June 30th 2024 will see the elusive pigbaby release his debut album, 'i don't care if anyone listens to this shit once you do' on limited edition 12" vinyl via Vegyn's imprint PLZ Make It Ruins. It's a record about love, heartbreak, hope and recollections from pigbaby's past.

Drawing from a surreal, daydream-like cloud of reference points, the songwriting of mysterious Irish artist pigbaby is painfully honest, and sonically unconventional. His music shares parallels with oddball auteurs such as Daniel Johnston and Jim O'Rourke experimental, ambient singer-songwriters who deal in rough-edged truth-telling.

During a period of particular bleakness in 2021, pigbaby fled the world he knew and travelled along windy, wet roads to find a small cottage in the Irish countryside to nest in. Armed with 3 bottles of whiskey, some potatoes and sausages, old synthesisers, a harmonium and cassette tapes he found in his mother's attic, pigbaby started to craft his debut album. Over the course of 2 months many people came to visit, and with the help of Max Granger, Maria Somerville, Felix Stephens & Cajm, 'i don't care if anyone listens to this shit once you do' was realised.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Meep Meep Said The Rat
A2. I’m Here, With You
A3. Life Moves Fast, So Take My Hand.
A4. The Green Hills Of Cornamona
A5. Baby Foxes & Me.
B1. Far From Home
B2. Crying In Burger King
B3. Grandads Piano
B4. I Miss My Baby Girl.
B5. Only You 

Repress of the critically acclaimed 3rd album from the South-East London based post-rock trio.

‘If I don't make it, I love u’ is Still House Plants’ third LP and the fullest embodiment of their sound to date. Where ‘Fast Edit’ formed with quick attachment and jump cuts, ‘If I don't make it’ is shaped by persistence - a commitment to the songs that makes the music solid, warmer and accepted. Marking the trio’s decade of friendship, this is the first record written whilst all live in the same city since 2017's ‘Assemblages’. The band rehearsed it relentlessly, playing for nobody except themselves, consistently building support for one another and growing the way they play. Jess’ voice is deeper. Fin’s guitar is full size, richer. David drums harder. Focused on one point together, everyone gets bigger and nothing falls apart. The guitar and the drums blend, raise the voice, make room for what is being said, what is felt. When able to finally record, production allowed layers, gave elasticity, a chance to fully stretch. Playing with length and connections, the band brought in analogue techniques - a Lesley cabinet on ‘Headlight’, sidechaining the snare with the guitar, pushing vocals through cheap DJ software - each process an attempt to bring one instrument closer to another, to give bass, body, backup. ‘If I don't make it, I love u’ seeks beauty, holds feeling maximum and builds surety with its sound. The most generous SHP record to date, the music is wide open, demands less. Play it again, it will come clear. 

TRACK LISTING

1. M M M
2. Pant
3. Sticky
4. MORE BOY
5. Probably
6. 3scr3w3
7. Silver Grit Passes Thru My Teeth
8. Headlight
9. No Sleep Deep Risk
10. Pushed
11. No More Faster

Co-written and produced by Zero 7.

Embracing the enigmatic as a canvas for sonic storytelling, Zero 7 unveils captivating new music alongside collaborator Swim Surreal.

Swim Surreal's debut album, 'In the Half Light,' transports listeners to another time, place, and mental space. Nine songs telling a tale that begun in the half light and, somehow, resides there still.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Crowd
2. Bloom
3. Say Nothing
4. Don't Call It Love
5. Back To Earth
6. Less Talk
7. Masquerade (feat. Lou Stone)
8. Exile
9. An Endless Wave

‘Make It Up’ is the long player follow up to FEET’s debut album ‘What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham’ which catapulted them into the indie-rock spotlight in 2019. Crowd pleasing thrillers such as ‘Petty Thieving’, ‘the anthemic ‘English Weather’ and more recent crowd favourite ‘Changing My Mind Again’ have solidified the band as one of the most exciting guitar acts on the scene.

‘Make It Up’ distils the FEET of old with a fine-tuned, cohesive, and compelling new output that builds on the sonic DNA of their debut, while effortlessly taking it to the next level.

“There’s no throw away ideas on this album and everything has to have its place. It has to be ironed out and perfected,” explains frontman George Haverson. “I don’t like to say polished, but it is perfected to a point where everything can be done in its fullest form. I feel like we’ve got 12 complete songs on this album and not 12 ideas. We’ve made the FEET machine and now it’s a case of inserting the right idea and the output is a great song. Before, it felt a bit more like we were throwing shit at the wall. This time round, everything feels a bit more refined.”

“Being in a band is a big chunk of time in your life, but this is a choice we all make, and we don’t ever have to even think about coming back to FEET. It’s like our child, really, and we’re all the surrogate fathers of this band! That keeps us together, this desire to create and make something that’s truly great.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Better Than Last
2. The Real Thing
3. I’m Wrong
4. Greasy Boy
5. Why Would I Lie
6. Truly Awful
7. Sit Down
8. No Vision
9. When You’re Feeling Strange
10. Bullseye
11. On The Wire
12. Goodbye (So Long, Farewell)

Vegyn releases his emotionally rich sophomore album, The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions. Sublimely crafted songs, each allowing for a dose of human imperfection, wobbling on a tightrope between elation and an eerie melancholia. The record includes guest features from John Glacier, Léa Sen, Matt Maltese, Lauren Auder and Ethan P. Flynn, and is released through his own imprint, PLZ Make It Ruins.

The producer's shape-shifting musical output has so far tended towards excess, whether working with some of the world’s biggest rap and R&B artists (Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Kali Uchis), or unleashing 70 track mixtapes, letting light into his creative process by sharing scraps from the cutting room floor. By contrast, this new album emerged from a space of free-flowing experimentation, with a lighter touch to the productions. His trademark flourishes and BPM changes take a backseat to melody and clear structure. As Vegyn himself puts it: “I’m just trying to make interesting songs – feeling was the focus.”

TRACK LISTING

1. A Dream Goes On Forever (feat. John Glacier)
2. Another 9 Days (feat. Ethan P. Flynn)
3. Turn Me Inside (feat. Léa Sen)
4. Halo Flip (feat. Lauren Auder)
5. Everything Is The Same
6. The Path Less Travelled
7. Makeshift Tourniquet
8. Time Well Spent
9. In The Front (feat. John Glacier)
10. Trust (feat. Matt Maltese)
11. Stress Test
12. Last Night I Dreamt I Was Alone
13. Unlucky For Some…

FEATURING AN ALL NEW 11TRACK DOUBLE 12INCH VINYL DANCE MUSIC COMPILATION COMING FROM NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK FEATURING BRAND NEW MUSIC BY RON TRENT, TIMMY REGISFORD, VICK LAVENDER, JOVONN, MARK FRANCIS, DJ PUNCH, CASEY AND JOAQUIN JOE CLAUSSELL.

It was two and a half years ago when a conversation took place between Sal Carmona and Dj Producer Jovonn Armstrong; talks of which planted a seed in Sal Carmona’s ear, which years later would manifest what was once a dream into a reality. No stranger, nor a newcomer in the world of dance music, Sal’s experience in the club scene goes way back to the days when his sisters, to whom he credits for helping shape the person he is today, took him to Dave Mancuso's The Loft. An experience that he recalls being nothing short of magical. It was a spiritual encounter that immediately took over thus steering him towards the direction of clubs such as The Paradise Garage, Bentley's, Underground, Red Parrot, Latin Quarters, Roseland, Studio 54, just to name a few. Years later, Sal decided to take on the role, of which he became quite successful at, of promoting his own events in New York City; throwing regular parties at venues such as Park Circle & USA roller skating rinks, Red Parrot, The Palladium, The Copacabana and many others, soon becoming one of the premier go to promoters in NYC. Taking a long and well-deserved hiatus from the club scene, in 2012 Sal decided to make his return back to what he loves. It was around this time that he began thinking what it would be like to venture into creating his very own record label. Envisioning his first release being a bona fide House Music Album, one that would include some of his favorite producers. Not one to let dreams drift into the ether, while recollecting on that conversation with Jovan way back, Sal set out to make that vision manifest into a reality and thus emerged this dope compilation titled Banger “Make My Body Shake” “Make the Speakers Shake”

A great idea which brings together an interesting mix that includes highly sought out and respected veteran producers in the scene, such as Timmy Registford, Ron Trent, Dj Jovonn, and Joe Claussell. Alongside with up and coming DJ producers who are garnering their own adulation of fans, in the likes of Vick Lavender, Mark Francis, Conway Kasey, and DJ Punch. With valuable directional contributions from friend Joe Claussell, this, to say the least, has become far more than just a seriously dope compilation that consists of a unique coming together of serious dance music. More than the aforementioned, Sal Carmona has manifested a dream into a game changing music scripture that is one of a kind, especially in this day and age where it seems where things are thrown together hoping for something to stick. On the contrary, this is well planned and thought out dopeness at A higher level consisting of all new house music that hasn’t been brought together like this in a very long time and probably not for a while afterwards. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Phwooaar!! New shit from the NY / NJ house axis featuring a truly all star cast of producers, each of whom turns out an absolutely stellar contribution. Essential new jams from two of house music's maternal territories.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Adira Kasey - Cover (Conway Remix) 
A2. Ron Trent - Star Strut  
B1. Vick Lavender - Day Light 
B2. DJ Punch - Make My Body Shake 
C1. Timmy Registford Instrumental - Funa 
C2. Vick Lavender - MJs Revenge 
C3. Joe Claussell - A Deeper Grace LP Version 
D1. Jovonn Armstrong - Latin Deep 
D2. DJ Punch - Afro Congo Traxx 
D3. Mark Francis - Everlasting
D4. Conway Kasey - Caminho Espiritual (4:00) 03:00

Smallville Record sub-label Fuck Reality returns with Fossar’s ‘Make Me Feel’ EP.

The Fuck Reality imprint founds it origins in 2015 as a sub label of the widely lauded Smallville label with a heavy focus on classic house music. The label kicked off with the reissue of Westbam and Nena’s iconic ‘Oldschool Baby’ with remixes from Smallpeople and Gerd Janson before going on to release music from Smallville staple Moomin, Frantzvaag - who also released the first album on the label last year - and more. Here the label welcomes Fossar, co-founder of the Feuilleton imprint, onto the imprint with his new EP.

‘Good 2 Me’ opens with airy chords, robust toms, flickers of resonant synth stabs and soulful vocals running atop snappy drums before ‘Free’ embraces a classic 90’s New York aesthetic with heavily swung percussion a jazzy bass groove, emotive piano lines and warm vocal chants.

The B-side is kicked off with ‘Make Me Feel’, diving deep with shimmering, expansive leads, looped vocal, swirling string melodies and a classic bumpy bass and snare combination. ‘Aeriel (Windy City Version)’ then rounds things out, as the name would suggest nodding to the Chicagoan roots of house and employing all the classic tropes from slick flutes, intertwined keys, glistening piano melodies and shuffled 909 drums.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: New house with vintage feels. Fossar tips his hat to Chicago, London and Ibiza with a four track EP that explores all corners of the golden era.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Good 2 Me
A2. Free
B1. Make Me Feel
B2. Aeriel (Windy City Version)

With their second album, Wham continued their rise to pop stardom. It includes not just some of their biggest hits, but some of the biggest hits of the 80's; Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Freedom and Careless Whisper.

Freestyle comes correct again with a killer slice of 1987 UK Street Soul from Purely Fizzycal, originally issued on the duo's own Pure Impact Productions label.

North Londoner Trish Langley met South Londoner Ash Kamat initially in the the mid 1980s on Tin Pan Alley, while Ash was working at Rod Argent's keyboard shop and running UK soul-focussed zine Soul Trade, and the quickly began working together. Handling the programming and production, Ash says his inspiration came from a mixture of London pirate radio sounds and the US-based sounds of Kashief, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis etc. While Trisha's vocals and melodies were influenced by growing up listening to her parents reggae records, plus her brother's taste for the likes of Brothers Johnson, Maze, Isley Brothers, and a little lovers rock such as Janet Kay - which, together with Ash's raw drum machine sounds, bears all the hallmarks for this uniquely UK take on soul.credits

TRACK LISTING

1. Make A Move
2. Make A Move (Instrumental)
3. Bedroom Eyes
4. Sunday Affair

Peace Okezie, the brainchild behind Master Peace, does not mince his words. He needs to get things out and embodies the phrase, “If you’re going to say it, just say it.” While never careless or unsympathetic with his words, the phrase is an affirmation that fuels him. Lucky for us, his energy is on par with the idiosyncratic, effervescent and most importantly, extremely good music he makes with intention and a keen ear. Master Peace’s music is about inviting people into the weird, wonderful and cacophonous world he’s created. Attracting listeners who crave rebelliousness and divergence from the norm.

Master Peace’s debut album How To Make A Master Peace, pushes the parameters of genre more than ever. Peace flexes his inspirations by cutting through the sonic generations of British music that have raised him. ‘I Might Be Fake’ has the urgency of 2005’s ‘Giddy Stratospheres’ by the Long Blondes, mixed with the spaciness of the late noughties Klaxons catalogue.

‘Shangaladang’ is an ode to Peace's black music inspirations, with a nod to Skepta; here he adapts the lyrics ‘I’ve got my hood mates and white niggas” from the rapper’s 2016 song ‘Man’ to fit his more rugged, The Clash - like tune. The raucous artist has been hailed as the new voice of British Indie and was a “One To Watch” nominee at the 2023 AIM Awards. The 11 track album is a pastiche of the alternative music the British artist was raised on, from Arctic Monkeys & Friendly Fires to Gorillaz. His headline tour, culminating at the iconic Scala, will see Master Peace create his own legacy in British Indie music, and this album is a statement of intent.

The Mess We Seem To Make is the eagerly anticipated debut album from Crawlers. Digging deeper into what fans already know and love about their eclectic alt-rock sound, it builds on the relationship of trust they have with producer Pete Robinson and engineer Tom Roach at Liverpool’s Coastal Studios and takes on a whole range of challenging topics; trauma, sexual politics, mental health, the general goings on in a young person’s life.

TRACK LISTING

Meaningless Sex
Kiss Me
Hit It Again
Better If I Just Pretend
Would You Come To My Funeral
Golden Bridge
Come Over (Again)
Kiss Me To Be Kind
What I Know Is What I Love
I End Up Alone
Call It Love
Nighttime Affair

Formed in Aberdeen in 1983, the band found success after being recruited as one of the frst bands on Creation Records. After four albums with the label the band ceased activity but reunited and released album Popartglory in 2001. Since then they have toured and recorded new material, including 2010 EP Poppy White. Last Night From Glasgow will release new album in November 2023 in conjunction with Spinout Nuggets.

TRACK LISTING

A1. When They Fall
A2. Dancin' Til Dawn
A3. Fatally
A4. Gotta Move On
A5. We Make Our Own History
B1. You Broke More Than Just Your Mother's Heart
B2. Skyward
B3. Wild Heart
B4. Never Been Lucky
B5. Kill
B6. She Knows

The irresistible rush that comes from listening to Sparkling’s music is intoxicating. The Cologne-formed trio’s second album We Are Here To Make You Feel is a glimmering widescreen world where emotions are writ large, the group dealing in rousing choruses, twinkling synth toplines and an incessant desire to keep things propelling forward at pace. “We Are Here To Make You Feel is an album about the importance of expressing your emotions” the group say. “It’s about love in every kind of way. Love for your friends, lovers and family. It’s a reminder to tell your loved ones that you love them. On this record, we wanted to say that in the most honest and straightforward way possible.”

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. We Are Here To
Make You Feel
2. Hey Hey Hey
3. I Love You So
4. I Get Sad So Easily
5. One Day

SIDE B
1. I Want To Go To France
2. Here For A Reason
3. It’s All Fine
4. Don’t Let Go
5. I Feel So High (With You By My Side)

Things To Make And Do is the third album by the electronic/dance duo Moloko, originally released in 2000. It was a sonic departure for Moloko, with tracks less reliant on electronics and more on live musicians. In addition to the change in musical styles, the album featured new vocal techniques from lead singer Róisín Murphy.

After the release of Things To Make And Do, offers came in for Murphy to guest on others' records, most notably The Psychedelic Waltons, Boris D. and Handsome Boy Modelling School. The album held the record as Echo's fastest-selling UK Platinum record, until beaten by Feeder's The Singles compilation six years later.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Radio Moscow
2. Pure Pleasure Seeker
3. Absent Minded Friends
4. Indigo

Side B
1. Being Is Bewildering
2. Remain The Same
3. A Drop In The Ocean
4. Dumb Inc.

Side C
1. The Time Is Now
2. Mother
3. It's Your Problem
4. It's Nothing

Side D
1. Bingo Massacre
2. Somebody Somewhere
3. Just You And Me Dancing
4. I Have A Cross To Bear You May As Well Use It As A Crutch
5. Keep Stepping
6. Sing It Back (Boris Musical Mix)

Back in print on white vinyl this November 3rd for the first time since 2003: ‘The New Romance’ by Pretty Girls Make Graves, the latest installment of Matador’s ongoing catalog series Revisionist History.

Pretty Girls Make Graves formed in Seattle in 2001, fused together out of the still glowing embers of nearly a dozen important groups. Andrea Zollo and Derek Fudesco had played together in Death Wish Kids and Area 51 along with Dann Gallucci, with whom Derek formed Murder City Devils. Shortly before the Murder City Devils called it quits, he and Andrea started Pretty Girls Make Graves with J. Clark (who was in Kill Sadie and Sharks Keep Moving) and Nick Dewitt and Nathan Thelen (both in Bee Hive Vaults).

Brilliantly produced by Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Les Savy Fav), ‘The New Romance’ magnifies Pretty Girls Make Graves’ songcraft and technical prowess while letting some air into their songs and keeping things in crisp focus. Every song on ‘The New Romance’ is an anthem, yet without traditional verses and choruses. Tension builds and shifts without conventional release, as moments of glassy beauty and rousing aggression trade sides.

TRACK LISTING

1. Something Bigger, Something Brighter
2. The Grandmother Wolf
3. Mr. Club
4. A Ll Medicated Geniuses
5. Blue Lights
6. Chemical, Chemical
7. 7
8. The Teeth Collector
9. Holy Names
10. The New Romance
11. This Is Our Emergency
12. A Certain Cemetery

The seventh release on M.A.D Records - label bosses Make A Dance are back.

The El U Vee E.P sees the London duo serve up an eclectic mix of influences from across the board. ‘Cool Girls’ opens with italo arps, gated snares and seductive vocal samples. Title track ‘El U Vee’ follows, blending house heat with a dash of Latin spice. This is a love-song body groover.

Flip it over and find the percussive basement jam ‘Oh Yeah’, before ‘No Way Out’ rounds off the EP with an acid tinged, new beat blend of M.A.D.ness.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The Make A Dance crew can always be relied on to bring the party vibes and this new 12" is no exception. Skilfully straddling between house, disco and breaks, DJs will get bare dancefloor milage out of all four tracks. TIP!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Cool Girls
A2. El U Vee
B1. Oh Yeah
B2. No Way Out

When it comes to underground New York Disco, Donna McGhee's highly sought-after 1978 LP, "Make It Last Forever," ranks among the best in the genre, thanks to Donna's singing and the production skills of legendary producers Greg Carmichael and Patrick Adams. Featuring five songs penned by the producing pair, it's got their quintessential Disco sound of the late 70s topped by Donna McGhee's superb vocals. These have also blessed recordings by The Fatback Band, Phreek, Bumblebee Unlimited and The Universal Robot Band around the same time. The album has been an elusive affair since it first came out in 1978 and this is one the first times in decades it is widely available in its original form with newly remastered audio.

TRACK LISTING

1. Make It Last Forever
2. Do As I Do
3. It Ain't No Big Thing
4. Mr. Blindman
5. I'm A Love Bug

Disco Bits are back with 2 slices of high class edits for your next barn dance.

KLA vs TSI - "Make Me Believe In Free"
The Patti Jo classic is reworked for the dancefloor. Brand new vocals cut together with a steppin' nu-disco beat and soulful strings. Uplifting orchestral disco jive with Loft-y vibe a plenty. 

The Chopper - People On Hold
On the flip "People Hold On" by Rochdale's finest Lisa Stansfield gets sliced n diced by The Chopper. An uptempo chugger that will work in nightclubs and weddings alike!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Disco Bits can always be relied upon for some tastefully spliced sevens to spice up the dance. Nice to see Rochdale's finest pop songstress making an appearance on this edition.

TRACK LISTING

X. KLA Vs TSI - Make Me Believe In Free
Y. The Chopper - People On Hold

Two more classic tunes from the Deptford Northern Soul Club Records dancefloor. Remastered for maximum effect.

Shawn Robinson’s ‘My Dear Heart’ was originally released on Minit in 1966. Original copies go for around £250 plus. Filled with positively glowing soul sounds underpinned by gorgeous vibes and a heady beat. Big at Wigan back in the day, a favourite of Richard Searling.

The flipside, from 1967, is from the inimitable Bessie Banks, the hit maker of ‘Go Now’ fame. Originally released on the Verve imprint. Fired up by choppy guitar and a heavy cross mix of vibes and horns, it’s a chugger with some essential breaks for added impact.

A triumphant anthem. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Shawn Robinson - ‘My Dear Heart’
2. Bessie Banks - 'I Can’t Make It (Without You Baby)'

Clarity were a group put together by Simon Wallace, one of the key figures of 80s & 90s British gospel music who would go on to found Chosen in the late 1990s. This record was produced and arranged by seasoned reggae & jazz guitarist (and later band-member with the award-winning Jazz Jamaica) Alan Weekes for his Bpop label, originally seeing release in 1985.

Just an all-round stellar record & one of the best examples of funk music from this mid-80s era, no messin'.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Way U Make Me Feel
2. Turning Over

Hot Hot Heat’s classic debut album, filled with smart, energetic, dance-punk hits, returns to vinyl with this fully remastered LP edition. AllMusic called the album “an addictive, densely packed pop gem that ranks among 2002’s best albums,” and Pitchfork agreed, including it on their list of the best albums of 2002. Following closely on the heels of their critically-acclaimed Knock Knock Knock EP, Make Up the Breakdown is Hot Hot Heat's first full-length, recorded with Jack Endino at Vancouver, BC’s Mushroom Studios (with engineering help from Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie). SPIN Magazine had this to say about Knock Knock Knock: “Some retro new wavers hang themselves on their own skinny ties. While their peers lip-sych to Cure 45s, these Canucks take subtler cues from early-‘80s synth disco. It’s not new-wave worship, it’s the sound of punk teaching itself to dance.” Make Up the Breakdown delivered on the promise hinted at on the EP. Hot Hot Heat (along with peers like Radio 4 and The Rapture) blended angular post-punk twitch with danceable pop, effectively (and finally) persuading white dopes on punk to get on the good foot in the early 2000s.

TRACK LISTING

Naked In The City Again          
No, Not Now              
Get In Or Get Out         
Bandages     
Oh, Goddamnit              
Aveda (Remastered)                 
This Town (Remastered)                         
Talk To Me, Dance With Me                        
Save Us S.O.S.                
In Cairo            
Apt. 101            
Move On

George Riley is London music's most uncategorizable new star. With a smoky, jazz-inflected voice, she weaves her way through productions that borrow from jungle, R&B and ambient soundscapes. On “Running in Waves”, a new eight-song collaboration with producer Vegyn, she's defiantly herself, writing with searing emotional honesty about everything from relationship anxiety to fear of failure to her love for Camper shoes. Whilst paying tribute to the faithful singer-songwriter genre, Riley’s grasp of harmony, modern inflections and dynamics; combined with Vegyn’s meticulous grasp of futuristic rhythms and a glistening, sparkly production aesthetic make this very much a pop record for the right now. Equal parts anthemic, introspective and danceable – it’s a personal and intermate record that you’re likely to revisit time and time again. It seems equally suited to both solo listening and singing along with your best girl mates on the bus, at the shopping center, or excitedly getting ready for the weekend.

George has previously collaborated with ANZ, Joe Armon-Jones, Lex Amor & Olver Palfreyman.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
A1 Sacrifice
A2 Time
A3 Jealousy
A4 Running In Waves

Side B
B1 Delusion
B2 Honesty
B3 Acceptance
B4 Desire

If fate didn’t quite ordain the circumstances for Interpol’s seventh album, it was at least fortunate that the band had happily concluded their Marauder cycle on stage in front of 30 thousand-odd Peruvian fans. Rather than be sent scrambling like so many other musicians on tour or promoting new music, when lockdown clamped in March 2020, Interpol quickly got into a productive mood.

Coming from a group whose early work was characterised by Polish knife-wielders and incarcerated serial killers, you might expect Interpol’s pandemic record to be an emotional tar pit — doubly so, given the presence of towering producer-engineer duo Flood and Moulder on the boards. But Banks felt the call to push in a “counterbalancing” direction, with paeans to mental resilience and the quiet power of going easy. “The nobility of the human spirit is to recover and rebound,” he says. “Yeah, I could focus on how fucked everything is, but I feel now is the time when being hopeful is necessary, and a still-believable emotion within what makes Interpol Interpol.”

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Interpol are back for their seventh outing, recalling the superb melodic moments of their early years (Something Changed for example is classic Interpol) but with a more scattered, world-weary stagger. As ever, wonderfully engaging, aided by legendary production duo Flood and Moulder. Dream team.

TRACK LISTING

Toni
Fables
Into The Night
Mr. Credit
Something Changed
Renegade Hearts
Passenger
Greenwich
Gran Hotel
Big Shot City
Go Easy (Palermo)

Listening to the dissonant, hallucinogenic world of pigbaby feels like sinking deeper into the artist’s subconscious. His introspective bedroom folk draws together the most surreal of reference points - from Sinead O’Connor playing the Virgin Mary in Irish film ‘The Butcher Boy’, to the online reality game ‘Second Life’, to random YouTube videos of people fighting - to imply a doomscrolling, daydreaming mind.

Pieced together on a small keyboard during a period of intense isolation, pigbaby has formed a picture of digital chaos, longing, and loneliness on his debut EP, ‘Palindromes’.

The artist behind pigbaby grew up in Ireland, where he spent a lot of time in a record shop in Dublin. His earliest musical education came from listening to his grandad playing the mandolin as he sat on his knee, or his mum blasting Thin Lizzy. The musical loves that can most clearly be heard in his own songs are Daniel Johnston and Jim O’Rourke - experimental, ambient singer-songwriters who deal in rough-edged truthtelling.

In crafting these off-kilter musical collages, pigbaby called in friends and asked them to add saxophone, piano, some Irish folk-indebted violin, and a Swarsangam, layering these diverse sounds with scraps of internet ephemera and his own field recordings. The finished EP caught the attention of Joe Thornalley, aka Vegyn, who leapt to release them on PLZ Make It Ruins.

TRACK LISTING

In The Movies
It’s A Long Way Down From Here
Palindromes
Tá Mé Ar Muin Na Muice
I Don't Believe In Jesus But Three Grams Of These Mushrooms Is Making Me Feel Some Kinda Way
Why Don't You Stay, For A Moment

“Behold! I Make All Things New “ is all instrumental and consists of sparse works for lute and electronics. There are no vocals this time. It is more a return to the minimal neo-classical style of his early work. It was written and recorded in lockdown in Warsaw and Rotterdam between 2019 and 2021. Van Wissem lived in Brooklyn since the early nineties. He left New York because of Trumps Immigration Policies. There was no need for singing.Bio Jozef van Wissem is an avant-garde composer and lutenist playing his all black, one-of-a-kind custom-made baroque lute all around the world. The titles and the nature of his works often have a Christian-mystical appeal and the music he creates is simply timeless. In 2013 van Wissem won the Cannes Soundtrack Award at the Cannes Film Festival for Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive “. In December 2017 Jozef van Wissem was invited to perform the madrigal depicted in Caravaggio’s painting The Lute Player (1596) at the Hermitage museum of Saint Petersburg.

An autodidactic author, a Renaissance talent in the cruelty of the 21st century, who switched the intense lifestyle of a new wave artist and bar owner from Groningen to a modern-age thinker who studied lute in New York, and later became one of the most influential contemporary songwriters, known for his solo and cinematic works.

Van Wissem has earned much critical acclaim for his work, the ‘ liberation of the lute’ as he calls it. According to the New York times “Van Wissem is ‘both an avant-garde composer and a baroque lutenist, and thus no stranger to dichotomy”.

According to The Quietus “Van Wissem is possibly the best know lute player in the western world. To get into van Jozef Van Wissem’s world is to surrender to the inevitability – and timelessness – of a strange music created at its own pace, in a manner wholly of its creator’s making. He sets the listener into a private world, looking out through a glass darkly, such is the intense quality of the music. Brevity, simplicity, directness is the key. (The Quietus) His completely unique musical world can be easily verified by his collaborations, especially that these relationships are also strengthening his own musical character. He worked together with Zola Jesus, Tilda Swinton, Jarboe as well as with his long-time collaborative partner, also his friend, Jim Jarmusch.

The timeless value of his work can be described by one of his previous interviews: “… the lute goes against all technology and against all computers and against all the shit you don’t need.” While, at the same time, no matter if we’re talking about his cinematic works, remarkable collaborations or his own full-lengths, the honest, pure, yet frightfully peccable sound of Jozef van Wissem can always remind us to our true selves, and also our deepest fears. “Jozef van Wissem starts his set in the magnificent baroque interior of the medieval Budolfi church. His pizzicato looks so effortless that the ancient lute with three pegboxes at first seems to be a prop. Occasionally giving a piercing look towards the audience, the musician skillfully steers the course between the past and now. One of the time-travel themes is You Know That I Love You, a 16th century madrigal by the Renaissance composer Jacques Arcadelt. Three years ago van Wissem was commissioned to perform this piece at St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum which displays Caravaggio’s The Lute Player which also depicts a young man reading the notes of the same madrigal… The further this lute player travels, the more intense these shamanic charms are. Having performed a few minimalist instrumentals, van Wissem starts singing. The effect of these enchanting loops is enhanced by the mantra-sounding lines “Do you feel like you want to? Do you ever feel like you want to?”. Later, for the encore, he plays another piece including all-the-more hypnotising lyrics “Love destroys all Evil and frees us” multiplied and intensified.” – Louderthanwar at Northern Winter Beat Festival 2020, Aalborg (DK)

TRACK LISTING

1. The Cool Shade Of Eternity
2. What Hearts Must Bleed, What Tears Must Fall
3. All Become One One Become All
4. A New Earth
5. Your Flesh Will Rise In Glory On The Day Of The Future Resurrection
6. Enter Into The Joy Of Our Lord
7. The Adornment (CD Bonus Track)

While Bobby Oroza puts the finishing touches on his next album, he treats us to this killer two-sider to end out 2021 and hold us over until the new record is finished. Bobby's debut album "This Love" made big waves around the world and amassed him a cult following from the US to Japan and everywhere in between.

He found big love in the sweet soul scene early, but has since made fans in a myriad of circles and subcultures globally. It has by now become clear that his music is not just one thing, analog soul textured for sure, but also with an array of influences that span far beyond the soul ballad world. It is that inability to really nail down his sound that has become the biggest charm, an esoteric and profound passion permeate the lyrics and vibe of everything about Mr. Oroza.

This new 7" shows off two sides of Bobby's song writing, an upbeat number on the "plug" side and a heavy duty ballad on the flip. The A side "The Otherside" is an optimistic tune that Bobby humbly shares his story about the troubles we can create for ourselves and the possibility of having a change of mind that frees us from them.

The track is equally encouraging with its sunny energy that carries an important message from Bobby to anyone who is struggling and can't see a way out. The B side "Make Me Believe" is another instant classic for the slowie enthusiasts. A moody, soul bearing, cry for help that comes off with a sweet- ness. The vulnerability makes it romantic while the heavy backing track brings it that unique energy that classic B sides have where they are heart- breaking and gorgeous at the same time.

TRACK LISTING

Make Me Believe
The Otherside

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2021 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY JUNE 12TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 6PM ON THE SAME DAY (SATURDAY JUNE 12TH).

Purple coloured 7" Vinyl single. Never before released in UK

In 2017, Hakim’s debut album, the critically acclaimed ‘Green Twins’, announced the singersongwriter as an idiosyncratic talent, making music that resists genre classification.

You could work a song of his into an HBO original series, as ‘Insecure’ did; you could smoke to it and wonder about your ego; you could slow dance with the person you love—it’s not versatility, so much as a lack of boundaries and a strong sense of intuition. In between albums, musical ideas still came and he worked with his peers, some including Onyx Collective, Anderson .Paak, Jesse and Forever, Lianne La Havas, and Slingbaum, but there came a time for Nick to dive into his own songwriting again, and ‘Will This Make Me Good’ is the result of this.

TRACK LISTING

All These Changes
Wtmmg
Bouncing
Let It Out
Qadir
All These Instruments
Drum Thing
Vincent Tyler
Crumpy
Lacjkl;ajclaj
Gods Dirty Work
Seeing Double
Whoo

Afrodeutsche (Henrietta Smith-Rolla), is a British born Ghanaian / Russian / German artist, composer, producer, and DJ based in Manchester.

Afrodeutsche’s DJ style is a synthesis of Drexciyan and Underground Resistance - inspired selections, intercut with a variety of forward thinking UK techno such as Bola and Lego Feet.

"Break Before Make" seeks to re-align the disposia of global electronic community into a united universal consciousness. You won't find standard chord progressions and linear arrangements here; instead, an almost cinematic journey through mainframes, drum machines and synthesizes voiced and transferred through a modern, mystic muse.

Certain to take the listener on a journey when enjoyed start to finish, whether in a crowd or solo; but there's plenty of nuggets can be mined from the album for the adventurous DJ too. In particular, Afrodeutsche's attention to new and evolved displays of rhythm, texture and mood elevate the album into a so-far unchartered realm. Top marks. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A long time cometh for this local lass destined for big things. If you don't know by now... get to know! Big ups Hen !

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Day Tuner (2:27)
2. And! (3:54)
3. Guess What (7:08)
Side 2
1. Work It (4:53)
2. Now What (5:15)
3. Start Again Part Four (4:23)
Side 3
1. Blanket Ban (5:07)
2. Filandank (4:02)
3. Wtfwtfwtf (3:37)
4. You Heard Me The First Time (3:30)
Side 4
1. The Middle Middle (4:16)
2. Hiaea (6:46)
3. OD (2:33)
4. The Beginning (2:49)

Known for his effortlessly distinctive voice, Make Way For Love marks Marlon's exponential growth as a songwriter. Throughout 11 original songs, he explores new musical terrain and reveals himself in an unprecedented way in the wake of a fractured relationship. While Make Way For Love draws on Marlon's own story, it captures the vagaries of relationships we've all been through: the bliss, ache, uncertainty, and bitterness. Like the best breakup records, Make Way For Love doesn't shy away from heartbreak, but rather stares it in the face, and mines beauty from it. Delicate and bold, tender and searing, it's a mightily personal new step. Make Way For Love was recorded with producer Noah Georgeson and his backing band, The Yarra Benders, in North California's Panoramic Studios after several weeks of pre-production in his native Lyttelton, New Zealand with regular collaborator Ben Edwards. The finished result is an expansive record that moves Marlon several paces from "country" - the genre that's been affixed to him more than any in recent years - with forays into cinematic strings, reverb, rollicking guitar, and at least one quiet piano ballad.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Heartfel odes, tinkling keys and powerful confident guitars weave into an engrossing and confident whole. Superbly written melodies and pitch-perfect production make this a sure-fire winner.

TRACK LISTING

Come To Me
What's Chasing You
Beautiful Dress
Party Boy
Can I Call You
Love Is A Terrible Thing
I Know A Jewller
I Didn't Make A Plan
The Fire Of Love
Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore
Make Way For Love

Douga brings winter to a halt with this newest for Do Make Merge, with optimistic melodies and the hefty, warming hum of a good distortion. From the swooning, post-rain humidity of 'Footprints' to the psychedelic throng of 'Eliza's Eyes', and onto the CR78-y percussion of closer, 'Find The Love' with its glitzy keys and reverbed 'Madchester' vox bringing things to a fitting close. Lovely. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Footprints 04:49
2. Partly 04:17
3. Cut The String 04:56
4. Exposed (beyond) 00:40
5. Golden Tide 05:49
6. Scatter 01:37
7. Eliza's Eyes 03:10
8. The Dove 04:11
9. The Alamo 04:39
10. Passing Fires 01:17
11. Find The Love 05:00

After the release of 2016's 'When Shall This Bright Day Begin', Jozef Van Wissem returns to Consouling Sounds for the follow-up album 'Nobody Living Can Ever Make Me Turn Back'. The album is inspired by a Vanitas painting by the Belgian artist Cindy Wright, which is also the cover of the album. This inspiration is beautifully reflected in the music of the album: Jozef Van Wissem's lute arrangements sound fragile, his sparse vocals delicate, as if the vanity, the temporality and senselessness of everything has been rendered audible. 

Constellation Records are an important label, they have a host of massively important artists on their roster spawned from another massively important band, and a whole host that weren't. It's an epic and fascinating story which could easily be stretched into a dissertation. Maybe you'd do it better than I did.

Point being, if you haven't heard the bands, you should. If you have, you won't want to hear any of this again, so i'll focus on the music. This is Do Make Say Think's first album since 2009's 'Other Truths', and seventh outing to date. DMST (as they shall hereafter be known to spare another 12k words) create tapestries of sound encompassing aspects of modern-classical, post-rock, jazz, drone and anything else you could name. Their compositions are the exponentially blooming result of boolean logic, exploding one way or the other, with infinite cycles of possibilites, and infinite fields of influence. Take opener 'War On Torpor', for example. Brimming with mystery from the opening dusty tape-saturated guitar and hi-passed rolling percusision, it quickly but succinctly develops into crescentic rock territory before switching out elements almost imperceptibly into a cascade of rhythm and heart-wrenching highs, developed with intent but doomed to stutter out once again. Follower, 'Horripilation' rises like a grooving, writhing phoenix from the ashes, fielding a tinny reverbed guitar and dusty ambience before rolling gracefully around the rhythmic guitar counterpoint and majestic anthemic highs of the mid-section and grooving mind-expanding psychedelic swoons of the latter third. It's a journey, and something you have to believe in. It might not be a standard verse/chorus affair but trust them, they know what they're doing.

The brittle duo of 'Bound' and 'And Boundless' are at once a statement of beauty and a stunning cascade of doubt, bringing together affirming spine-tingling instrumental heft and majestic constructions (Bound) together with skittering pointilism and gothic ambient interludes, minor-key wandering progression and foggy echoed fields. All this before pulling out the undeniable optimism of 'Her Eyes On The Horizon', based around guitar and bass, and minimal percussives. A complete antithesis of everything that has come before it, and only suggested at in everything that comes after.

Every piece on here is more than worthy of mention, and no less important to the story than the one preceding it, but in the interests of brevity i'll refrain from listing all of their nuances. It is safe to say however, that Do Make Say Think continue to be as important to music as they ever were, and their continuing innovation and experimentation. It is jazz that doesn't wander, it is instrumental music that speaks, it is delicate but bold experimental rock, it sounds like every band they've ever been compared to, and every band they haven't. A dichotomic juxtaposition in every sense and a brittle, beautiful, towering mountain. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Soaring instrumentals, jagged breakdowns, stunning ambience and grooving psychedelic twists. Bright and beautiful but unendingly complex rhythms, forged through melodies played a thousand times but executed like nothing you've ever heard. From the chamber-rock clanging of “War On Torpor”, to the euphoric post-rock classicism of “Return, Return Again”, this is perfection.

TRACK LISTING

01 War On Torpor
02 Horripilation
03 Murder Of Thoughts
04 Bound
05 And Boundless
06 Her Eyes On The Horizon
07 D=3.57√h (As Far As The Eye Can See)
08 Shlomo's Son
09 Return, Return Again

After the runaway success of the massive "Baltic Beaches EP", a surefire summer slammer if ever I've heard one, Whiskey Disco deliver the second instalment of their Small Batch series, "Make Your Day". Continuing the theme of summer weather, water sports and seaside festivals, the label enlist the editing talents of Derek Kaye, Sandrobianchi & Tripman, Rabo & Snob and Love Drop to deliver four choice cuts of feel good disco action. First up to the plate is A&R Disco man Derek Kaye, who treats us to a tasty reheat of Earth, Wind and Fire's feel good groover "Sing A Song". Boasting loops a plenty, excellent EQ use, reinforced percussion and a beefy boogie bass, this one should have the whole room beaming from ear to ear. If Derek's letting the champagne flow, then Spaniards Sandrobianchi & Tripman serve the strawberry garnish with a whoosing, swooshing, spaced out version of Shuggie's killer calling card. A bubbling bass sequence slips a little extra fuel in the engine, while solar sine waves weave their cosmic magic on our humanoid brains. Now over we go and Israeli duo Rabo & Snob take the controls, powering through the peak time with a phat synth funk bomb beamed forward in time from 1981. Upping the ante on Carol Williams' 1981 Vanguard gem "No One Can Do It", the upwardly mobile production outfit extend the instrumental breaks and arms-aloft chorus while ditching the verses to create a true disco powerhouse. Finally Love Drop enters the fray with a super smooth disco-jazz rerub awash with mind expanding fusion keys, soprano vocals and a "Off The Wall" styled groove perfect for the loose and limber end of the evening. 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Derek Kaye - Sing A Song
A2. Sandrobianchi & Tripman - Strawberry Letter
B1. Rabo & Snob - No One Can Do It
B2. Love Drop - In The Night

Shelf Life is longtime Philadelphia sideman / recording engineer Scotty Leitch, recently seen drumming for Alex G. He’s stepping out front to release his first album of solo material, ‘Everyone Make Happy’, on the venerable Lefse label.

Album opener ‘The Curse’ is a homespun 1990sstyle indie rock chestnut delivered with warmth and idiosyncrasy. Lazy acoustic strums and trippy keyboards serve as the basis for Leitch’s charmingly twee narration, filtering memories of early Modest Mouse and Built To Spill through his own distinct musical perspective. It’s one of those introductions that leaves a huge impression without making a big show of it.

“The first leak from Shelf Life’s debut full-length, ‘The Curse’, is about facing your demons. Its somber acoustic melodies and deadpan, occasionally grim poetry (‘Talk to the ghost of my dad’s mom / About nothing but heaven and the cancer in her gut’) reminds me of something David Berman might have dreamed up with his great, probably-not-reuniting indie-rock band, Silver Jews.” - Fader

TRACK LISTING

The Curse
Avril
Mark II
Creature
Low Key Lumber Theft
Time Traveler
Double Dare
Feel Better
Sinking Just Right
Don’t Palpatize

Nine years since they last played live in the UK and four years since their last album the gently revered and long-time married, Connecticut-based, exuberant, indie-synth-pop duo of Kori Gardner (vocals, organ, piano and occasional guitar) and Jason Hammel (vocals, drums, percussion and occasional synthesiser) have announced the release of a brand new five-track EP called 'You're Going To Make It'. This new batch of tunes is Mates Of State in its purest form, fizzing with razor-sharp harmonies, shimmering new wave synth melodies and lyrics that speak to both personal and universal concerns.

'You're Going To Make It' then is nothing but choice cuts; five anthemic and emotionally rich songs which are the cream of the songwriting crop, tunes that wriggle into your every waking hour like the earworms they are. On 'Beautiful Kids' the band speaks of how a sense of loneliness pervades, even though we are connected to one another 24/7 thanks to modern technology. Or as Hammel puts it: "We all just want to be seen, but we won't look up from our screens so that we can be seen." 'Gonna Get It' and 'I Want To Run' build off the same inspiring notion of the EP's title, encouraging both themselves and their fans to keep striving no matter what the odds. And fist-pumping opener 'Staring Contest' speaks to that delicious ache of schoolyard crushes and youthful love.

TRACK LISTING

1: Staring Contest
2: Beautiful Kids
3: I Want To Run
4: Gonna Get It
5: Sides Of Boxes 

And just like that, with the sleazy sound of a robotic vocal, Hot Chip are back to defend their crown as undisputed electro-pop lotharios. Now onto their sixth album, the oddball outfit are in vintage form, hitting us with this energetic LP, which reflects all that's come before it without simply treading water. Opening track "Huarache Lights" is as well formed a pop song as you're likely to hear all year, combining breakbeats and disco samples with loose white funk, miami freestyle elements and classic Hot Chip shimmer. For those who've been down since day one, the quirky synth-funk of "Love Is The Future" and "Started Right" offer a more mature take on the sounds first heard on "Coming On Strong", while "White Wine And Fried Chicken" and "So Much Further To Go" are classic Hot Chip ballads in the same vein as "In The Privacy Of Our Love". At the top of the B-side, "Dark Night" sees the group heading into new territories, adding sweeping symphonic strings and distorted guitar to a sublime 80s styled pop groove. If you come to the record looking for the dancefloor stylings of "One Life Stand" and "In Our Heads", the synth heavy lilt of "Easy To Get" and the housed up magic of "Need You Now" should do you nicely, softening you up for the big psychedelic finish of "Why Make Sense?". And coming from one of the world's most unconventional pop acts, why indeed? 

Due to a unique and bespoke printing technique which has never been used before, the album will come in one of 501 different colours. Combined with subtle variations of the design, this means that EVERY copy of the album, on both CD and LP, will feature completely unique artwork. Visually and sonically adventurous and innovative, this is a giant leap forward for a band with plenty more to give.

Agitated is way pleased to be releasing the new / forthcoming album from the Straight Arrows in the summer, and to get the motor running they are releasing a limited edition 7” with one track from the new ablum, “Make Up Your Mind” and one track exclusive to this release…..a cover of The Tempos – “Two Timer”. This is dancing music, garage pop nuggets that will get you up out of your dronesome slumber and force some rug cutting antics. Easy reference points are Nuggets, Pebbles, and good times! This is psychedelic garage pop without the patchouli scented kaftans, more yr blue bomber bop than LSD loafabout!! This lot are one of the best Sydney bands we’ve heard in a good long age, forget your scenes, “Australia is hip right now” genres, etc, this record is fun, and is not for lameo pigeonholing. Theres 500 black vinyl 7”… get with the beat!!

Soundway re-issue Rob’s second album for the first time outside Ghana.

Rob was an enigmatic recording artist from Ghana who cut two albums for the legendary Essiebons label in 1977. Neither of these were big domestic hits at the time and have since become prized amongst collectors in recent years. The title track from this LP was always one of the most popular on the first Soundway release "Ghana Soundz" and over the years the label have been asked many times to re-issue the LP in its entirety. A stranger, slower offering than his more dancefloor funk-laden and Spartan first LP, this record sees Rob in similar territory but with the tempo switched down and the introspection turned up.

Rob’s trademark horns dominate and are supplied by the Mag-2, an army band founded by leader Amponsah Rockson, who named it after the army unit the band played for - the “magnificent” second battalion. In 1977, Rob traveled to the coastal town of Takoradi in search of Mag-2, which had an entire section of its line-up dedicated to horns, with the intension of laying out his proposal to them. Luckily for Rob, the band took him up on it.

With religious overtones and a broody, slightly off-key atmosphere at points it’s certainly one of the stranger Afro-funk records to come out of West Africa but with tracks like "Loose Up Yourself" and "Make It Fast, Make It Slow" he nails it for sure.

New signing to Make Mine (The Books, Gold Panda, Dent May), Tommy Toussaint is the pop-moniker for southern American songwriter Jesse Thompson. Since 2008, Toussaint has been a frequent collaborator and band member of Mississippi musician, Dent May. He's released the majority of his music via the May-run Cats Purring collective's website, including the 2010 Cosmic Caverns EP, which he completed while living and working in an Atlanta, Georgia house for the homeless. Coming on like Brian Wilson for the i-pad generation, Tommy Toussaint's debut release - the perfect 2011 summer swansong - is a blistering carefree jam set to blow away those winter chills.

Limited to just 500 copies worldwide.

Killer double 7" reissue of the Best Coast debut...

4 tracks, two 7" records...you want this one right?

Limited to 2000... get the buzz. Nicely repackaged as a double 7", gatefold sleeve, makes it really nice...yes sir. The CLASSIC debut.

Papercranes is the musical home of Rain Phoenix. Born as a studio project in L.A.,Papercranes quickly grew into a band splitting time between Florida and New York City. After a self-released EP in 2003 and debut album "Vidalia" in 2006, Papercranes played frequently, touring the US with their folk-tinged psychedelic sound. In late 2009, with the help of some of Rain's longtime friends, musicians, and writers she began work on Papercranes sophomore album, "Let's Make Babies in the Woods".

The recording sessions were experimental, allowing no rest or retakes as an exercise in 'stream of consciousness' writing - a recurring theme for Papercranes. Due to the intensity of the sessions and the non linear production style she favoured, there's a rawness to this record untapped in Papercranes earlier works. Recorded in a garage studio in Los Angeles, the resulting nine-song collection delves into much darker themes. This is evident in songs like "Shell", "Synapses" and "Dust Season" where desolate imagery meet rebellious melody and angry rhythms. Whereas tracks like "Warrior", "Headphones" and "Long Way" seem almost biographical with observances that are poetic yet accessible.

Broken Sound bring us this double A-side single from Brooklyn's finest lo-fi alternative rock / folk act; Forest Fire. Taken from the band's forthcoming album "Survival", this 7" single is a perfect collectable precedent to the album's release and includes two of the finest and most instantly recognisable tracks from the set. This release will not be available digitally, it is strictly vinyl-only.

The Brighton boys who were fresh meat for Zane Lowe have now released their debut album care of Kasabian's producer Dan Swift. They achieve an edgy psychotic sound chock full of angular guitars that contrast with the languid vocals.

Ohio has been rampant on the Ecstatic Peace playlists lately with the release of a long player by Leslie Keffer and a forthcoming split LP by Emeralds and Tusco Terror. Like Keffer, who's moved to Nashville (to be closer to Be Your Own Pet), 16 Bitch Pile-Up and Mike Shiflet are both ex-pats of Ohio. 16 Bitch to California and Shiflet to some weird small town in Japan. Mike Shiflet we've known for years as he has produced some of the more interesting tapes and what not of midwestern out-ness from his Gameboy label and from his legendary duo tour with Burning Star Core / C. Spencer Yeh of a few years back. Like the amazing beard he has sported since childhood his music is a free-fall of acoustic wonder. He is also the cat responsible for turning on most of the world to the radical charms of three girls from Ohio wickedly named 16 Bitch Pile-Up. With a name like that you may have expected something just kinda funny but what made itself imminently obvious was that 16 Bitch was really and extremely into producing a wholly personal thrombosis of noise improvisation. Crystallized to the trio of Sarah Bernat, Sarah Cathers and Shannon Walter this trio has become one of the most consistently exciting live experiences of the last five years. These recordings by both artists were done when both were still residents of Ohio and reflect that time and space right before each other's exodus. They are raw and righteous and ready for you to take a bite.

Unadulterated disco-not-disco brilliance, undisputed dancefloor juggernaut and surely, SURELY, a summer anthem in the making (OK, so it's an anthem already, but just wait 'til festival season!), "Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above" gets another outing after originally being quietly released on Sub Pop back in August 2006. This CD single also includes the baile funk remix from fellow Sao Paulo residents Bonde Do Role (originally on the Sub Pop 12" import).

Eighth full-length release from longtime Shrimper vets, features guest musician Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue, Mountain Goats) on piano. While the quartet's previous record, "Upstairs In Your Room", squealed and squalled through two-minute rock workouts in the style of the group's early years, their newest has no electric instrumentation at all. Cohesive both musically and thematically, bottles of make up is far from lo-fi / no-fi affectation.

While retaining the melodic, enveloping guitar soundscapes of previous releases, "Melt Inside" is different in one key element. On this occasion, Jon's mesmerising, minimalist, guitar-based arrangements are enhanced by the divine vocals of Ally Todd. The album features nine tracks, composed and recorded between Lund, Sweden and Leicestershire, UK during 2004-5. But it is more than simply a collection of songs. These are vibrant, emotional stories of love and loathing, of mystery and intrigue, of despair and elation.

Rounder Records band, The Holy Modal Rounders combined a wildness and wackiness with a reverence for their roots and tradition. If they neglected to mine and include any small corner of American music, it wasn't for lack of trying. Here's a chance to discover what their fans already know - that many musical genres sound even better when turned upside down and inside out.