We ain’t slowing down! October ends very much as it started, with stunners in every direction.

Cartoon Darkness is the wickedly funny and brutally hard return of Melbourne’s Amyl And The Sniffers. Glam rock struts and classic punk vitriol about life in 2024. When they’re going hard and fast, no one can touch them. What Cartoon Darkness does though is show that there is an increasing depth to their writing and production, they can do slow builds too with some really dark moments. I mean, if nothing else, the amount of filthy language they force into album opener Jerkin’ sets a brilliant tone. Fierce and funny, our Record of the Week.

+ Available on a super-cool looking ‘Bittersweet Moondance’ vinyl pressing.
Mid Spiral is an ambitious and expansive triple set from Toronto jazz band, BADBADNOTGOOD. Structured in three parts - Chaos, Order and Growth - they move with tremendous dexterity through cinematic soul, percussive beats and a wide of grooves. The core trio of Al Sow, Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty are joined by close friends and collaborators to really get big without sounding over messy. There is in fact a real lightness of touch throughout. We are well lost in this one!

Patterns in Repeat is the first album in four years from Laura Marling and it really is sublime stuff. Intimate reflections on the links and patterns of parenthood. The instrumentation is really raw, a stripped back hush (with flashes of rich orchestration) around her voice, which is just astonishing. Simple, but enthralling throughout. Again, her voice is just something else.

+ We have Drift excessive signed art prints.
+ Available on limited Cream vinyl.

Craven Faults returns on The Leaf Label this week with Bounds and its 37 minute trip contains some of his most focused moods. Slowly evolving, this is richly dark analogue ambience. Really lush.

+ Available on exclusive Tarn Sike Blue colour vinyl.
The Neon Gate is the latest LP from Nova Scotia quartet Nap Eyes, who we like a lot. Like their previous albums, it is full of wry humour and observation, but there is a more sedate energy to this latest set. Simple and downbeat but full of lush subtlety and inventive production gestures. A grower, for sure.

Another of the week's goliaths is the return of Pixies with the seasonally-appropriate The Night The Zombies Came. The band’s ninth LP is sonically dense without necessarily bringing that classic bass-heavy sound. They make great successes incorporating Emma Richardson (formerly of Band of Skulls) on bass and vocals, it’s about as pop-sensitive as they have ever been.

+ Available on exclusive Smoky Red colour vinyl.
+ Both vinyl formats have a die-cut sleeve.

Evergreen is the fourth LP from Sophie Allison as Soccer Mommy and it’s a bruiser. It’s an emotional set all about loss and she really conveys it, there are some pretty hard moments. Brave and really giving, this is a great listen.

+ Available on Baby Blue colour vinyl.

Pass The Loofah is the second album from Oakland-based synth-punks Naked Roommates. Such a woozed out sound, with bleeps, squelches and plenty of horn too. When it gets into a pop bounce, it’s ludicrously fun.

+ Pressed on Silver vinyl.

One True Pairing (Tom Fleming, formerly of Wild Beasts) releases his new Endless Rain LP on Domino. It’s produced with John ‘Spud’ Murphy and manages to be expansive whilst still full of inventive noises. Sonically it's a proper treat.

Also this week; What A Relief is the debut LP from Katie Gavin of Muna. We have the self-titled Forgetting You Is Like Breathing Water LP which is pretty special stuff and two hyper limited releases (In a Capsule Underground / Help Desk/Goldfish) from the mighty Wand. God we love that band. Tess Parks’ Pomegranate is due to land imminently, loving what we have heard of that one already.
Lastly this week, Strawberry Hotel is the all-new eleventh studio LP from British electronic pioneers, Underworld. We’ve only taken one full listen, but they sure hit the techno highs whilst also bringing in much more ambient acoustic elements.

Some splendid reissues coming soon too with; Slint, Songs: Ohia, Kiasmos, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the magnificent Daisy Rickman.