A diverse little set to include rocking Gospel lushness, early Jazz blazers and plenty of Nuggets.
Starting off this new week of Best New Reissues with one of our favourites from the immaculate Spiritualized® vaults with Amazing Grace. The whole album is scorched; massive and grandiose songs with amazing dynamism. It remains the most spontaneous sounding album that Jason Pierce has been part of - especially compared to the years of meticulous recordings for the proceeding Let It Come Down and following Songs in A&E albums. Gospel lushness, swooning orchestrations, whispers, wails and psychedelic break downs, it really is a trip.
This new pressing has been remastered for vinyl in London by engineer Matt Colton, with the 180 gram album features lacquer cuts by Metropolis Mastering. Presented in a gatefold jacket designed by Mark Farrow.
Heavenly Recordings present a limited box set edition of Saint Etienne’s superb second LP, So Tough, to celebrate the album’s 30th Anniversary. Such great pop songs, but the way that the vignettes link each song gives it such a distinct vibe.
+ This lavish set includes a 3LP vinyl version of the original album in a gatefold sleeve cut at 45 RPM over two discs in a gatefold sleeve. The set also includes a 10 track vinyl companion album of rarities and demos, featuring previously unreleased material and ‘Hobart Paving’, a bonus 7’’ single cut at 45RPM. There is also a 28-page booklet featuring new essays and never seen before photos, a poster and a reproduction of the original press release from 1993. It’s really lush.
Numero Group are this week shining a light on Chicago band 90 Day Men. We Blame Chicago groups together their three studio albums, plus a disc of rarities and another disc featuring a John Peel session. Angular rock vibes with plenty of changes of pace. We’ve been really taken by this one (we’re trying to get more copies).
Two very fine reasons to get the heartbeat pumping this week thanks to Blue Note too, with Memorial Album from trumpeter Clifford Brown and pianist Bud Powell’s Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 (1949–51). Both albums are presented in mono, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. Nice.
We have a new pressing of The Undertones self-titled debut LP, taken from the 2016 remaster. Short and sweet pop songs of teenage angst… and kicks. A classic.
We have a Stornoway double via 4AD with Beachcomber's Windowsill and Tales from Terra Firma both back in print.
Lastly, it’s always a good day when we can blast Nuggets on the stereo. Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era (1965-1968)... I can’t think of another compilation that sounds as raw and vital fifty years after its release! The original LP (volume one) has a very handsome new splatter vinyl edition that has been remastered and sounds pretty mint. The LP also has new liner notes by Lenny Kaye, who has also compiled a second volume to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the cultural titan. Again, a ludicrously eye-catching splatter vinyl pressing.
They should be playing these in school!