We are today a bounty of riches; something for anyone and everyone.
Do you want the bangers? Man, do we ever have the bangers! Floating Points returns with Cascade and it is such a gripping set of dancefloor shakers. Now you know that we went as deep as anyone on his recent movements into ambience, but the mod synths ooze and boop and the dum machine just pumps from start to finish. Honestly can’t remember anything as Friday-night-gratifying in ages, a proper wallop! Record of the Week.
+ Available on a limited and very pretty ‘Universal Sparkle’ colour vinyl pressing.
+ Available on exclusive Transparent Green colour vinyl.
We Are Winter’s Blue And Radiant Children is the new supergroup from Mat Ball (BIG|BRAVE), Efrim Manuel Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion), and Jonathan Downs and Patch One (both of the band Ada). The debut - No More Apocalypse Father - on Montreal’s esteemed Constellation is a weird and wonderful beast. A six song set of cavernous and immersive soundscapes that move from electronic lullabies to distorted tones and grinding drones. Either mode is addictive stuff and strangely soothing. Great stuff.
Okay folks, open up that Kimono! Our main man Chilly Gonzales is back with Gonzo and he is very much on the mic. After a decade of quite incredible instrumental albums, this one is a step back towards his MC days. His wordplay is always so funny - the last time we witnessed it he was sat at a Steinway Model C Mk II grand piano - and the smartness across the record is dizzying. He does still throw out the odd musical genius moment too… cause he can!
Transparent Things is the long-ruminated debut LP from Gia Ford and you can instantly hear why she has been bubbling away on so many hype lists for the last few years. Her voice is superb, really rich and sultry, but also beautifully paired to her more pop sparkling moments too. The production is super polished, but she didn’t lose any of her charm. Great songs, this has been one getting played a lot so far already.
+ Pressed on Transparent vinyl.
+ In support of the release, Gia has produced a number of brilliant ‘behind the songs’ booklets. They include a DIY script with all the lyrics printed and Gia’s handwritten footnotes and doodles on each track.
slif slaf slof is the DFA records debut from duo Mermaid Chunky and it is another curious and delicious oddity. As you’ll know doubt read a dozen times this week, LCD main man James Murphy heard them on NTS and emailed to say that “You’ve restored my faith in music.” There is something very different about what they do that very much does jump out the stereo in that way. Weird, dark and bubbling with party energy. Don’t miss this one.
Southern California artist Ginger Root returns with his latest LP SHINBANGUMI this week and a debut for Ghostly International. The production is really marvellous, like, super-squelchy marvellous! Inspired by Japanese City Pop and other pop high wizards, it just sounds absolutely amazing from the first second to the last. Joyous stuff. Lodsa fun.
+ Pressed on "Sunray and Juban TV Building" colour vinyl.
+ We have a super cool pop-up model that we will be giving away in the shop.
+ Available as a limited LP: Black BioVinyl in printed reverse board sleeve, containing a ltd 12” 300gsm artwork print and packed in resealable protective sleeve.
The iconic Tindersticks (guys, they really are) release Soft Tissue this week on City Slang and it is a beautiful and subtle set. Pop sensitive and very approachable, but softly progressing through soul and lo-fi pop cinematics with some beautifully mournful energy.
+ Available on Petrol coloured ECO vinyl.
You’ll recall that we really like The Mystery Lights so we’ve been really enjoying the Brooklyn-based rock bands all new Purgatory LP, perhaps the most The Mystery Lights-ish thing they’ve done yet. Trippy analogue psychedelia with some real art rock prickle and even the odd Country tone too.
If you like rock bands that sound rich and dense, this one is literally all killer.
+ Coke Bottle Clear vinyl.
Molly Nilsson releases her all new Un-American Activities on Night School this week and it’s pretty wild stuff. We actually haven’t heard it in full yet, but we are really loving what we have heard. A fluid approach to genres with lots of lush tones and a surprisingly melodic sort of amble. Another one not to miss, but ain’t she always.
+ Available on exclusive White colour vinyl.
We spoke about it the other week a little bit, but Andrew Tuttle’s collaborative LP - Another Tide, Another Fish - with the late Michael Chapman has landed via Basin’ Rock and it is really special stuff. Another Fish - an electrified sequel to his ‘Fish’ - is accompanied by the posthumous Another Tide that was created by the Brisbane-based traditionalist Andrew Tuttle.
Also this week…
Rack is the first new LP in twenty five years from the much-loved Texan rock band, The Jesus Lizard. Come And See is the debut album from Ireland's much-hyped and very loud, Gurriers. More stock due very shortly. Trio London Grammar return with the hefty new, The Greatest Love. Limited Yellow vinyl in the building. We have the debut solo LP from Old Crow Medicine Show and general country legend, Willie Watson. Porches returns with the introspective and lo-fi Shirt on Domino. Really getting into this. We have absolute level 10/10 jangle pop from The Boy Who Ran The Paisley Hotel on Chime School. Suki Waterhouse returns on Sub Pop with the dream-poppin’ Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin. It’s a lot more experimental than we were expecting, good stuff.
Jack White’s No Name has just landed on CD and (classic Black) LP. Enjoying spinning that again now that we have more to sell!
Benny Trokan’s excellent Do You Still Think of Me? Is now here on all formats too.
Lastly for today, Canadian composer Sarah Davachi returns this week on Late Music with the absolutely outstanding, The Head as Form’d in the Crier’s Choir. Subtle electronic timbres and huge evolving chamber organics, it’s so enriching. She never fails to impress.
