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PIAS

Kelis

Kaleidoscope - 25th Anniversary Edition

    Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kelis' Kaleidoscope with this special 2LP green vinyl release. Originally dropping in 1999, Kaleidoscope introduced Kelis' unique style, blending R&B, funk, and futuristic production from The Neptunes. Key tracks like "Caught Out There", with its iconic “I hate you so much right now!” scream, became a defining anthem, while "Good Stuff" showcased Kelis’ boundary-pushing fusion of hip-hop and soulful vocals.

    This anniversary edition on green vinyl revives the album’s vibrant sound, offering a richer listening experience that captures its timeless energy. For fans and collectors alike, this release is a celebration of Kelis' bold and influential debut.

    TRACK LISTING

    A1. Intro
    A2. Good Stuff
    A3. Caught Out There
    A4. Get Along With You
    A5. Mafia
    B1. Game Show
    B2. Suspended
    B3. Mars
    B4. Ghetto Children
    C1. I Want Your Love
    C2. No Turning Back
    C3. Roller Rink
    C4. In The Morning
    C5. Wouldn't You Agree
    D1. Caught Out There (The Neptunes Extended Mix)
    D2. Get Along With You (Soul Inside Radio Mix)
    D3. Get Along With You (Mix Show Edit)
    D4. Get Along With You (Pharrell Edit) 

    Bloc Party

    Silent Alarm - 2024 Reissue

      Bloc Party’s ‘Silent Alarm’ is a modern indie rock classic that helped define the sound of the mid-2000s.

      Released in 2005, the album features sharp, angular guitar riffs, pulsating rhythms, and introspective lyrics that capture both the urgency and vulnerability of youth.

      Tracks like ‘Banquet’ and ‘Helicopter’ became anthems of the era, blending post-punk revival with a fresh, energetic edge.

      Now available on black vinyl LP, ‘Silent Alarm’ is a must-have for collectors and new listeners alike, offering the perfect way to experience the album’s dynamic soundscapes in analogue form.

      TRACK LISTING

      Like Eating Glass
      Helicopter
      Positive Tension
      Banquet
      Blue Light
      She's Hearing Voices
      This Modern Love
      The Pioneers
      Price Of Gasoline
      So Here We Are
      Luno
      Plans
      Compliments

      Meat Beat Manifesto

      Subliminal Sandwich - PIAS 40 Edition

        Meat Beat Manifesto’s 1996 follow up to ‘Satyricon’ was a more experimental album, relying more on ambient textures with fewer samples and moving away from traditional song structures.

        Written and produced by Jack Dangers, ‘Subliminal Sandwich’ is more of a solo effort than its predecessors, featuring the singles ‘Nuclear Bomb’ and ‘Transmission’ and a cover of ‘Asbestos Lead Asbestos’, originally by World Domination Enterprise.

        One of Fact magazine’s 50 Best Trip-Hop Albums Of All Time; “Tricky-esque trip-hop, blissed out atmospherics, industrial hip-hop beats... jarring, infectious... the perfect party tape for the oncoming apocalypse.” - NME (8/10)

        TRACK LISTING

        Sound Innovation
        Nuclear Bomb
        Long Periods Of Time
        1979
        Future Worlds
        What's Your Name?
        She's Unreal
        Phone Calls From The Dead
        Asbestos Lead Asbestos
        Mass Producing Hate
        Radio Mellotron
        Assasinator
        Cancer
        Lucid Dream
        Addiction
        No Purpose No Design
        Transmission
        We Done

        Meat Beat Manifesto

        Satyricon - PIAS 40 Edition

          The fourth album by Meat Beat Manifesto aka Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens, released in 1992 and featuring numerous samples from sci-fi films including John Carpenter’s ‘Dark Star’, ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’, (The Monkees’ ‘Head’) and David Cronenberg’s ‘Videodrome’.

          A heady mix, like an amalgamation of The Orb, The Chemical Brothers, Orbital and Nine Inch Nails.

          Features the singles ‘Edge Of No Control’ and ‘Mindstream’.

          TRACK LISTING

          Pot Sounds
          Mindstream
          Drop
          Original Control
          Circles
          The Sphere
          Euthanasia
          Edge Of No Control Part 1
          Edge Of No Control Part 2
          Untold Stories
          Placebo

          The Triffids

          Calenture - 2024 Reissue

            Step into the enchanting realm of The Triffids once again with their acclaimed album, ‘Calenture’, now presented in a captivating LP reissue on blue coloured vinyl.

            Originally released to critical acclaim, this album showcases The Triffids’ distinctive fusion of folk, rock and post-punk sensibilities.

            With its ethereal melodies and introspective lyrics, ‘Calenture’ invites listeners on a journey of introspection and emotional resonance.

            Led by the evocative vocals of David McComb, each track weaves a spellbinding narrative that lingers in the mind long after the music fades.

            TRACK LISTING

            Bury Me Deep In Love
            Kelly’s Blues
            A Trick Of The Light
            Hometown Farewell Kiss
            Unmade Love
            Open For You
            Holy Water
            Blinder By The Hour
            Vagabond Holes
            Jerdacuttup Man
            Calenture
            Save What You Can

            The Triffids

            In The Pines - 2024 Reissue

              Step into the mesmerizing world of The Triffids with their renowned album, ‘In The Pines’, now available in a striking red coloured vinyl double LP reissue for 2024.

              Originally released in 1986, this album showcases The Triffids’ unique blend of folk, rock and postpunk.

              Featuring the haunting vocals of David McComb and lush instrumentals, ‘In The Pines’ invites you on a journey through atmospheric landscapes that captivate the senses.

              With its enduring allure and rich sonic textures, this album stands as a testament to The Triffids’ timeless artistry.

              TRACK LISTING

              Suntrapper
              In The Pines
              Kathy Knows
              25 To 5
              Only One Life
              Do You Want Me Near
              You
              Trick Of The Light
              Once A Day
              She’s Sure The Girl I
              Love
              Jerdacuttup Man
              Just Might Fade Away
              Better Off This Way
              Keep Your Eyes On The
              Hole
              Blinder By The Hour
              Wish To See No More
              One Soul Less On
              Your Fiery List
              Born Sandy
              Devotional
              Love And Affection

              Soulwax

              Much Against Everyone's Advice - [PIAS] 40 Edition

                Expanded 2LP version, now featuring three tracks - ‘The Salty Knowledge of Tears’, ‘Flying Without Wings’ and ‘My Cruel Joke’ - that were included on the original 2000 CD but not the single LP format.

                Also features three remixes from the time - ‘Conversation Intercom (Vocoder Intermix)’, ‘My Cruel Joke (Mike Rule Joe Cream Mix)’ and ‘Saturday (Roger Manning Mix)’.

                TRACK LISTING

                Conversation Intercom
                Saturday
                When Logics Die
                Much Against Everyone's Advice
                Overweight Karate Kid
                Proverbial Pants
                The Salty Knowledge Of Tears
                Flying Without Wings
                More Than This
                Too Many DJs
                Temptingly Yours
                My Cruel Joke
                Scream
                Funny
                Conversation Intercom (Vocoder Intermix)
                My Cruel Joke (Mike Rule Joe Cream Mix)
                Saturday (Rory Manning Mix)

                DJ Shadow

                Endtroducing... Half Speed Master Cut 2024

                  As the first-ever album composed entirely of sampled material, "Endtroducing" is a landmark in the history of electronic music.

                  its influence reverberates through the years, inspiring countless artists and solidifying DJ Shadow's place as a visionary in the realm of sample-based production. Each track tells a unique story, from the hypnotic groove of "Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" to the cinematic atmosphere of "Midnight In A Perfect World." Shadow's meticulous craftsmanship shines through, showcasing his unparalleled skill in constructing beats that resonate with both intensity and emotion.

                  TRACK LISTING

                  Best Foot Forward
                  Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt
                  The Number Song
                  A - Changeling
                  B - Transmission
                  What Does Your Soul Look Like , Pt. 4
                  Stem / Long Stem
                  A - Transmission 2
                  B - Mutual Slump
                  Organ Donor
                  Why Hip-hop Sucks In '96
                  Midnight In A Perfect World
                  Napalm Brain / Scatter Brain - Medley
                  A - What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt. 1 / Blue Sky Revisit
                  B - Transmission 3

                  Soulwax

                  Nite Versions - [PIAS] 40 Edition

                    Embark on a sonic odyssey with Soulwax’s electrifying masterpiece, ‘Nite Versions’, a genreblurring marvel that transcends the boundaries of electronic music.

                    Released in 2005, this iconic album seamlessly fuses elements of rock, electro and dance, creating a pulsating experience that captivates from start to finish.

                    Anchored by the Dewaele brothers’ visionary production, ‘Nite Versions’ elevates the concept of remixing to an art form, transforming the band’s own tracks into a collection of club-ready anthems.

                    The result is an album that not only stands as a testament to Soulwax’s groundbreaking talent but also as a pivotal moment in the evolution of electronic music.

                    TRACK LISTING

                    Teachers
                    Miserable Girl
                    E Talking
                    Slow Dance
                    I Love Techno
                    Krack
                    Accidents And Compliments
                    Compute
                    NY Lipps (Kawazaki Dub)
                    Another Excuse (DFA Remix)

                    The Triffids

                    Born Sandy Devotional - 2024 Repress

                      Immerse yourself in the genre-defying brilliance of The Triffids’ ‘Born Sandy Devotional’.

                      This 1986 masterpiece seamlessly blends folk, rock, and post-punk, creating an unforgettable sonic experience.

                      The haunting vocals of David McComb, coupled with lush instrumentals, make each track a journey through atmospheric landscapes.

                      TRACK LISTING

                      The Seabirds
                      Estuary Bed
                      Chicken Killer
                      Tarrilup Bridge
                      Lonely Stretch
                      Wide Open Road
                      Life Of Crime
                      Personal Things
                      Stolen Property
                      Tender Is The Night (The Long Fidelity)

                      Kings Of Convenience

                      Quiet Is The New Loud - 2024 Repress

                        Indulge in the timeless charm of Kings Of Convenience’s debut masterpiece, ‘Quiet Is The New Loud’, available as a gatefold reissue. Immerse yourself in the delicate harmonies and introspective lyrics that define this modern classic.

                        ‘Winning A Battle, Losing The War’ sets the tone of the album, a melancholic yet uplifting ballad that captures the essence of longing and resilience. ‘Toxic Girl’ captivates with its poignant lyrics and soothing melodies, exploring the complexities of love with grace.

                        With its blend of acoustic guitars, heartfelt vocals, and poetic storytelling, ‘Quiet Is the New Loud’ invites you on a journey of introspection and connection.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        Winning A Battle, Losing The War
                        Toxic Girl
                        Singing Softly To Me
                        I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
                        Failure
                        The Weight Of My Words
                        The Girl From Back Then
                        Leaning Against The Wall
                        Little Kids
                        Summer On The West Hill
                        The Passenger
                        Parallel Lines

                        Whispering Sons

                        The Great Calm

                          Following the dark, expansive power of 2018’s ‘Image’ and 2021’s minimal ‘Several Others’, Whispering Sons’ third album, ‘The Great Calm’, represents a reimagining and rethinking, though this growth has produced a series of songs that are still defiantly and uniquely true to the group.

                          With bass player and producer Bert Vliegen’s credentials to call on, rather than give the band musical sketches to be fleshed out later as he did previously, guitarist Kobe Lijnen was able to provide more fully formed pictures of his potential new songs.

                          Recorded in four weeks - two in the Audioworkx studio near Eindhoven, Holland, before being finished at the start of 2023 using a homemade set up on Vlieland, a small Dutch island just off the North Sea coast - the power, energy and beauty behind ‘The Great Calm’’s making is etched through the heart of each of its 12 songs.

                          TRACK LISTING

                          Standstill
                          Walking, Flying
                          Cold City
                          Dragging
                          Something Good
                          Still, Disappearing
                          The Talker
                          Balm (After Violence)
                          Poor Girl
                          Loose Ends
                          Oceanic
                          Try Me Again

                          The Bees

                          Sunshine Hit Me - 2023 Reissue

                            Released originally by Wall of Sound sublabel We Love You in 2002, ‘Sunshine Hit Me’ was recorded and produced by founding members Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher in a home garden studio - aka The Shed - on the Isle of Wight, and went on to receive a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, 2003.

                            Singles from the album include “No Trophy”, “Punchbag”, and a cover of Os Mutantes’ “A Minha Menina”.

                            TRACK LISTING

                            Punchbag
                            Angryman
                            No Trophy
                            Binnel Bay
                            Sunshine
                            A Minha Menina
                            This Town
                            Sweet Like A Champion
                            Lying In The Snow
                            Zia
                            Sky Holds The Sun

                            CD Bonus Tracks
                            Seeds
                            You Got To Leave
                            Elain
                            Whistle Chop
                            Jackel Head
                            Out For The Count

                            Balthazar

                            Sand

                              Belgium’s sophisticated yet sometimes worldweary indie superstars return with their fifth album and follow up to 2019’s ‘Fever’.

                              Further pushing on from ‘Fever’’s shift into more soulful waters, ‘Sand’ presents a more cohesive body of work that flirts with a soulful indie vibe and an at times almost slow disco undercurrent, the two singles ‘Losers’ and ‘On A Roll’ perfectly capturing the mood.

                              Back when you could go to gigs the band were at the point where they were selling out the Scala in London and commanding decent size crowds regionally (especially Brighton, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow).

                              TRACK LISTING

                              Moment
                              Losers
                              On A Roll
                              I Want You
                              You Won’t Come Around
                              Linger On
                              Hourglass
                              Passing Through
                              Leaving Antwerp
                              Halfway
                              Powerless

                              The Young Gods

                              TV Sky - 30th Anniversary Remastered Edition

                                30 years ago, the fourth Young Gods album, ‘T.V. Sky’, was released. A timeless record, surely the most accessible and the most effective and certainly the most successful.

                                This cathedral of sounds, of which ‘Skinflowers’ constituted the vault, allowed this avant-garde group and creators of a new style to conquer a very large audience.

                                The primordial shadow of The Doors floated throughout this record, which ended with a sort of hypnotic road trip that announced the rest of their more atmospheric career.

                                With Roli Mosimann (the fourth member of the group) once again at the helm of production, ‘T.V. Sky’ entered the very closed club of rock masterpiece albums.

                                When asked about the most influential groups in the early 1990s, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Devin Townsend, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Al Jurgensen (Ministry), Trent Treznor (Nine Inch Nails) and The Edge (U2), among many others, all quote The Young Gods. All connoisseurs will tell you that they have their place in any ultimate discotheque.

                                TRACK LISTING

                                CD
                                Our House
                                Gasoline Man
                                T.V. Sky
                                Skinflowers
                                Dame Chance
                                The Night Dance
                                She Rains
                                Summer Eyes
                                Skinflowers (Brain Forest Remix)
                                Skinflowers (Courtney Speed Love Mix)
                                Gasoline Man (Megadrive Mix)
                                Gasoline Man (Diesel Mix)

                                2LP
                                Our House
                                Gasoline Man
                                T.V. Sky
                                Skinflowers
                                Dame Chance
                                The Night Dance
                                She Rains
                                Summer Eyes
                                Skinflowers (Brain Forest Remix)
                                Skinflowers (Courtney Speed Love Mix)
                                Gasoline Man (Megadrive Mix)
                                Gasoline Man (Diesel Mix)
                                T.V. Sky (Live Sky Tour)
                                Skinflowers (Live Sky Tour)
                                She Rains (Live Sky Tour)
                                Summer Eyes (Live Sky Tour)

                                Smith & Burrows

                                Funny Looking Angels

                                  The band, made up of Tom Smith (Editors) and Andy Burrows (Solo, I Am Arrows, Razorlight, We Are Scientists), released their Smith & Burrows debut in November 2011, a Christmas album combining original recordings and four covers - ‘Only You’ by Yazoo, Black’s ‘Wonderful Life’, ‘Funny Looking Angels’ by Delta and ‘On and On’ by Longpigs.


                                  TRACK LISTING

                                  In The Bleak Midwinter
                                  When The Thames Froze
                                  As The Snowflakes Fall
                                  Funny Looking Angels
                                  Wonderful Life
                                  Only You
                                  On And On
                                  Rosslyn
                                  This Ain’t New Jersey
                                  The Christmas Song

                                  Editors

                                  EBM

                                    Editors have never been a band who do what’s expected. When they emerged in the early 2000s, university friends from Birmingham, they were swept into a wave of indie groups with whom they had little in common beyond playing guitars. Then, after their 2005 Mercury Prize-shortlisted debut The Back Room and 2007 #1 follow-up An End Has A Start, they switched up their sound for synths. That was their first act of bravery, says frontman Tom Smith, and they’ve been taking risks ever since. “We’re quite used to that feeling of scaring our audience with new material,” he says with a smile.

                                    “It seems to happen with every album,” agrees guitarist Justin Lockey. “We’ll do something that everyone really likes, and then we’ll go and do something else.”

                                    That ‘something else’ is a breathlessly heavy step up, with their seventh album, EBM. It’s Editors’ most leftfield material yet – a thrilling, unrelenting thrust of full-bodied electro-industrial rock. Another new dawn: Benjamin John Power – aka Blanck Mass – has co-produced the album and come aboard as an official member. To outside ears, it might seem like an unusual pairing: an anthemic rock band who’ve headlined Wembley Arena and an Ivor Novello-winning composer who is best known for his abrasive noise projects. Even Benjamin himself admits it was a “leap of faith”. But Editors’ evolution makes perfect sense. They’ve toured with The Cure, of whom they are all huge fans, and are used to playing European festivals where they’re billed alongside harder acts. In Germany, for example, “we're not seen as some melodic indie band,” says Justin, “we’re seen as super goth.” He adds: “We talked about Rammstein quite a lot when we're making this record.”

                                    Benjamin’s journey to joining Editors was a surprisingly organic one. He had worked on the band’s last album, 2018’s Violence, giving some songs a more brutal, industrial edge, the full realisations of which came out as 2019’s The Blanck Mass Sessions. That same year, Editors were asked to both headline a festival in Belgium and create a bespoke set for later on in the night. They approached Benjamin to see whether he’d be up for helping to retool their songs in a dancier direction. But with the pandemic underway, the festival never happened and Editors were left with a bunch of new ideas during the ensuing lockdowns that were designed for – as Benjamin puts it – a “dirty rave tent”.

                                    They continued swapping ideas anyway, and the band began buzzing about where this music was headed: shadowier, beefier, exploring their shared love of synth-pop, industrial and alt-rock, it started to feel like a new chapter – the band’s third act. For the first time, the song structures weren’t coming from Tom and he says it was a novel but exciting exercise to receive the files and tinker with them, with Justin, Elliott Williams (keyboards/guitars), drummer Ed Lay and bassist Russell Leetch fleshing out their parts in the studio when they eventually regrouped. “Ben has certainly been a shot of adrenaline in our creative process,” says Tom. “The songs are so immediate, and in your face.”

                                    Making EBM was “a lifeline” during the pandemic, says Elliott, “something to totally get lost in.” Indeed, they’ve created a world brimming with drama and intensity, which is exhilarating after the past few years of collective listlessness. “The songs feel like an escape,” nods Tom. The album title is an acronym of Editors and Blanck Mass but also a knowing reference to Electronic Body Music, the potent sound that originated in the 1980s and which has hugely influenced Editors’ new material, where the synths of bands like Nitzer Ebb, Front 242 , DAF and Skinny Puppy hammer darkly. Think smoke machines, strobe lights and the smell of leather. The band has taken those influences in a distinctly Editors direction: see the soaring falsetto of standout ‘Kiss’, their disco-infused “crying on the dancefloor” banger, says Tom, which Benjamin adds “could almost be a Donna Summer song” if it wasn’t so heavy. Or the punchy chorus of ‘Karma Climb’, a stomping single that pairs ghostly atmospherics with stadium-level anthemia. On ‘Vibe’, which is the closest thing to what you could call a ‘feelgood’ Editors track, Tom wanted to put a “summertime sheen” on “a song for disconnected youth”. It’s Editors at their most super goth, sure – but also their most pop.

                                    For Benjamin, it was an opportunity to flex his melodic muscles. In fact, says Tom, it was the avant-garde producer who brought the poppiest ideas to the table. “I was quite blown away by how accessible they were,” he says. “It was like ABBA or something.” Benjamin, a Nine Inch Nails die-hard, has always been struck by the seriousness and sentimentality of Editors’ music and was also keen to heighten the intensity after a bleak few years. “There’s a strong physicality to this record,” he says of its muscular soundscapes, which certainly echo, in places, the claustrophobia of The Downward Spiral. “I was looking ahead to a kind of a space where it’s sweaty, and bodies are close together.”

                                    For the most part, EBM revels in maximalism. The battle cry of lead single ‘Heart Attack’ sets out their stall, a twinkling rock ballad with a serrated, noirish undercurrent that lets rip into gloriously metallic riffage. From there, it’s a torrid release of beats, blips and broodiness: all killer, no filler; full-on but never overloaded. ‘Educate’ is almost symphonic in scope, as Tom angrily intones about the uncertainty of modern times. ‘Strawberry Lemonade’, meanwhile, is an all-blooping, all-thwacking bodice-ripper, with drums that sound like they might punch out of the speakers. Album closer ‘Strange Intimacy’ is “the most outrageous” of the album, says Tom – “not a particularly happy place to end, as it’s quite a bleak look at a relationship, but the arrangement of it gives it this theatricality.” It’s certainly the most ambitious Editors have ever sounded, where Justin’s “preposterous” guitar riff gives way, he says, to a “mad eight-minute techno odyssey” at the end.

                                    Another about-turn is the jittering crescendo of ‘Silence’ – the album’s post-rock ‘breather’, if you can call it that. Tom’s baritone has never sounded better, recalling a young Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt’. He’s never much been one for direct lyrics. On EBM, there are undeniable references to the pandemic and a divided Britain (“can you feel the broken nation?” he intones on ‘Strawberry Lemonade’) but these are slivers of reality among the abstract, in songs that are largely about losing yourself in the unknown. “I think it’s always better when the listener can draw their own conclusions from what I write,” he says. Justin agrees. “We sit in quite an emotional space, so everyone always wants to know what the words are about, but the music is half the emotion and what sets the mood and the tempo. Sometimes it’s better just to give yourself over to that rather than to try and work out what something means all the time.”

                                    It comes back to this idea of letting the mood take over, of giving in, and getting lost. And it’s going to sound absolutely eviscerating live. It’s a new world, and a new chapter for Editors – as it is for everyone. Time to move your body.

                                    TRACK LISTING

                                    1. Heart Attack
                                    2. Picturesque
                                    3. Karma Climb
                                    4. Kiss
                                    5. Silence
                                    6. Strawberry Lemonade
                                    7. Vibe
                                    8. Educate
                                    9. Strange Intimacy

                                    Jonathan Jeremiah

                                    Horsepower For The Streets

                                      Horsepower For The Streets is Jonathan Jeremiah’s fifth album, his second for PIAS, a label which feels like a good home for a soulful singer linked to a cadre of artists more readily associated with mainland Europe than his own island. So far at least. Much of the new album was written in Saint-Pierre-De-Côle, the countryside beyond Bordeaux, during breaks in Jeremiah’s first tour of France. Long walks and open log fires. You can take the boy out of Brent … and the continent welcomes him with open arms (see also Tindersticks, Scott Matthew, revered across the Channel, where the artistic tradition is less distracted by Londinium hyperbole). The album was recorded in Bethlehemkerk, a renovated monumental church in Amsterdam Noord, with Amsterdam Sinfonietta, a 20-piece string orchestra. There’s clearly a European influence at work here, a bond which has endured.

                                      Since he appeared on the scene in 2011 with A Solitary Man, Jeremiah has been likened to such iconic performers as Scott Walker, Serge Gainsbourg, Terry Callier. The clarity of his delivery draws the listener into the landscape he paints in such detail, whilst at the same time leaving much to the imagination.

                                      The opener, “Horsepower For The Streets”, might conjure up images of boy racers, revved up emotions (my guess, when he asks me what I think). In actual fact, it’s a quote from an old acquaintance in Berlin, a rallying cry, a positive vibe. Which arrives just in time after a couple of years which, let’s be honest, have been pretty tough going. This is an album of its time, of hardships endured, rhodium thieves sighted across the road, sirens wailing on their way to the hospital. The second act represents the darker days of the work, bookended by a vibrantly hopeful opening and consolatory resolution.

                                      Jeremiah draws us in, allowing us to see what he sees. On “You Make Me Feel This Way” we look out onto the street with him, there’s a neighbour walking the dog, scenes we recognize and become part of. The view from the window is, by definition, that of an outsider, and yet the act of observation feels empathetic. All human life is here. If he started out as a solitary man all those years ago, he now seems far more grounded, ... even in isolation, he feels connected.

                                      There’s a simple explanation to the solitary man origins in Jeremiah’s case, he was a security guard at Wembley Arena, composing songs in his head on the night watch. His father was an electrician there and sorted him out with the job. Imagine Jonathan, tall as a door, guarding the entrance to the snooker halls. His father, who arrived from India and met his mother, from Ireland, at the Lancaster Hotel where they were working, also influenced Jonathan’s musical development. Not so much the Cat Stevens or Elvis records played in the family home, but more through watching films together, Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry, The Wild Geese, even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was the music that stayed with Jonathan, the lush string arrangements of Lalo Schifrin, echoed here by Amsterdam Sinfonietta who elevate the songs of Horsepower For The Streets to a sublime degree.

                                      Jonathan Jeremiah is a solo artist in the truest sense, translating his vision into music, taking care of every last detail (“down to the catering,” he jokes, referencing George Clooney’s take on film production). If it sometimes feels like it’s all too much, he remembers the words of his friend Glenn: “I’ve got the number of a guy who digs ditches”. Flick through his videos and you’ll see him wandering alone (last man standing on the Berlin underground platform, or crossing fields with the Wembley arch in the distance).


                                      TRACK LISTING

                                      1. Horsepower For The Streets
                                      2. You Make Me Feel This Way
                                      3. Cut A Black Diamond
                                      4. Small Mercies
                                      5. The Rope
                                      6. Restless Heart
                                      7. Youngblood
                                      8. Ten-storey Falling
                                      9. Early Warning Sign
                                      10. Lucky
                                      11. Sirens In The Silence

                                      Hvob

                                      Too

                                        Following four studio albums and one live album, HVOB are about to release their sixth album: TOO is an angry, tender, vulnerable, determined account of a generation's search for life. The album explores extremes in concept, content and sound. TOO is dedicated to the state of mind of a generation in search of inner and outer belonging: the album captures a life in the dichotomy of one's own and other people's expectations, in the feeling of not living up to these expectations, in renewed attempts to free oneself from these expectations.

                                        TRACK LISTING

                                        1. Bruise
                                        2. Capture Casa
                                        3. 2:16
                                        4. Eyes Alive
                                        5. Kid Anthem
                                        6. The Lack Of You
                                        7. Gluttony
                                        8. A Piece Of Me 

                                        Foxes

                                        The Kick

                                          “The record was written from a place of wanting to escape the walls of my own apartment, I wrote it imagining freedom and dancing and people being able to hold each other again. I spent so much time on zoom day and night just writing words and melodies and before I knew it I’d written an albums worth of material. I felt a wild and animalistic feeling of needing and wanting to socialise again come out whilst writing and the feelings just didn’t stop. I felt like being in my apartment and being so isolated made me really dig deep into my mind and my imagination just ran wild. Most of the music is a celebration but some of the music comes from a painful place, of loss and heartbreak. I felt trapped and almost like my insides were dancing but I couldn’t express it, but in writing it allowed me to feel free again. This record feels like a new start and the ability to come back to life after such a strange time of us all being alone.” - Foxes.

                                          TRACK LISTING

                                          Sister Ray
                                          The Kick
                                          Growing On Me
                                          Potential
                                          Dance Magic
                                          Body Suit
                                          Absolute
                                          Two Kinds Of Silence
                                          Forgive Yourself
                                          Gentleman
                                          Sky Love
                                          Too Much Colour

                                          Kay Young

                                          This Here Feels Good

                                            ‘This Here Feels Good’ is the sound of an artist using music as their second language. With all music self-produced / written, Kay Young is defining an original generation of Black British Music.

                                            Moving between tightly rapped verses and glorious vocal performances, often within the space of one track as well as across the whole EP.

                                            The release is a stunning collection of songs which expands upon the sonic blueprint Kay has already laid out, that caught the attention of Jay Electronica and Jay-Z, who later signed her to Roc Nation.

                                            She delves deeper into dance and soul while continuing to explore themes of familial legacy and cultural relation, keeping a perfect balance between lyrical vulnerability and musical uplift.

                                            TRACK LISTING

                                            No Regrets
                                            White Teeth
                                            Suddenly
                                            I’ve Got You Ft. JNR WILLIAMS
                                            Wait For Me

                                            Ghostpoet

                                            Dark Days + Canapes - Black Friday Edition

                                              THIS IS A BLACK FRIDAY RELEASE AVAILABLE INSTORE OVER THE COUNTER FROM 10AM ON NOVEMBER 26TH.

                                              ANY REMAINING ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27TH FROM 8AM.

                                              LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

                                              Limited edition vinyl re-issue of Ghostpoet’s fourth album – ‘Dark Days + Canapes’.

                                              Out of print for a few years – now re-released on clear vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday 2021.

                                              A stunning and stimulating return, Dark Days and Canapes is a record that captures the sense of unease felt by so many in recent times. After receiving recognition for the beat-driven arrangements of his first two albums, third album Shedding Skin initiated a more alt-rock sound that saw Ghostpoet Mercury nominated for a second time. Dark Days and Canapés, produced by Leo Abrahams, best known for his work with Brian Eno and Jon Hopkins, delves even further into a fuller, guitar driven sound.

                                              Limited to 500 copies for the UK and Ireland.

                                              TRACK LISTING

                                              One More Sip
                                              Many Moods At
                                              Midnight
                                              Trouble + Me
                                              (We’re) Dominoes
                                              Freakshow
                                              Dopamine If I Do
                                              Live>Leave
                                              Karoshi
                                              Blind As A Bat…
                                              Immigrant Boogie
                                              Woe Is Meee
                                              End Times

                                              Blanketman

                                              Yard Sale / The Signalman

                                                Blanketman’s restless art-punk and cerebral indiepop have seen their fanbase swell over the last year, culminating in a batch of sold out live dates and festival appearances.

                                                Vocalist Adam Hopper masterminds a trove of indelible melodies, sitting them on top of the band’s boundless, energetic thrust.

                                                ‘The Signalman’ is an introspective look into the day to day life of guitarist Daniel Hand, inspired by the 1976 BBC television adaptation of Charles Dickens’ The Signal-Man. It is a merging of stories real and fictional, but both equally frightening.

                                                Double A-side ‘The Signalman’ / ‘Yard Sale” is the first new music from the band since the release of their acclaimed debut EP, ‘National Trust’, back in the Spring of 2021, and is available on white label 7”.

                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                The Signalman
                                                Yard Sale

                                                White Lies

                                                As I Try Not To Fall Apart

                                                  Recorded over two studio sessions, As I Try Not To Fall Apart is White Lies’ most expansive record to date, taking in explosive rock, electro-pop bangers, prog-inspired invention, funk-tinged grooves and some of their most indelible hooks yet.

                                                  Working with Mittendorfer, formative versions of swaggering album opener Am I Really Going To Die and the airy rock of the title track were captured, whilst another round of songwriting at Buller’s house ahead of a second recording session really got them firing. “It got us on the same page,” says McVeigh. Soon a coherent album was emerging out of the mist, a record that streamlined everything great about White Lies from across their career: razor-sharp hooks, dark lyrical wit, defiant singalongs, airy soundscapes and dynamic instrumentation.

                                                  Throughout they meld their love of pop and prog - opener Am I Really Going To Die features a ruminative lyric on mortality inspired by the 2000 film Ivans Xtc and is one of the funkiest things they’ve ever done, Chic guitars and a lithe bassline building under McVeigh’s quickfire vocals. “Me and Charles are big prog fans,” says McVeigh. The title track, meanwhile, is a euphoric pop gem. “That’s a really important song for us,” says Lawrence-Brown. “I think it will define what the next chapter is. It’s the poppiest thing we’ve ever done.” The rattling stomp of I Don’t Want To Go To Mars was inspired by Elon Musk and the billionaire space race and Blue Drift combines acid-house grooves with widescreen 80s production. There’s a sonic gear change with The End, which sounds like an atmospheric Cure song being sent into space, and There Is No Cure For It – lyrically, a sequel to the opener – ends the record on a soaring, scintillating high.

                                                  It’s well over a decade since the band’s breakthrough single Death introduced a group for whom the fragility of human existence has been a constant touchstone. Now in his 30s, chief lyricist Cave’s outlook on the great unknown has evolved. “I think the side of death or mortality that I always find interesting is the fact we all know it’s going to happen,” he says, “and how different people navigate that.”

                                                  “We’ll probably never make an album in the way we made this one again,” says Cave. “I think this could be one of our best” says McVeigh. White Lies tested their resolve to get there, but they didn’t fall apart. They have emerged with their most vital collection of songs in years.

                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                  Barry says: The music here reminds me a little of Com Truise with it's sleek 80's production, but all lightened with McVeigh's euphoric syrup-smooth vocals and full synthy choruses. With nods to classic prog and funk in there too, it's an unabashedly poppy but wholly satisfying listen.

                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                  1. Am I Really Going To Die
                                                  2. As I Try Not To Fall Apart
                                                  3. Breathe
                                                  4. I Don’t Want To Go To Mars
                                                  5. Step Outside
                                                  6. Roll December
                                                  7. Ragworm
                                                  8. Blue Drift
                                                  9. The End
                                                  10. There Is No Cure For It

                                                  Oscar & The Wolf

                                                  The Shimmer

                                                    Enter Max Colombie’s world, and you’ll discover a uniquely dazzling and shimmering fusion of contemporary R&B and a more European electro-pop sensibility, uniting shivery melody, shifting beats and vocals steeped in drama, sensuality and yearning. Colombie hears, “a twilight zone where it doesn’t sound dark nor happy. It’s like the name Oscar and the Wolf; it’s a balance between light and dark, this perfect combination between the sun and the moon. It’s beautiful and scary at the same time.”

                                                    Oscar and the Wolf’s official debut, the 2012 EP Summer Skin, showed his gifts arrived virtually full-formed, but he truly came of age in 2014 with his debut album Entity. Balanced between dancefloor anthems and slow jams, Entity went 4 times platinum in his native Belgium and quickly jettisoned Colombie to superstar status. He sold out arenas in Belgium and the Netherlands, taking the penultimate headlining slot (behind Muse) at 2016's Lowlands festival before headlining Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival sharing the bill with Rihanna and LCD Soundsystem.

                                                    Released in 2017, the second Oscar and the Wolf album, Infinity went platinum at home, whilst amassing a huge Middle Eastern fanbase across Turkey (where his 2018 tour sold out inside minutes), Egypt, Israel and Iran. On stage, Colombie cut a commanding and lithe performer, often garbed in shimmering outfits that interacted with the dynamic lighting.

                                                    The new Oscar and the Wolf album The Shimmer distils the essence of Colombie’s sound and vision in its title and the image of Colombie on the album cover, bathed in starry light. The album is a benchmark of his transformation on record; whereas Entity was recorded in a barn, “very lo-fi with no access to gear,” he recalls, The Shimmer’s bold, rich and layered dynamics were captured at ICP Studios in Brussels, home to, “one of the best live rooms in Europe, with all this vintage gear.” More intimate moments were added at Colombie’s house outside the city, “those magic takes we made just after we’d written something, which are so hard to capture again.”

                                                    By ‘we’, Colombie includes producer Jeroen De Pessemier and multi-instrumentalist Ozan Bozdag, who had both worked on Infinity (and Bozdag on Entity too). “It’s a magical trio,” Colombie says. “Everyone is allowed to be themselves, and to explore themselves. I’m really happy with The Shimmer because I hear a more mature version of myself. I always want things to grow, and I’m proud that I allowed myself to not follow people’s expectations and reproduce what had been successful before. There are no four-to-the-floor clubby pop songs this time.”

                                                    Instead, The Shimmer more accurately reflects Colombie’s personality. “My emotions run from super-happy to super-melancholic in a split second,” he says. “To me, The Shimmer feels like the soundtrack to a blockbuster, with many types of tracks and themes. It’s always changing.”


                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                    1. James
                                                    2. Ghost Of You
                                                    3. Crystalline
                                                    4. Your Choice
                                                    5. Ocean City
                                                    6. Transfixions
                                                    7. Nostalgic Bitch
                                                    8. Livestream
                                                    9. Oliver
                                                    10. The P.I.C.
                                                    11. The Shimmer

                                                    Soulwax

                                                    Much Against Everyones Advice - Love Record Stores 2021 Edition

                                                      Love Record Stores Edition available instore from 10am on Saturday September 4th, any remaining copies will be available on online from 9pm on the same day.
                                                      Limited to one per person.


                                                      Ghostpoet

                                                      Shedding Skin - Love Record Stores 2021 Edition

                                                        Love Record Stores Edition available instore from 10am on Saturday September 4th, any remaining copies will be available on online from 9pm on the same day.
                                                        Limited to one per person.


                                                        Nation Of Language

                                                        A Way Forward

                                                          Nation of Language hail from Brooklyn, New York.

                                                          The band self-released their debut album ‘Introduction, Presence’ in May 2020.

                                                          ‘A Way Forward’ marks their first album since signing to Play It Again Sam.

                                                          Pristine synth-infused pop, with a heavy 80s vibe. Think OMD, A Flock Of Seagulls etc.

                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                          Barry says: From the shuffled cosmic thump of 'Across That Fine Line' to Kreidler-adjacent instrumental sub-bass rhythms behind chorused guitars and stadium riffage, 'A Way Forward' provides a perfectly measured and impeccably manicured electronic wooze. Lovely.

                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                          In Manhattan
                                                          Across That Fine Line
                                                          Wounds Of Love
                                                          Miranda
                                                          The Grey Commute
                                                          This Fractured Mind
                                                          Former Self
                                                          Whatever You Want
                                                          A Word & A Wave
                                                          They’re Beckoning

                                                          The Young Gods

                                                          Play Kurt Weill - 30th Anniversary

                                                            Exactly 30 years ago, The Young Gods’ ‘Play Kurt Weill’ was released, an album of Kurt Weill covers recorded in 1989 at the Artag studios in Zurich and produced by Roli Mosimann.

                                                            The band played the album in its entirety during a tribute concert to Kurt Weill commissioned in September 1989 by La Bâtie-Festival in Geneva and by the Fri-Son in Friborg.

                                                            This was the group's first album with Alain Monod (aka Al Comet), who replaced Cesare Pizzi on keyboards.

                                                            When asked about the most influential groups in the early 1990s, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Devin Townsend, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Al Jurgensen (Ministry), Trent Treznor (Nine Inch Nails) and The Edge (U2) all quoted The Young Gods. Connoisseurs will tell you that the band have their place in any ultimate discotheque.

                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                            Prologue
                                                            Salomon Song
                                                            Mackie Messer
                                                            Speak Low
                                                            Alabama Song
                                                            Seeräuber Jenny
                                                            Ouverture
                                                            September Song

                                                            LP

                                                            Churches

                                                              American singer songwriter and LGBT Icon LP, who has more than two billion streams to their name and a devout global fan following, releases their highly anticipated sixth album, ‘Churches’, via [PIAS] Recordings.

                                                              A 15-song track listing of lush, captivating creativity, described by LP as such: “This album feels like a friend. A friend who took me through one of the most trying times in human history and a fairly trying time in my own personal history. So many real stories and realizations that I feel like I was able to share here.”

                                                              With a run of UK tour dates planned, plus a performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on 25th of January 2022, LP is ready to shake up the UK with this new record.

                                                              ‘Churches’ features the singles ‘Angels’, ‘Goodbye’ and ‘One Last Time’.

                                                              ‘Churches’ was executive produced by Mike Del Rio (Kylie Minogue, X Ambassadors, Skylar Grey).

                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                              When We Touch
                                                              Goodbye
                                                              Everybody’s Falling In Love
                                                              The One That You Love
                                                              Rainbow
                                                              One Last Time
                                                              My Body
                                                              Angels
                                                              How Low Can You Go
                                                              Yes
                                                              Conversation
                                                              Safe Here
                                                              Can’t Let You Leave
                                                              Churches
                                                              Poem

                                                              Joan As Police Woman & Tony Allen & Dave Okumu

                                                              The Solution Is Restless

                                                                Of the album Joan Wasser says :
                                                                Damon Albarn introduced me to Afrobeat legend, Tony Allen, at the March 2019 Africa Express event “The Circus” and we hit it off. Tony and I played a version of Nina Simone's "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" and decided to record together. I asked my old friend and fierce musician, Dave Okumu, to join from London and that November, in a Parisian studio, we improvised all night. When the world shut down, I used those recordings to write a record entitled “The Solution Is Restless”. This first single, “Take Me To Your Leader”, is the most incendiary on the new record. I wrote it watching Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand, navigate 2020. In my dreamworld, the US asks to meet her in order to learn how to better run the country. “Take me to your leader/ ‘cause I’m ready to play/ can’t hold my breath any longer/ word on the street is she’s a healer/ I’m know I’m down to obey/ and don’t we need a break in the chaos”

                                                                Tony Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti’s band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat. Fela once stated that, "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat” and he was described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". Besides many other musical milestones and collaborations, in recent years Tony teamed up with Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon and Simon Tong to form The Good, the Bad & the Queen.

                                                                Dave Okumu is best known for fronting the Mercury Music Prize band The Invisible and more recently announcing the release of a solo album ‘Knopperz’ due for release in September.

                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                1. The Barbarian
                                                                2. Get My Bearings (feat. Damon Albarn)
                                                                3. Take Me To Your Leader
                                                                4. Masquerader
                                                                5. Dinner Date
                                                                6. Enter The Dragon
                                                                7. Geometry Of You
                                                                8. The Love Has Got Me
                                                                9. Perfect Shade Of Blue
                                                                10. Reaction 

                                                                Other Lives

                                                                Tamer Animals - 10th Anniversary Edition

                                                                  10th anniversary reissue of this wonderful LP from the finest purveyors of lush orchestral epic and widescreen baroque indie rock.

                                                                  Taking over 14 painstaking months to put together, ‘Tamer Animals’ was inspired by Sigur Ros, Ennio Morricone and Godspeed You Black Emperor, and is sure to appeal to fans of Grizzly Bear, Kurt Vile and Fleet Foxes.

                                                                  “Tamer Animals’ feels organic and lovingly crafted, a record whose lushness often invites you to simply collapse into it” – Pitchfork.

                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                  1. Dark Horse
                                                                  2. As I Lay My Head Down
                                                                  3. For 12
                                                                  4. Tamer Animals
                                                                  5. Dust Bowl III
                                                                  6. Weather
                                                                  7. Old Statues
                                                                  8. Woodwind
                                                                  9. Desert
                                                                  10. Landforms
                                                                  11. Heading East

                                                                  Bonus Download Tracks
                                                                  Glass Leaves
                                                                  Take Us Alive
                                                                  Dead In The Water
                                                                  Great Sky
                                                                  Living Dead
                                                                  Song Song
                                                                  This Is Not
                                                                  Dust Bowl 1 

                                                                  Blanketman

                                                                  National Trust

                                                                    With just a handful of singles under their belts, the Manchester band have already found support from the likes of Clash, DIY, Dork, The Forty-Five, The Line of Best Fit, NME and So Young, along with a Next Wave slot from Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, New Names feature from Annie Mac, a Ones To Watch pick from Huw Stephens, a track of the week from Shaun Keaveny @ BBC 6 Music whilst further support from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and Marc Riley, plays from Matt Wilkinson on Beats 1, as well as playlist spots at NME Radio and Amazing Radio.

                                                                    Back in March 2020, the band’s debut single “Taking You With Me” marked the arrival of a band full of ideas, and cut a boundless, energetically pop edge that saw them likened to early Blur. Follow-up “Beach Body” dialed up the urgency and distilled a swift insistence, on top of which vocalist Adam Hopper masterminded a trove of indelible melodies, dedicated to the ailing Brit-abroad. The band wrapped up 2020 with “Harold”, which brought with it a thumping, wonky and rowdy execution and then saw in the new year with "Leave The South". On the back of 12 months that has seen much made about the divide between the north and south of England, "Leave The South" seeks not to pit the regions against one another, and instead offers a far more nuanced look at the way the grass can always appear greener on the other side. It also acts as something of a love-letter of absent friends and an admission that nothing is perfect. National Trust looks at themes of feeling trapped and anxious, but also the hopes held toward eventual liberation from that feeling.

                                                                    Lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Hopper elaborates:
                                                                    "The song harks back to five years ago when I was living in Reading while at uni. While not a bad place, I found my final year tough and was becoming disillusioned with what I was doing and where I was. I was in a rut mentally and my friends had stayed up north and I found myself feeling increasingly isolated and skint. I managed to convince myself that moving back up North would solve all my problems like it was some kind of utopia and started blaming where I was for said problems. I laugh at that now and that’s what the song is about. Although the water really does taste better up North..."

                                                                    Recent years have seen the band spearheading a burgeoning scene in Manchester as they gigged extensively throughout the city, performing their original brand of restless post-punk and cerebral indie-pop – all served with a sharper, more sardonic pop edge than many of their more po-faced peers. So sharp in fact that Steve Hanley, of The Fall and Brix Smith & Extricated, has performed live on stage with them a number of times already.



                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                    Barry says: Is there no end to the wonderfully talented indie bands coming from around our fair shores? 'National Trust' sees Blanketman forging their own path adjacent to well known indie greats, via the jagged hooks and militant percussion of post-punk. It's a more upbeat take on the rigidity of the genre, with bright and airy hooks perfectly tempering the distorted guitars and satisfying droll vox.

                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                    Beach Body
                                                                    Leave The South
                                                                    Harold
                                                                    Dogs Die In Hot Cars
                                                                    Blue Funk
                                                                    National Trust
                                                                    The Tie

                                                                    Smith & Burrows

                                                                    Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough

                                                                      Over nine years on from the distinctly wintery Funny Looking Angels, old mates Tom Smith and Andy Burrows return with a distinctly un-wintery follow up album ‘Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough’ Recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award winning producer Jacquire King ‘Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough’ is packed with songs for all seasons including the Summer ’20 single ‘All The Best Moves’ and new single ‘Old TV Shows’. As a whole this is uncontrived, timeless, adult pop music that wears it’s heart on it’s sleeve.

                                                                      The adventure that started nine years ago as two drinking buddies popping into each other’s houses and home studios, putting down an idea here and a melody there, developed into a set of songs with a Christmas theme, then a theoretical album, then, following help from their friends a real album with a raucous tour of Xmas shows in Winter 2012.

                                                                      The interim has been anything but idle with Smith on duty with Editors, and the band’s star rising to unprecedented heights since their inception at the onset of the noughties. Meanwhile Burrows has released several solo albums, seen collaborations on soundtracks including The Snowman and The Snowdog and last year composing the soundtrack for Ricky Gervais’ critically acclaimed After Life

                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                      1 All The Best Moves
                                                                      2 Buccaneer Rum Jum
                                                                      3 Spaghetti
                                                                      4 Old TV Shows
                                                                      5 Parliament Hill
                                                                      6 Bottle Tops
                                                                      7 I Want You Back In My Life
                                                                      8 Aimee Move On
                                                                      9 Too Late
                                                                      10 Straight Up Like A Mohican

                                                                      Late Night Final

                                                                      A Wonderful Hope

                                                                        As one of the many consequences of this year’s pandemic and ensuing lockdown, J. Willgoose found himself with some time on his hands. With the next Public Service Broadcasting album recording sessions delayed, and all the band’s equipment stuck in a different country, he cobbled together old synths, sequencers and pedals and set about creating something new. Originally intended as an experiment in ambient music, the recordings developed into something more fulsome culminating in an entire new body of work in the shape of a 4 track LP under the Late Night Final pseudonym.

                                                                        With nods to the likes of Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, KLF’s seminal Chill Out album and contemporary artists such as Amulets and Kelly Lee Owens, Late Night Final retains Public Service Broadcasting’s playful ear for a tune which weaves understatedly through the record’s beautifully immersive cerebral soundscape

                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                        1. Thank You
                                                                        2. A Wonderful Hope
                                                                        3. The Human Touch (ft. Teddy Hunter)
                                                                        4. Slow Release

                                                                        Other Lives

                                                                        For Their Love

                                                                          The much loved Portland band Other Lives return after five years away following 2015’s ‘Rituals’.

                                                                          Recorded at their own Cooper Mountain Sound studios, ‘For Their Love’ is a ten track collection that nods to the past whilst progressing positively towards the future.

                                                                          The band have a loyal following across the UK, as seen by their social engagement.


                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                          Andy says: Other Lives return with their fourth and greatest record yet. ‘For Their Love’ combines their dark and doomy, widescreen baroque rock with the best set of songs they’ve written so far. Well worth the wait.

                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                          Sound Of Violence
                                                                          Lost Day
                                                                          Cops
                                                                          All Eyes - For Their Love
                                                                          Dead Language
                                                                          Nites Out
                                                                          We Wait
                                                                          Hey Hey I
                                                                          Who’s Gonna Love Us
                                                                          Sideways

                                                                          Ghostpoet

                                                                          I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep

                                                                            The two-time Mercury Prize nominee Ghostpoet (aka Obaro Ejimiwe) follows up 2017’s acclaimed 'Dark Days + Canapés’ with a record which couldn’t feel more prescient, a dystopian snapshot of the universal unease and anxiety we feel as we enter into this new decade, an uncertain future distilled across these 10 vital tracks.

                                                                            The bluesy, gritty ‘Concrete Pony’ is the perfect entry point to the record – in Obaro’s own words; “It’s a snapshot of where we’re at as a society I feel, we seem to have everything and nothing at all. Infinite possibilities and choices galore but we seem set in stone, frozen in place, oblivious to the storm clouds in the distance…”

                                                                            Recorded in London and written, arranged and produced by Ghostpoet, ‘I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep’ incorporates a myriad of sounds and styles but is anchored by the more alt-rock sonics presented across his last two records. It features guest vocals from an eclectic mix of artists; Art School Girlfriend, Skinny Girl Diet’s Delilah Holiday, SaraSara and Katie Dove Dixon. Obaro has always had a keen ear for collaboration, having worked with the likes of Massive Attack, Nadine Shah, Melanie Di Biasio, Maximo Park’s Paul Smith and Damon Albarn’s Africa Express amongst others across his distinguished career.

                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                            Breaking Cover
                                                                            Concrete Pony
                                                                            Humana Second Hand
                                                                            Black Dog Got Silver Eyes
                                                                            Rats In A Sack
                                                                            This Trainwreck Of A Life
                                                                            Nowhere To Hide Now
                                                                            When Mouths Collide
                                                                            I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
                                                                            Social Lacerations

                                                                            Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

                                                                            Patchouli Blue

                                                                              German cult band Bohren & der Club of Gore release their eighth studio album via [PIAS] Recordings.

                                                                              The band have built a loyal international fanbase on the back of their trademark ‘Doom Jazz’ sound and count musical icons such as Mike Patton and Stephen O’Malley among their fans.

                                                                              Strictly instrumental, this band and their sound have the healing power to survive these hectic modern times.

                                                                              For fans of Melanie de Biasio, Sunn O))) and the soundtracks of David Lynch.

                                                                              The band played two sold out shows in London’s Round Chapel recently and will tour the UK again in 2020.

                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                              Total Falsch
                                                                              Verwirrung Am Strand
                                                                              Glaub Mir Kein Wort
                                                                              Patchouli Blue
                                                                              Deine Kusine
                                                                              Vergessen & Vorbei
                                                                              Sollen Es Doch Alle wissen
                                                                              Tief Gesunken
                                                                              Zwei Herzen Aus Gold
                                                                              Sag Mir, Wie Lang
                                                                              Meine Welt Ist Schön

                                                                              Alice Boman

                                                                              Dream On

                                                                                A deeply textural, atmospheric and immersive sounding record.

                                                                                Alice Boman’s fragile yet engulfing ethereal vocals create a vortex that listeners are sucked in by. A world where ambient, dream pop and folk merge into a unique new form.

                                                                                Produced by Fabian Prynn (EX:RE, Ghostpoet, Dan Croll) and Patrik Berger (Robyn, Charlie XCX, Icona Pop and Santigold).

                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                Barry says: While the progressions here may hark back to 60's soul and doo-wop, Boman's vocals are very much down the Hope Sandoval dream-pop line. Slightly melancholic but constantly immersive and warmingly nostalgic throughout.

                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                Wish We Had More Time
                                                                                Heart On Fire
                                                                                The More I Cry
                                                                                Who Knows
                                                                                Don't Forget About Me
                                                                                Everybody Hurts
                                                                                Hold On
                                                                                It's OK, It's Alright
                                                                                This Is Where It Ends
                                                                                Mississippi

                                                                                Ben Lee

                                                                                Quarter Century Classix

                                                                                  “In January 2019 I found myself stuck in a Chicago hotel room during the ‘Polar Vortex’. I was performing there with my duo Radnor & Lee over a few nights when temperatures dropped, leaving me unable to do much outside my hotel room for 4 days. Chicago is a city that holds a special history for me, and I found myself spending a good chunk of time staring out my hotel window, reflecting on my first trip there in 1993 to record my debut solo album ‘Grandpaw Would’ at Idful Studios with Brad Wood. But more than the details of that trip, I was struck by how vividly memories started flooding back to me of being a 15 year old mega fan of music, and in particular, indie rock. I LIVED for the records that I loved and the bands who made them. I’m not sure you are ever a fan of bands the way you can be as a teenager. It’s pretty sacred.

                                                                                  “I started re-listening to some of my favorite songs from that period in that hotel room, by the Beat Happening, Pavement, Fugazi, The Breeders, Guided by Voices. It struck me as crazy that these songs and the feelings that accompanied them were now over 25 years old. It started seeming odd to me that for some reason, indie rock hasn’t been canonized the same way ‘60s and ‘70s rock has. After all, Dinosaur Jr were my Led Zeppelin, Sonic Youth were my Grateful Dead and Built to Spill were my Steve Miller Band. These were my classics!

                                                                                  “I always travel with my portable studio gear, and I immediately sat down and started learning and recording a collection of my favorite songs. I spent my 4 days of the 2019 Polar Vortex creating the blueprint for what would become ‘Quarter Century Classix’. When I got home to LA, I invited my friends Julianna Barwick, William Tyler and Mary Lattimore to my home studio to add their magic to my recordings as I knew they grew up in reverence of the same records I did. These three genius musicians became the ‘band’ who you can hear framing these covers and I am eternally grateful for their talent and generosity. Later, Maria Taylor, Mike Watt, Petra Haden and Joey Waronker all showed up to play too.

                                                                                  “To some people these songs are just footnotes in pop culture history. But to me, they are the essence my own personal history. I wanted to make this record a tribute to these bands, to these songs, and to the irreversible way music can touch and transform the life of young person. I hope you enjoy ‘Quarter Century Classix’.” - Ben Lee

                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                  Barry says: This is clearly a labour of love for Lee & co, and the dedication and appreciation for the source material shines through these covers. With his keen ear for melody, and addictive hints of alt-folk and classic indie, 'Quarter Century Classix' is a triumph.

                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                  Web In Front (Archers Of Loaf)
                                                                                  Blueprint (Fugazi)
                                                                                  Divine Hammer (The Breeders)
                                                                                  Car (Built To Spill)
                                                                                  Sugar Kane (Sonic Youth)
                                                                                  Get Me (Dinosaur Jr)
                                                                                  In The Mouth A Desert (Pavement)
                                                                                  Goldheart Mountain Top Queen Directory (Guided By Voices)
                                                                                  Speeding Motorcycle (Daniel Johnston)
                                                                                  Brand New Love (Sebadoh)
                                                                                  Ingrown (Smudge)
                                                                                  My Noise (Superchunk)
                                                                                  Godsend (Beat Happening)

                                                                                  Anna Of The North

                                                                                  Dream Girl

                                                                                    Few modern artists could appear as at home working with Tyler, the Creator (Anna lent her vocals to two tracks on ‘Flower Boy’) and Rejjiie Snow as they are duetting with HONNE, playing with Anderson Paak or landing a viral remix by The Chainsmokers.

                                                                                    ‘Dream Girl’ introduces a broad palette of sounds, from the familiar cool Scandinavian pop of ‘Playing Games’ to the quirkier newer sounds of ‘Thank Me Later’ and ‘Dream Girl’.

                                                                                    A rare songwriter who strikes an emotional chord, regardless of continent, collaborator or genre.

                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                    Dream Girl
                                                                                    Leaning On Myself
                                                                                    Time To Get Over It
                                                                                    My Love
                                                                                    Lonely Life
                                                                                    Interlude
                                                                                    Thank Me Later
                                                                                    Used To Be
                                                                                    What We Do
                                                                                    Playing Games
                                                                                    When R U Coming Home
                                                                                    Reasons (ft Charlie
                                                                                    Skien)
                                                                                    If U Wanna

                                                                                    The Wedding Present

                                                                                    Tommy

                                                                                      'Tommy' is a compilation album by The Wedding Present, originally released in 1988, collecting songs from the band’s first four singles, plus four tracks recorded for BBC Radio sessions. Bringing together material written in the band’s first two years of existence, 'Tommy' proved that The Wedding Present’s essence was in place from the start. These kinetic blasts of homespun high-velocity bedsit drama presaged the more finessed 'George Best', but represented the band’s definitive portrayal.

                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                      1 Go Out And Get Em Boy!
                                                                                      2 (The Moment Before) Everything Spoiled Again
                                                                                      3 Once More
                                                                                      4 At The Edge Of The Sea
                                                                                      5 Living And Learning
                                                                                      6 This Boy Can Wait
                                                                                      7 You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends
                                                                                      8 Felicity
                                                                                      9 What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?
                                                                                      10 Never Said
                                                                                      11 Every Mothers Son
                                                                                      12 My Favourite Dress

                                                                                      The Wedding Present

                                                                                      George Best

                                                                                        'George Best' is the debut album by The Wedding Present, originally released in 1987. Hugely anticipated, 'George Best' saw indie heroes The Wedding Present refine the blitzkrieg pop brilliance of the band's early singles into a nuanced styled that was distinctively theirs: heartbreak at the bus stop, set to the soundtrack of a million jangling guitars. 

                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                        LP Tracklisting
                                                                                        Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
                                                                                        What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?
                                                                                        Don't Be So Hard
                                                                                        A Million Miles
                                                                                        All This And More
                                                                                        My Favourite Dress
                                                                                        Shatner
                                                                                        Something And Nothing
                                                                                        It's What You Want That Matters
                                                                                        Give My Love To Kevin
                                                                                        Anyone Can Make A Mistake
                                                                                        You Can't Moan Can You?

                                                                                        CD Tracklisting
                                                                                        1 Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft
                                                                                        2 What Did Your Last Servant Die Of?
                                                                                        3 Don't Be So Hard
                                                                                        4 A Million Miles
                                                                                        5 All This And More
                                                                                        6 My Favourite Dress
                                                                                        7 Shatner
                                                                                        8 Something And Nothing
                                                                                        9 It's What You Want That Matters
                                                                                        10 Give My Love To Kevin
                                                                                        11 Anyone Can Make A Mistake
                                                                                        12 You Can't Moan Can You?
                                                                                        13 All About Eve
                                                                                        14 Getting Nowhere Fast
                                                                                        15 Nobody's Twisting Your Arm
                                                                                        16 Nothing Comes Easy
                                                                                        17 Don't Laugh
                                                                                        18 I'm Not Always So Stupid
                                                                                        19 Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?
                                                                                        20 Not From Where I'm Standing
                                                                                        21 Give My Love To Kevin (Acoustic Version)
                                                                                        22 Getting Better
                                                                                        23 Pourquoi Es Tu Devenue Si Raisonnable?

                                                                                        Joan As Police Woman

                                                                                        To Survive - Deluxe Coloured Vinyl Edition

                                                                                          ‘To Survive’ (2008) is reissued on sun / gold transparent vinyl and features the classic tracks ‘To America’ featuring Rufus Wainwright and ‘Honor Wishes’ featuring David Sylvian.

                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                          Honor Wishes
                                                                                          Holiday
                                                                                          To Be Loved
                                                                                          To Be Lonely
                                                                                          Magpies
                                                                                          Start Of My Heart
                                                                                          Hard White Wall
                                                                                          Furious
                                                                                          To Survive
                                                                                          To America

                                                                                          Joan As Police Woman

                                                                                          Joanthology / Live At The BBC

                                                                                            Joan Wasser’s first ever career retrospective, spanning the first fifteen years of her remarkable musical output.

                                                                                            Includes new, rare and unreleased material alongside more than thirty of her most loved songs.

                                                                                            Includes two brand new recordings - ‘What A World’ and ‘Kiss’, a cover of the Prince classic and live favourite.

                                                                                            Features her best-loved songs ‘I Defy’ (featuring Antony), ‘To America’ (featuring Rufus Wainwright) and ‘Honor Wishes’ (featuring David Sylvian).

                                                                                            Released as a great value deluxe triple CD set including ‘Live At The BBC’. 

                                                                                            ‘Live At The BBC’ presents a collection of songs recorded in session for BBC 6 Music.

                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                            CD1
                                                                                            My Gurl
                                                                                            The Ride
                                                                                            Real Life
                                                                                            Eternal Flame
                                                                                            I Defy (ft Antony)
                                                                                            We Don’t Own It
                                                                                            Christobel
                                                                                            Honor Wishes (ft David
                                                                                            Sylvian)
                                                                                            Hard White Wall
                                                                                            Start Of My Heart
                                                                                            To America (ft Rufus
                                                                                            Wainwright)
                                                                                            To Be Lonely
                                                                                            The Magic
                                                                                            Human Condition
                                                                                            Run For Love
                                                                                            Forever And A Year

                                                                                            CD2
                                                                                            What A World
                                                                                            Flash
                                                                                            Whatever You Like
                                                                                            Holy City
                                                                                            Get Direct
                                                                                            Good Together
                                                                                            Your Song
                                                                                            Myrrhman (TALK TALK)
                                                                                            Broke Me In Two
                                                                                            Valid Jagger
                                                                                            Steed
                                                                                            Tell Me
                                                                                            Silly Me
                                                                                            Warning Bell
                                                                                            Kiss

                                                                                            CD3
                                                                                            ‘Live At The BBC’
                                                                                            To Be Loved
                                                                                            Start Of My Heart
                                                                                            Human Condition
                                                                                            She Watch Channel Zero
                                                                                            Sacred Trickster
                                                                                            Holy City
                                                                                            The Classic
                                                                                            Magic Lamp
                                                                                            Let It Be You
                                                                                            The Silence
                                                                                            Damned Devotion
                                                                                            Steed

                                                                                            Joan As Police Woman

                                                                                            Live At The BBC

                                                                                              Live At The BBC’ presents a collection of songs recorded in session for BBC 6 Music.

                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                              To Be Loved
                                                                                              Start Of My Heart
                                                                                              Human Condition
                                                                                              She Watch Channel Zero
                                                                                              Sacred Trickster
                                                                                              Holy City
                                                                                              The Classic
                                                                                              Magic Lamp
                                                                                              Let It Be You
                                                                                              The Silence
                                                                                              Damned Devotion
                                                                                              Steed

                                                                                              An electronica-infused alternative version of Editors’ acclaimed Top 10 album ‘Violence’, ‘The Blank Mass Sessions’ casts the songs in a bold new light, offering a fascinating insight into the album’s creative process.

                                                                                              The eight track album, made up of producer Blanck Mass’ original productions of ‘Violence’, also includes the brand new single ‘Barricades’.

                                                                                              For ‘Barricades’, Smith’s hopeful lyrics combine with yearning synths over robotic drum machines and sweeping basslines, while ‘Cold’ is given a frostier edge through Blanck Mass’ harsh percussion and robotic directness.

                                                                                              ‘Violence’’s stripped back beat builds and erupts into a synth-fuelled chorus brim-full of busy drum patterns and ‘Magazine’s jaunty, sweeping synths and rolling snares lend it even more electronic swagger than the original.

                                                                                              ‘Hallelujah (So Low)’ gifts the greatest insight into the triangular relationship ‘Violence’ was born from. The warmth of the album version’s acoustic guitar and industrial fuelled chorus are replaced with sparse, ethereal synths, giving the track and ‘The Blanck Mass Sessions’ in general, a mechanical, other-worldly edge.

                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                              Barricades - The Blanck Mass Recording
                                                                                              Cold - The Blanck Mass recording
                                                                                              Hallelujah (So Low) - The Blanck Mass Recording
                                                                                              Violence - The Blanck Mass Recording
                                                                                              Darkness At The Door - the Blanck Mass recording
                                                                                              Nothingness - The Blanck Mass Recording
                                                                                              Magazine - The Blanck Mass Recording
                                                                                              Counting Spooks - The Blanck Mass Recording

                                                                                              After their initial eight-minute sonic rollercoaster ILL on Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground imprint and their subsequent debut album Means, Fews return with a brand new ten-track studio album, Into Red.

                                                                                              Following extensive touring throughout 2016-17, including two tour runs as special guests of Pixies, the Anglo-American-Swedish quartet retired to Malmö with the Swedish city’s underbelly providing the perfect environment for unfettered artistic endeavours and the subsequent album recording.

                                                                                              Co-produced by Joakim Lindberg (Hater) and mixed by James Dring ‘Into Red’ sees Fews extricating their influences to reveal a band assuredly moving on from the template of their debut album Means with a confident post-punk swagger and no little addition of muscular heft on the song-writing front.

                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                              Barry says: Throbbing distorted basses and screeching, echoing reverbs work their way below the vocals, at times delivered monotonally a-la post-punk gloom, and in other moments with the acrobatic intensity shadowed by the beautiful soaring instrumentals and richly constructed backline. It's safe to say, Fews are here to stay.

                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                              1. Quiet
                                                                                              2. Paradiso
                                                                                              3. More Than Ever
                                                                                              4. Suppose
                                                                                              5. Limits
                                                                                              6. Business Man
                                                                                              7. 97
                                                                                              8. Anything Else
                                                                                              9. Over
                                                                                              10. Fiction

                                                                                              New album from the West-London trio, which sees them scaling new creative heights with re-energised confidence.

                                                                                              The writing and recording process took in both sides of the Atlantic, including a creative sojourn to Los Angeles where they worked on new material with old acquaintance Ed Buller - producer of two previous White Lies albums including the band’s chart-topping debut To Lose My Life.

                                                                                              Enlisting engineer James Brown (Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters), renowned producer Flood who can also be heard contributing synths and keys on a couple of tracks. Whilst eminent Grammy Award recipient Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers) having worked on the band’s first two albums returns to mix the album.

                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                              Barry says: Alan Moulder's production couldn't have been a more perfect fit for white Lies' mildly gothic Interpol-esque swagger and heavy synthy undercurrent. Distorted guitars are offset with tender breakdowns and perfectly measured instrumental passages.

                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                              1. Time To Give
                                                                                              2. Never Alone
                                                                                              3. Finish Line
                                                                                              4. Kick Me
                                                                                              5. Tokyo
                                                                                              6. Jo?
                                                                                              7. Denial
                                                                                              8. Believe It
                                                                                              9. Fire And Wings

                                                                                              Balthazar

                                                                                              Fever

                                                                                                Fourth album from the acclaimed Belgian quintet.

                                                                                                ‘Fever’ follows the band’s self-imposed hiatus, a break that saw frontmen and writing partners Jinte Deprez and Maarten Devoldere pursuing different individual interests from both a personal and creative perspective that has ultimately led the band to fashion their most cohesive album to date.

                                                                                                On reconvening the band had no plans, just a simple desire to better their previous works and to further the band’s story. Both primary songwriters agreed on a less serious vision leaning towards a looser, refreshed sound - less melancholic but retaining their unerring ability to create a hookladen armoury.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                Fever
                                                                                                Changes
                                                                                                Wrong Faces
                                                                                                Whatchu Doin’
                                                                                                Phone Number
                                                                                                Entertainment
                                                                                                I’m Never Gonna Let You
                                                                                                Down Again
                                                                                                Grapefruit
                                                                                                Wrong Vibration
                                                                                                Roller Coaster
                                                                                                You’re So Real

                                                                                                Soap & Skin

                                                                                                From Gas To Solid / You Are My Friend

                                                                                                Third album from Soap&Skin, the working moniker for the Austrian musician and producer Anja Plaschg. Her first record in six years.

                                                                                                The album belatedly follows the release of ‘Lovetune For Vacuum’ in 2009 and 2012’s ‘Narrow’ (an Austrian No 1) but in that time in between the artist has been busy, not least with the birth of her daughter and subsequent motherhood but as well with many other creative works such as composing for theatre and film productions, as well as film acting.

                                                                                                Encompassing a range of musical allegiances, the album is infused with tranquil electronica, militaristic percussion, whilst coupled with choral ambience and earthy ethereal grandeur. This is an expansive, stunning, wide-reaching piece of dynamic beauty.

                                                                                                Recorded mainly at her home in a quiet leafy corner of Vienna, the album is not only self-produced but selfplayed.

                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Barry says: Encompassing the beautiful, softly spoken vocals of Rozi Plain or Icelandic electronic genius' Múm, Soap & Skin tread a fine line between choral ambience and soaring modern-classical, often within the space of a minute or two. A bogglingly competant, and ridiculously diverse smörgåsbord of sound.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                This Day
                                                                                                Athom
                                                                                                Italy
                                                                                                (This Is) Water
                                                                                                Surrounded
                                                                                                Creep
                                                                                                Heal
                                                                                                Foot Chamber
                                                                                                Safe With Me
                                                                                                Falling
                                                                                                Palindrome
                                                                                                What A Wonderful World

                                                                                                Editors

                                                                                                Violence

                                                                                                  INITIAL COPIES COME WITH A FREE SIGNED ART PRINT.

                                                                                                  Album VI from the British indie-rock 5-piece.



                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                  1. Cold
                                                                                                  2. Hallelujah (So Low)
                                                                                                  3. Violence
                                                                                                  4. Darkness At The Door
                                                                                                  5. Nothingness
                                                                                                  6. Magazine
                                                                                                  7. No Sound But The Wind
                                                                                                  8. Counting Spooks
                                                                                                  9. Belong

                                                                                                  Basement 5

                                                                                                  In Dub

                                                                                                    Partly formed out of the Art Department of London's Island Records HQ in 1978, Basement 5 were an innovative and highly original black post punk group who created a kind of politically charged, futurist dub. Their lyrics were an attempt to reflect the situation of young people in Britain in the era of Thatcherism, high unemployment, strikes, racism and working class poverty. The seething resentment, dub noise and sheet metal riffage was welded into a mighty sound by Hannett that stands the test of time.

                                                                                                    In an unparalleled age of crate digging and reissue programs, Basement 5 is one of the few remaining great untold stories of its time. Vinyl has been out of print for over 30 years. 

                                                                                                    “You have to play it very loud to enjoy it fully. It was the most difficult production, I must say, the heaviest. It was eighteen degrees in the shade, the end of August. As I recall it has been the most physical album that I’ve ever done. Made me feel like I’d been carrying bricks around. Heavy work. Putting the bass lines in the right place. But it was good.” - Martin Hannett, 1981

                                                                                                    Basement 5

                                                                                                    1965-1980

                                                                                                      Partly formed out of the Art Department of London's Island Records HQ in 1978, Basement 5 were an innovative and highly original black post punk group who created a kind of politically charged, futurist dub. Their lyrics were an attempt to reflect the situation of young people in Britain in the era of Thatcherism, high unemployment, strikes, racism and working class poverty. The seething resentment, dub noise and sheet metal riffage was welded into a mighty sound by Hannett that stands the test of time.

                                                                                                      In an unparalleled age of crate digging and reissue programs, Basement 5 is one of the few remaining great untold stories of its time. Vinyl has been out of print for over 30 years.

                                                                                                      “You have to play it very loud to enjoy it fully. It was the most difficult production, I must say, the heaviest. It was eighteen degrees in the shade, the end of August. As I recall it has been the most physical album that I’ve ever done. Made me feel like I’d been carrying bricks around. Heavy work. Putting the bass lines in the right place. But it was good.” - Martin Hannett, 1981

                                                                                                      Ghostpoet announces his return with the release of his fourth album ‘Dark Days + Canapés’ on Play It Again Sam. ‘Dark Days + Canapés’ is Ghostpoet's most defining album to date. A stunning and stimulating return, ‘Dark Days + Canapés’ is a record that captures the sense of unease felt by so many in recent times. After receiving recognition for the beat-driven arrangements of his first two albums, third album ‘Shedding Skin’ initiated a more alt-rock sound that saw Ghostpoet Mercury nominated for a second time. Produced by Leo Abrahams, best known for his work with Brian Eno and Jon Hopkins, delves even further into a fuller, guitar driven sound.

                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                      Barry says: Grooving instrumental melodies meet with Obaro Ejimiwe's trademark rhythmic drawl, darkened funky jams, slowed down through a haze of reverb while groaning saturated samples morph into hypnotic rock abstractions. Urban improv jams break into hazy psychedelic grooves, which slow into eastern-influenced opium-den throbs and guitar trills. A welcome, and outstanding return for Ghostpoet.

                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                      One More Sip
                                                                                                      Many Moods At Midnight
                                                                                                      Trouble + Me
                                                                                                      (We’re) Dominoes
                                                                                                      Freakshow
                                                                                                      Dopamine If I Do
                                                                                                      Live>Leave
                                                                                                      Karoshi
                                                                                                      Blind As A Bat…
                                                                                                      Immigrant Boogie
                                                                                                      Woe Is Meee
                                                                                                      End Times

                                                                                                      Mew

                                                                                                      Visuals

                                                                                                        Danish art rock outfit Mew release their seventh album ‘Visuals’ through Play It Again Sam.

                                                                                                        Unlike previous albums, ‘Visuals’ arrives fairly quickly on the back of 2015’s ‘+-’. Recorded and self-produced in Copenhagen, ‘Visuals’ was completed in under a year and sees Mew at their most concise, each song representing its own little chapter and narrative.

                                                                                                        The first taste of the album comes in the shape of the mesmerising intricacies of the album’s finale ‘Carry Me To Safety’ and the first single ‘85 Videos’ - which from the outset exudes a familiar expansive backdrop, lush instrumentation coupled with rousing vocals, euphoric pop brilliance that is part of Mew’s DNA.

                                                                                                        Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

                                                                                                        Geisterfaust

                                                                                                          The slowest band in the world became even slower with 2005’s ‘Geisterfaust’.

                                                                                                          The 58 minute album contains five songs, each titled after the fingers of a hand (the length of the tracks are proportional to the average length of these fingers).

                                                                                                          “The stretches of silence, the resonating chords, the cyclical melodic developments, and the paradoxical atmosphere of tension (what will happen next?) and relaxation (it is, after all, extremely smooth music, no need to be so tense) all point to the Australian trio [The Necks] a thousand times more than anyone on the roster of Ipecac, the label that reissued ‘Black Earth’ to worldwide attention a year before ‘Geisterfaust’ came out.” - All Music

                                                                                                          Agnes Obel

                                                                                                          Citizen Of Glass

                                                                                                            Highly anticipated stunning third album from Danish born singersongwriter Agnes Obel, the follow up to her UK breakthrough record ‘Aventine’.

                                                                                                            Recorded, mixed and produced by Obel in Berlin, where she currently resides, ‘Citizen Of Glass’ is a work of haunting beauty and an expansion of Obel’s mesmerising world.

                                                                                                            The title surfaced in Obel’s mind while touring ‘Aventine’ and, inspired by modern composers, the album conceptually and thematically revolves around the leitmotif of transparency.

                                                                                                            On this record Obel experiments with her vocals in inventive new ways, in order to manipulate them into alternative versions of her own voice, as can be heard on first single ‘Familiar’.

                                                                                                            Obel also incorporates a number of different instruments, such as the Trautonium (an extremely rare instrument that possesses a glistening, glass-like sound), alongside vibraphone, cembalo, cellos and more.

                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                            Martin says: Agnes Obel has a voice so exquisite, pure and crystalline it seems as if it might shatter into a thousand beautiful shards at any moment. Up until this release it has been given plenty of room by a simple, beautiful debussy/jazz inspired piano accompaniment; but while 'Citizen Of Glass' does share the same sparse framework, it is lent added texture and depth by the addition of rare and unusual instruments, again applied with sparing delicacy to frame, rather than intrude on Obel's beautiful intonation.

                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                            Stretch Your Eyes
                                                                                                            Familiar
                                                                                                            Red Virgin Soil
                                                                                                            It’s Happening Again
                                                                                                            Stone
                                                                                                            Trojan Horses
                                                                                                            Citizen Of Glass
                                                                                                            Golden Green
                                                                                                            Grasshopper
                                                                                                            Mary

                                                                                                            Pixies

                                                                                                            Head Carrier

                                                                                                              Sophomore ‘post reunion’ album from the alt-rock four piece, their first new music since 2014’s Indie Cindy. 

                                                                                                              This 12 track record showcases the band’s unique mixture of surrealism, psychedelia, dissonance + surf rock. 

                                                                                                              Produced by Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Killing Joke) and recorded at London’s Rak Studios.

                                                                                                              Paz Lenchantin, the band’s touring bassist since early 2014 (and previously a member of A Perfect Circle and Zwan amongst others) is now a permanent member of the band and her cool vocals can be heard on the album, most notably on ‘All I Think About Now’ on which she takes the lead. 

                                                                                                              All artwork designed by renowned graphic artist Vaughan Oliver at V23

                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                              Barry says: The Pixies are back! Songs like 'Classic Masher' show a much more melodic leaning, harmonied chorus' and repeated one-note guitar squeals over Black's trademark vocals. 'Talent' is a moody and rocking punk number, driven and aggressive guitars power through their three-chord foundations while 'All I Think About Now' is sung exclusively by Paz Lenchantin (One time Corgan affiliate and one third of A Perfect Circle) and is instantly reminiscent of the early energy and vocal stylings of Surfer Rosa or Doolittle. A brilliant (second) comeback, and a great sign for the future.

                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                              1. Head Carrier
                                                                                                              2. Classic Masher
                                                                                                              3. Baal’s Back
                                                                                                              4. Might As Well Be Gone
                                                                                                              5. Oona
                                                                                                              6. Talent
                                                                                                              7. Tenement Song
                                                                                                              8. Bel Esprit
                                                                                                              9. All I Think About Now
                                                                                                              10. Um Chagga Lagga
                                                                                                              11. Plaster Of Paris
                                                                                                              12. All The Saints

                                                                                                              Róisín Murphy

                                                                                                              Take Her Up To Monto

                                                                                                                ‘Take Her Up To Monto’ is the follow up to Róisín’s critically acclaimed Mercury Prize nominated album ‘Hairless Toys’ and is billed as her most daring and creative yet.

                                                                                                                Never an artist to stand still, ‘Monto’ features everything Murphy has always done but seen afresh, boasting disco fancy, dark cabaret, the sonorities of classic house and electronica and the joy and heartbreak of pure pop drama resulting in her most magnificent song structures so far.

                                                                                                                The follow on from Roisin’s Mercury Prize nominated ‘Hairless Toys’ album last year, Róisín is at her most creative peak yet.

                                                                                                                Released on embossed CD / double LP with digital download.


                                                                                                                Fews

                                                                                                                Means

                                                                                                                  Swedish / American four-piece FEWS have been making some serious waves ahead of their debut album. Specialising in propulsive, motoric noise-pop, producer Dan Carey (Bat For Lashes, Sexwitch, TOY, Kate Tempest et all) discovered the band via a mysterious Soundcloud link and promptly invited the band to his South London studio where debut single ‘Ill’ quickly followed on Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label.

                                                                                                                  Having joined the ranks of the Play It Again Sam label their own brand of malevolent post-punk continues to evolve and thrill with follow up singles ‘The Zoo’ and ‘100 Goosebumps’ that has seen the band bear resemblance to DIIV and Faust.

                                                                                                                  “Sonically charged post-punk that’s equal parts Interpol, DIIV, The Walkmen and A Place To Bury Strangers. Anthems for the disaffected in waiting” - Drowned in Sound

                                                                                                                  Lucius

                                                                                                                  Good Grief

                                                                                                                    Of Good Grief, vocalist Jess Wolfe says, “When we started writing for this record, we had been away from home for nearly two years. We had just returned from tour, having gone through such varied emotions—loneliness, sadness and exhaustion alongside excitement, fulfilment and some of the most joyful moments in our lives…Whenever one of us had an idea or a feeling, the other was already a witness to it and could help navigate through it—for the two of us, this usually came in song form.” Vocalist Holly Laessig adds, “…When considering titles, we wanted to be sure to acknowledge any serious subject matter, while simultaneously allowing ourselves a comic sigh of relief from any personal turmoil. Ha! The yin and yang of the record naturally unveiled itself and, so, Good Grief.”

                                                                                                                    Good Grief was produced by Shawn Everett (Weezer and The Alabama Shakes) and Lucius with Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd). The album was mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Adele and Beck). The new music follows the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, Wildewoman, The New York Times praised the record for its “luscious, luminous, lilting lullabies,” and the album was incorporated in various 2013 year end lists including, Rolling Stone, NPR and Paste.

                                                                                                                    The band is lead by its co-founders and vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig accompanied by multi-instrumentalists Andrew Burri, Peter Lalish and Dan Molad. Wolfe and Laessig met in 2005 while attending Berklee College of Music. Since forming, Lucius has toured extensively, playing headline shows worldwide, as well as major festival appearances including Reading and Leeds, Bonnaroo, End Of the Road, Lollapalooza, Pukklepop and Rock En Seine.

                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                    1 Madness
                                                                                                                    2 Something About You
                                                                                                                    3 What We Have (To Change)
                                                                                                                    4 My Heart Got Caught On Your Sleeve
                                                                                                                    5 Almost Makes Me Wish For Rain
                                                                                                                    6 Gone Insane
                                                                                                                    7 Truce
                                                                                                                    8 Almighty Gosh
                                                                                                                    9 Born Again Teen
                                                                                                                    10 Better Look Back
                                                                                                                    11 Dusty Trails

                                                                                                                    Bonus Tracks Available With LP Download Only.
                                                                                                                    Strangers
                                                                                                                    You Were On My Mind
                                                                                                                    My Heart Got Caught On Your Sleeve (Demo)
                                                                                                                    Dusty Trails (Demo)
                                                                                                                    Better Look Back (Demo)
                                                                                                                    Let’s Dance

                                                                                                                    Fews

                                                                                                                    The Zoo

                                                                                                                      Fews mark their return with details of a new track and a new label. The band, last spotted wowing London’s Brixton Windmill as part of the Speedy Wundergound annual Summer shindig are pleased to announce that they have signed to Play It Again Sam. The first fruits of this new partnership arrives in the form of new single ‘The Zoo’.

                                                                                                                      Summer 2015; the Swedish / American four-piece unleashed their eight minute motorik-induced debut single ‘ILL’ courtesy of Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground, bringing them to the attention of more than a handful of parties, securing numerous Track Of The Week accolades along the way. The band’s DIY stance led them to Carey via an anonymous Soundcloud link which, in turn, had him hailing Fews as one of his favourite artists of the year and will see him overseeing the band’s debut album.

                                                                                                                      No less ambitious than its predecessor, ‘The Zoo’ rolls in at more conservative three and half minutes, unmasking a postpunk lineage conversing head on with more recent like-minded musical contemporaries.

                                                                                                                      ‘The Zoo’, a fervent salvo of dark, brooding greatness that sees Fews continue their foray forwards heralding the arrival of their debut album in the first half of 2016. Carey assumes the role of the mad professor; subtle bleeps and codes punctuate the production, initiating their call to action.

                                                                                                                      Courteeners

                                                                                                                      Concrete Love - Extra Love

                                                                                                                        Concrete Love - Extra Love features the original eleven track LP plus a nine-track bonus disc that features the brand new single alongside three rare EP tracks and previously unreleased acoustic versions of five Concrete Love tracks.

                                                                                                                        Editors

                                                                                                                        In Dream

                                                                                                                          Following the surprise release of their first new music in two years via a secretive placing of ‘No Harm’ on a Play It Again Sam label sampler and a further taster in the form of the seven plus minutes ‘Marching Orders’ which saw 300 test pressings donated to Oxfam for sale in their stores around the globe, Editors release their fifth studio album, ‘In Dream’.

                                                                                                                          Recorded in Crear in the Western Highlands by the band, and mixed in London by Alan Moulder, ‘In Dream’ is the second album to feature the ‘new’ line-up of the band with Justin Lockey and Elliott Williams firmly in place alongside founding members Tom Smith, Russell Leetch and Ed Lay. After two years of global touring this five piece incarnation used the new album to stretch the Editors sound, swerving away from the rock dynamic of ‘The Weight Of Your Love’ and marking a return to a writing process influenced by electronic music that draws a line from their debut album through to prominence on the band’s third album, the UK Number One ‘In This Light And On This Evening’.

                                                                                                                          ‘In Dream’ is an album created without preconception. The initial visit to Crear, an isolated artist’s retreat 8 miles from the nearest town down dirt track roads was envisaged as a writing and demoing exercise but sessions bloomed within the stunning live room (with floor to ceiling windows framing the Atlantic) and it soon became apparent that the recordings were staking a claim as finished works.

                                                                                                                          At the centre of ‘In Dream’ is a belief in collaboration. Thus the album was produced by all band members in an open studio environment, nowhere within Crear was cut off from the music being performed and recorded in the creative space. Downtime was soundtracked by a varied playlist that stretched from Todd Terje to 80’s Robert Palmer, John Grant to the Despacio three hour club mix.

                                                                                                                          ‘In Dream’ is the first Editors album to feature duets, Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell sharing vocal duties on ‘Ocean Of Night’, ‘The Law’ and ‘At All Cost’ and is an album focused on allowing artistic interpretations outside of the band to flourish; Alan Moulder was left to mix the tracks without any band involvement whilst visual collaborator Rahi Rezvani has been given carte blanche with the photography and videography that will accompany the album and its attendant singles. It is a bold and expansive statement and is driven by, according to Tom Smith, a belief that music can be ‘both pop and experimental’.

                                                                                                                          Other Lives

                                                                                                                          Rituals

                                                                                                                            Third full length from Oklahoma-turned-Portland trio Other Lives, their most lush, layered and striking musical creation to date.

                                                                                                                            ‘Rituals’ reflects the change in location, the spontaneity of travel and feelings of isolation.

                                                                                                                            Produced by Jesse Tabish and Jonathon Mooney from the band with Joey Waronker (Eels, Atoms For Peace, Beck).

                                                                                                                            For fans of The Antlers, The War On Drugs, Interpol, Grizzly Bear.

                                                                                                                            Mew

                                                                                                                            +- - Deluxe Edition

                                                                                                                              Danish art rock outfit Mew announce a welcome return with their sixth studio album ‘+-’ (pronounced ‘plus minus’). 

                                                                                                                              Recorded in Copenhagen alongside producer Michael Beinhorn (Hole, Marilyn Manson), ‘+ -’ is skewed pop sensibility coupled with an ever expansive musical backdrop, denoting the extremities of the band’s creative DNA and showing once more a band treading their own unique path. 

                                                                                                                              Guest contributors include Bloc Party guitarist Russell Lissack.

                                                                                                                              For fans of Sigur Ros, Wild Beasts, M83, Radiohead, Arcade Fire.

                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                              Satellites
                                                                                                                              Witness
                                                                                                                              The Night Believer
                                                                                                                              Making Friends
                                                                                                                              Clinging To A Bad Dream
                                                                                                                              My Complications
                                                                                                                              Water Slides
                                                                                                                              Interview The Girls
                                                                                                                              Rows
                                                                                                                              Cross The River On Your Own

                                                                                                                              Bonus CD 
                                                                                                                              Coffee Break (Live)
                                                                                                                              Satellites (Live)
                                                                                                                              She Spider (Live)
                                                                                                                              Hawaii (Live)
                                                                                                                              My Complications (Live)
                                                                                                                              Silas The Magic Car (Live)
                                                                                                                              Water Slides
                                                                                                                              Cross The River On Your Own (Live)
                                                                                                                              Special (Live)
                                                                                                                              The Zookeeper’s Boy (Live)

                                                                                                                              Melanie De Biasio

                                                                                                                              Gilles Peterson Presents Melanie De Biasio - No Deal Remixed

                                                                                                                                Melanie De Biasio received the Best Session Award at the 10th Worldwide Awards, which took place recently in London. The award is for De Biasio’s stunning 2014 live session on Gilles Peterson’s BBC 6Music show.

                                                                                                                                A huge fan of the Belgian singer, Peterson has curated a new remix version of her acclaimed album ‘No Deal’. He called upon some of the most exciting names across the jazz, electronic and indie worlds for ‘No Deal Remixed’, including EELS, The Cinematic Orchestra, Hex and Seven Davis Jr.

                                                                                                                                Says Peterson; “To my mind, of all the new artists around, the most remix friendly has to be Melanie De Biasio. For a person like me with a DJ mind, the minimalism of ‘No Deal’ makes it perfect. I’ve been dropping ‘I Feel You’ on top of beats anyway and even played ‘I’m Gonna Leave You’ in its original form when the moment arose - it’s such a pure track. In fact the first thing I did on meeting Melanie for the first time this year was to ask her who produced the album. It was me she replied... so not just a pretty voice!”

                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                I Feel You (EELS Remix)
                                                                                                                                The Flow (Hex Remix)
                                                                                                                                No Deal (Seven Davis Jr Remix)
                                                                                                                                With Love / Sweet Darling Pain (Gilles Peterson & Sinbad Remix)
                                                                                                                                Sweet Darling Pain (Chassol Remix)
                                                                                                                                I’m Gonna Leave You (Clap! Clap! Remix)
                                                                                                                                With All My Love (Jonwayne Remix)
                                                                                                                                I’m Gonna Leave You (The Cinematic Orchestra Remix)

                                                                                                                                Following on from Dury’s acclaimed 2010 album ‘Happy Soup’, ‘It’s A Pleasure’ is a series of conflicted emotions, stark drum beats, comic vignettes and strung out synths coming together to present one man’s wry take on the battle with existence. It’s metaphysics meets morose disco.

                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                1. Pleasure
                                                                                                                                2. Palm Trees
                                                                                                                                3. Other Men's Girls
                                                                                                                                4. Police
                                                                                                                                5. Lips
                                                                                                                                6. Whispered
                                                                                                                                7. Petals
                                                                                                                                8. White Men
                                                                                                                                9. Wintery Kisses
                                                                                                                                10. Babies

                                                                                                                                The follow up to Manchester songbird Liz Green’s rapturously received debut ‘O, Devotion!’ (2011).

                                                                                                                                Recorded at London’s legendary Toe Rag Studio with producer Liam Watson, Liz’s sophomore album displays a wonderful array of sounds and styles, from the ‘drone-blues’ of ‘Battle’ to the sea shantyinfluenced title track.

                                                                                                                                In a departure from its predecessor, ‘Haul Away!’ sees Liz bringing the piano to the forefront, influenced by such artists as Thelonius Monk and Nina Simone.

                                                                                                                                Artwork designed and conceived by Liz herself, including the iconic cover image.

                                                                                                                                Includes self-styled single and ‘wonky circus tune’ ‘Where The River Don’t Flow’, a jaunty dance of life and death.

                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                Battle
                                                                                                                                Haul Away!
                                                                                                                                Rybka
                                                                                                                                River Runs Deep
                                                                                                                                Where The River Don’t Flow
                                                                                                                                Empty Handed Blues
                                                                                                                                Into My Arms
                                                                                                                                Island Song
                                                                                                                                Little I
                                                                                                                                Penelope
                                                                                                                                Bikya

                                                                                                                                Liz Green

                                                                                                                                Rybka / Where The River Don't Flow

                                                                                                                                Double A-side single pressed on white 7” vinyl and limited to 385 copies for the UK.

                                                                                                                                First single to be taken from ‘Haul Away!’, the follow up to Liz Green’s rapturously received debut ‘O, Devotion!’ (2011).

                                                                                                                                Recorded at London’s legendary Toe Rag Studio with producer Liam Watson.

                                                                                                                                Artwork designed by Liz herself.

                                                                                                                                ‘Rybka’ translates as ‘little fish’ in Polish, and that’s precisely what the song is about, says Liz: “the little fish getting lost in the big pond. A boy who tries to do right but always seems to end up on the wrong side of the glass.”

                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                Laura says: Two wonderful tracks from Liz Green, ahead of her new album. Title track Rybka's swaying, clarinet led rhythm provides the perfect accompaniment to her distinctive, dramatic voice. Lovely stuff.

                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                Rybka
                                                                                                                                Where The River Don’t Flow

                                                                                                                                Editors

                                                                                                                                Formaldehyde

                                                                                                                                  The second single from Editors fourth album ‘The Weight Of Your Love’ sees the band returning to the familiar terrain the band’s myriad fans know and love with an edgy, anti-love song with a soaring chorus.

                                                                                                                                  Already a live favourite, standing shoulder to shoulder with the band’s bonafide hits like ‘Munich’, ‘Papillon’ and ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’, ‘Formaldehyde’ has been singled out in album reviews as a stand-out from the album, and an obvious choice for a single to take to radio.

                                                                                                                                  ‘The Weight Of Your Love’ entered the UK album charts at No 6 in the UK and, 5 weeks on, still holds a Top 75 position. Having lost founding member Chris Urbanowicz and in the process nearly packing it all in before gaining two new members, the new album is, in some ways, a transitional record, with the band reborn, shackles off, making their most ambitious music to date.

                                                                                                                                  The single is backed with an unreleased acoustic version of the band’s opening single from the album, ‘A Ton Of Love’.

                                                                                                                                  The 7” is limited to just 200 copies in the UK and Eire.

                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                  Formaldehyde
                                                                                                                                  A Ton Of Love (Acoustic)

                                                                                                                                  Editors

                                                                                                                                  The Weight Of Your Love

                                                                                                                                    ‘The Weight Of Your Love’ is the follow up to Editors’ two consecutive Number One UK albums, 2007’s ‘An End Has A Start’ and 2009’s ‘In This Light And On This Evening’. Their debut album, 2005’s ‘The Back Room’ has sold over half a million copies in the UK.

                                                                                                                                    This is the first album to feature new members Justin Lockey and Elliott Williams, following the departure of founding member Chris Urbanowicz in 2012. It was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville with producer Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Norah Jones, Of Monsters And Men, Kings Of Leon) and mixed by Craig Silvey (Arctic Monkeys, The Horrors, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver).

                                                                                                                                    Tom Smith has described ‘The Weight Of Your Love’ as “having a foot in that alt rock / Americana world” and of “feeling untouchable at times”. Recorded mostly live, it contains their most direct songs to date and also features extra production from Clint Mansell on ‘Nothing’, rescored from the original to become what Tom and Ed Lay both describe as the ‘centrepiece’ of the album. Lyrically focused on “love songs... that don’t adhere to the traditional love song type”, the album sees Tom Smith sing in falsetto for the first time on ‘What Is This Thing Called Love’.

                                                                                                                                    Balthazar are the brainchild of songwriters Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez. Meeting as teenage buskers, the two embarked on a whirlwind writing partnership that led to the quick formation of the band and initial acclaim in mainland Europe. Resisting the temptation to cash in on that wave of interest, Balthazar took the best part of five years to record their debut album, experimenting with different genres and approaches until they were sure that they had the sound they were looking for.

                                                                                                                                    With ‘Rats’, that sound has been honed to a focus on melody and subtlety, avoiding the current fashion for bombast to create songs that burst forth in horns or sweep by on strings, underpinned with delicate rhythms that draw on both the pair’s love of the work of Serge Gainsbourg and Leonard Cohen and the hip hop production of the likes of Dangermouse.

                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                    Oldest Of Sisters
                                                                                                                                    Sinking Ship
                                                                                                                                    Later
                                                                                                                                    Joker's Son
                                                                                                                                    The Man Who Owns The
                                                                                                                                    Place
                                                                                                                                    Lion’s Mouth (Daniel)
                                                                                                                                    Do Not Claim Them
                                                                                                                                    Anymore
                                                                                                                                    Listen Up
                                                                                                                                    Any Suggestion
                                                                                                                                    Sides

                                                                                                                                    Agnes is a Danish singer, songwriter and musician. She began playing the piano when she was a child and in her late teens she founded the Copenhagen based band, Sohio, together with the Danish musician and producer Elton Theander. The two worked together for several years but nowadays she writes, plays, sings, records and produces her material on her own.

                                                                                                                                    Feeling musically related to Roy Orbison, Agnes currently lives in Berlin and possesses the rare gift of a songbird’s voice, bringing to mind Ane Brun, Joanna Newsom or even Ricki Lee Jones.

                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                    Darryl says: Beautiful and delicate piano led folk from this Danish starlet. The arrangements are kept simple and minimal allowing her amazing vox to take centre stage.

                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                    1. Falling Catching
                                                                                                                                    2. Riverside
                                                                                                                                    3. Brother Sparrow
                                                                                                                                    4. Just So
                                                                                                                                    5. Beast
                                                                                                                                    6. Louretta
                                                                                                                                    7. Avenue
                                                                                                                                    8. Philharmonics
                                                                                                                                    9. Close Watch
                                                                                                                                    10. Wallflower
                                                                                                                                    11. Over The Hill
                                                                                                                                    12. On Powdered Ground

                                                                                                                                    Mogwai

                                                                                                                                    Mr Beast

                                                                                                                                      "Mr Beast" is the band's fifth album and the follow-up to 2003's "Happy Songs For Happy People" and was recorded in the band's new Castle Of Doom studio in Glasgow. As the title suggests, this is a record of considerable size and weight - a monster creation that started out as a return to the heady, bone-crushing volume and intensity of earlier recordings, and then mutated into a many headed, many mooded beast. It opens with "Auto Rock" - whose sweetly melancholic, central piano motif is gradually engulfed by a swell of fulsome guitars and pummelling drum beats - and closes with lurching, psych-rock behemoth "We're No Here". In between are eight future Mogwai classics, including the heads-down "Glasgow Mega-Snake", where what must surely be a dozen guitars swarm around a molten metal core like crazed killer bees, the drum machine-driven country gospel of "Acid Food", which features pedal-steel guitar, the wintry splendour of "Friend Of The Night" and the impossibly poignant "I Chose Horses", featuring guest vocalist Tetsuya Fukagawa (of Japanese hardcore band Envy) and a keyboard contribution from composer/arranger Craig Armstrong. Whether light and lean or dark and monstrous, however, these songs underline Mogwai's belief that to have meaning, rock needs both mass and monumentality. If "Mr Beast" has one thing, it's presence.

                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                      1. Auto Rock
                                                                                                                                      2. Glasgow Mega Snake
                                                                                                                                      3. Acid Food
                                                                                                                                      4. Travel Is Dangerous
                                                                                                                                      5. Team Handed
                                                                                                                                      6. Friend Of The Night
                                                                                                                                      7. Emergency Trap
                                                                                                                                      8. Folk Death 95
                                                                                                                                      9. I Chose Horses
                                                                                                                                      10. We're No Here

                                                                                                                                      Soulwax

                                                                                                                                      Any Minute Now

                                                                                                                                        Soulwax are back with their second studio album, following up their phenomenal "2 Many DJs" mash up CD, which went on to sell 148k copies in the UK, by word of mouth alone! "Any Minute Now" is a collision of fierce rock guitar riffing (Kerrang are big fans) and electro rhythms, with tracks swinging between the rock element and the electroclash element. Play loud!


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