We love a good celebration at Piccadilly, but you might have noticed we're less keen on organisation. We're the kind of relative who leaves you hanging without even a text on your birthday, only to remember the following week and sweep you off your feet in a whirlwind of ponies, princess outfits and/or tickets to the football. We're so disorganised, we almost forgot our 40th Anniversary - but not quite.
So to commemorate these forty harmonious years in your company, and to put a big tick on our bucket list, we give you our very own EXCLUSIVE VINYL ONLY compilation with tracks handpicked from our various End Of Year charts of 2018. Limited to 500 copies, lovingly adorned in a regal Mark Brown sleeve, and packed with cross genre gems from the last twelve months.
Local hero, ambient master and thoroughly nice chap Phil France extends a warm welcome with the cinematic shuffle and evocative melody of "Mr Jackal" before the silken vocals, sloppy funk and inspired arrangements of "Wings" explain exactly why Kadhja Bonet topped our Piccadilly playlist this year. Keeping it consecutive we turn our attention to Mike Lindsay and Laura Marling's LUMP, whose drifting, dreamy and slightly disorienting "May I Be The Light" marries pointed lyricism, infectious hooks and all sorts of electro-acoustic goodness, segueing perfectly into Tim Burgess's sublime cover of Suicide ballad "Cheree", an opiated lullaby for androids, sheep and humans alike. SFA-related GULP stick to the stoned tempo with the West Coast via Wales psych pop of "Spend Time Right Here With You", while Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever close out the A-side with a little of the chiming guitars, propulsive rhythm and all round indie excellence we've come to expect from them.
Our B-side begins with the kraut-funk exuberance of Christiane F's "Wunderbar", lifted from JD Twitch's compilation of the year "Kreaturen Der Nacht", before veering left of centre and down of beat thanks to Prins Emanuel's Durutti-styled acoustic vignette "Jordkällaren". Next you get "Brockley" a bass heavy, brassy blast of explosive jazz from London newcomer Theon Cross, as heard on Brownswood's fantastic "We Out Here" collection. Closing in on the finish line, Khruangbin come through with a red hot shot of Tarantino-pleasing desert funk in the form of "Maria Tambien", Jon Brooks goes New Age with his Advisory Circle synthscape "Flight Capture" and VHS obsessed, electro-psych renegade TVAM plays us out with the epic and ecstatic "Psychic Data".
Not only have we nailed it with our first ever vinyl comp, but at the bargain price of £9.99 we've given you the perfect stocking filler. Happy anniversary!
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: Oh Yes! It's finally here, the day has come. Featuring some of our favourite tracks from our favourite albums of the year, this little purple beaut reads like a what's what of the best music around today. Completely essential and superbly priced fun for all the family.
FORMAT INFORMATION
Ltd LP Info: Limited to 500 copies.
