ electronic production nous. Plus, a little extra guitar magic on four tracks courtesy of Richard Oakes from Suede.

The finished album has somehow written its own narrative. By her own admission, Emma tends to write words and “see what comes out”, but Pearlies seems to tell the story of her decision to go it alone, with opener ‘I Was Miles Away’ posing the question: “See if I make it on my own”. The rest of the album provides the answer as it takes in everything from the unexpectedly funky first single ‘Bend The Round’, to folky finger-picking and film theme references, via psych leaning electronic pop reminiscent of Goldfrapp or Melody’s Echo Chamber. It concludes with ‘Clusters’, a stunning, Stereolab-style groove which begins with the line “and now the party’s over, the music’s at the end”. Thankfully, that is not the case. This incredible album is just the start of Emma’s long-awaited solo journey.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Emma Anderson presents her first solo album for the wonderful Sonic Cathedral, showing hints of her history in Lush but with a vigour and airy carless ease we've not heard before. It's both wildly beautiful and unendingly deep, arguably her finest work of all (Sorry Lush). Brilliant musician, and a beautiful album.

TRACK LISTING

1. I Was Miles Away
2. Bend The Round
3. Inter Light
4. Taste The Air
5. Xanthe
6. The Presence
7. Willow And Mallow
8. Tonight Is Mine
9. For A Moment
10. Clusters

Originally Released June 13 1994. Featuring the singles “Desire Lines” and “Hypocrite,” Split is the second full studio album by Lush. Produced by Mike Hedges - famed for his work on The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds & Siouxsie and the Banshees’s A Kiss in the Dreamhouse – and mixed by Alan Moulder, Split sees the band hit a more direct sound whilst retaining their almost pitch-black feel.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Light From A Dead Star
A2. Kiss Chase
A3. Blackout
A4. Hypocrite
A5. Lovelife
A6. Desire Lines
A7. The Invisible Man
B1. Undertow
B2. Never-Never
B3. Lit Up
B4. Starlust
B5. When I Die

Originally Released March 5 1996. Lush’s final studio album, Lovelife, dealt “Britpop the feminist counterpoint it sorely needed,” (Pitchfork). Produced by Pete Bartlett (Therapy?, Kitchens of Distinction), it features three of the band’s biggest singles in “Single Girl,” “Ladykillers” and “500 (Shake Baby Shake),” with Jarvis Cocker also featured on first-half closer “Ciao!”.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Ladykillers
A2. Heavenly Nobodies
A3. 500
A4. I’ve Been Here Before
A5. Papasan
A6. Single Girl
A7. Ciao!
B1. Tralala
B2. Last Night
B3. Runaway
B4. The Childcatcher
B5. Olympia

Originally Released January 27, 1992. With a few EPs and a mini-album (Scar) having set the scene, Spooky is Lush’s 1992 debut studio album. A key text for British indie music after the turn of a decade, it was produced by label mate Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and features the singles “Nothing Natural,” “For Love” and “Superblast!.”

TRACK LISTING

A1. Stray
A2. Nothing Natural
A3. Tiny Smiles
A4. Covert
A5. Ocean
A6. For Love
B1. Superblast!
B2. Untogether
B3. Fantasy
B4. Take
B5. Laura
B6. Monochrome

The duo behind the Netflix series Bordertown’s score, Kaae & Batz drop their new album, "Lush" on Copenhagen-based record label Stereo Royal. 

The album is a collection of reflective and melancholic cinematic tracks with clear references to jazz and neo-classicism where organic elements merge with electronic textures and emotional vocal samples. Containing the single “Into the Void (Part 1)” - a dark, ghostly and destructive dystopia accompanied by momentously moving strings, vocals & piano (could be summat of The Revernant!). The album came to life on a 14-day trip to Istanbul and the majority of the tracks, including this first single, are created entirely from samples and programming. It's heart-wrenchingly powerful throughout, maintaining an expansive, cinematic aesthetic that only adds to its emotional power. 

Kaae & Batz have previously released two albums, "Basement Tales (2015) and "Mosaic" (2019), as well as composed scores for several international film productions which have garnered attention and critical acclaim in the industry. The story about childhood friends Kaspar Kaae (CODY) and Brian Batz (Sleep Party People) dates back to their teenage years in Bornholm where they were both born and raised. They went to high school together, cultivated their shared interest in music, and played together in bands. These years became the cornerstone of their friendship and musical collaboration.

"Lush" shines a light on Danish electronica and contains that bleak epicness that also characterize much of the 'Scandi Noir' dramas. Makes you want to pull the curtains tight shut and get the fire on! A breathtakingly intimate and moving body of music that's the perfect companion for a icy cold Winter's night. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A hugely rewarding, highly cinematic experience from this duo who until I knew little about. This is great; detailed electronica, lavish orchestration and deep sentimental moods all coalescing to create a stunning body of work. Near perfect in its construction there's an almost overwhelming sensitivity to some of the tracks.

TRACK LISTING

A1. INTO THE VOID (PART I)
A2. THE TREMBLING SKY
A3. STILL SPACE
A4. CLOUDY DAYS
A5. SPARKLES
A6. BLISSFUL
A7. WHAT ONCE WAS
B1. SLOW MORNING
B2. DREAM HACK
B3. DEEP DIVE
B4. DAZED
B5. FLOATING DOTS
B6. INTO THE VOID (PART II)

Formed in London in 1988 and centered around childhood friends Emma Anderson and Miki Berenyi, Lush expertly fused melody and guitars; a sound that was christened ‘shoegaze’ well after they released their first records, a scene they outlived by sharpening their pop sound as they went.

Coinciding with news of the band’s upcoming reformation, ‘Ciao! Best Of Lush’ is finally being pressed on vinyl, previously having only been released as a CD back in 2001.

Unusually for a greatest hits compilation it runs in reverse order, starting with four tracks that appeared on their third album, ‘Lovelife’ (1996), five (six if you include a B-side) from their second ‘Split’ (1994), then four from their debut ‘Spooky’ (1992) before finishing with four early works which includes two from their first ever release, 1989’s mini-album ‘Scar’.

TRACK LISTING

Ladykillers
Single Girl
Ciao! (ft Jarvis Cocker)
500 (Shake Baby Shake)
Light From A Dead Star
Love At First Sight
Hypocrite
Desire Lines
Lovelife
When I Die
Nothing Natural
Untogether
For Love
Monochrome
De-Luxe
Sweetness And Light
Thoughtforms
Etheriel

Great new album from this Italian four piece who dash out a noise rock akin to Brainiac, Fugazi, the Pixies and possibly worship at the altar of Touch And Go Records circa 93-95, but that's no bad thing, in fact it's a fresh take on the noise rock staple, more dimension added to the power, there's a disjointed pop that filters through the well orchestrated mush of melody, jangle and hi speed rock and roll.